Jesus sacrificed himself to save mankind from all sins:hence it is Good Friday

Jesus Christ is regarded as the incarnation of the suffering soul of a race. As Martin Luther has said, in his life Christ is an example showing us how to live; in his death he is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his Ascension, a King; and in his intercession, a high priest.

Good Friday is observed as the anniversary of Jesus’ death on the Cross. Gospels say that Jesus was crucified on the Friday before Easter Day. He was wounded for mankind’s transgressions. “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted …….. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors,” (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12)

Since the early days of the church, Good Friday (Holy or God’s Friday) has been observed by fasting, prayer and penance. The Day was earlier called God’s Friday; and so some argue that it has transformed into Good Friday. However, sadness, mourning, fasting, and prayer have been traditionally observed. So, the day of sorrow was earlier called ‘Good’ as the death of Jesus was good for humanity because he died so that the sins of mankind will be forgiven, to save people from death, to free them from Satan’s power, to allow people to live with Jesus and God forever.

The German lyric poet and literary critic Heinrich Heine wondered: “How strange! The very people who had given the world a God, and whose whole life was inspired by devotion to God, were stigmatized as deicides!” As Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, their pretensions, their falsehood and their ignorance of Scriptures, the Sadducees and the Pharisees plotted against Jesus to put him to death somehow. They succeeded in a way in getting their plan executed.

Of course, it was God’s original plan and it went on well. The Sadducees and Pharisees were instrumental in accomplishing that plan. “Despite its sadness, Good Friday is truly good. Its sorrow is a godly sorrow. It is like the sadness of the Corinthians who wept over the sharp letter from their dear teacher, Paul, convicted of the sin in their midst. Hearing of their distress, Paul said, “My joy was greater than ever.” Why? Because such godly sorrow “brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” (2 Cor.7:10).

Crucifixion was the most terrible form of execution in ancient times. It had been practiced by Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks, and under the Romans it was still a common form of punishment meted out to their enemies and for heinous evil offences. To accomplish man’s redemption Jesus had willingly come to earth to suffer and to die “even the death of the cross.”

At three o’ clock Jesus on the cross cried out with loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why did you abandon me?”

Some of the people there heard him and said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” One of them ran up with a sponge, soaked it in a cheap wine, and put it on the end of a stick. Then he held it up to Jesus’ lips and said, “Wait! Let us see if Elijah is coming to bring him down from the cross!” Then with a loud cry Jesus died. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple (a curtain dividing the “most holy place” from the other part of the Jewish temple) was torn into two pieces from top to the bottom.

The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!” Remembering the Lord’s agonizing hours on the cross, most Protestants hold their Good Friday services between noon and 3 p.m., reflecting on readings or songs on Christ’s seven last words: 1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. 3. Woman, behold your son! 4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 5. I thirst. 6. It is finished. 7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

The Catholics, in their Good Friday Mass, strip the altar of all adornments, and worshippers regard the Cross with deep respect by kissing a crucifix. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, he rose from the tomb. So the believers are not sad any more.

By:Y V Ramakotaiah