Theory one: In the oxford dictionary, it states that historically good means holy. Therefore, the actually meaning of the name is "Holy Friday." It is also seen in all romance languages as just that. For example, in Spanish, it is "Viernes Santo."
Theory two: It is good because Christians believe there is something good about it. It is the start of our Savior's mission. The same mission that save us from sin and gives us constant relief. The Huffington Post states it in a perfect way,"That terrible Friday has been called Good Friday because it led to the Resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death and son and the celebration of Easter the very pinnacle of Christian celebrations."
I think that this day is, in fact, a day of sorrow. However, I learned from an early age that the thing that is important to focus on is that it was his mission. It had to happen. Everything about it is good, is holy. Everything about it was for you and I.
Friday. Friday I asume would have been a hard day for Christ. The night before he administered the sacrament, he suffered in Gethsemane, he got betrayed by one of his own, and he then was taken prisoner.
On Friday, when morning came, he was tried before the chief priests and elders. Then he was taken to Pilate. Judas repented and took the silver and told the priests and elders that he had condemned an innocent man. Judas, then, takes his life. The chief priests and elder decide they can't put that money back in the treasury because they state, "with that money was paid to kill a man." Instead, the words of Jeremy the Prophet were realized. The men bought a field in which they would use to bury foreigners.
When Christ was before pilate, he asked him a series of questions (Matthew 27 & John 18).
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
"Those are your words"
"Don't you hear the crimes that you are condemned for?"
The chief priests accuse him.
Christ says nothing.
"What have you done?"
"My kingdom is not of the world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
"Are you a King?"
"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice"
"What is the truth?"
Pilate turned to the crowd,
"I find in him no fault at all."
My heart turns ever time I read that part in the scriptures. Pilate announced that Christ was not guilty of anything. However his usual custom was to set someone free. Therefore, his ask the crowd wether it be Barabbas or Christ. They screamed, yelled in a cry of destruction, "Let him [Christ] be crucified." Pilate perplexed asked, "Why? What evil has he done?" The crowd ignored and cried louder than ever, "Crucify him!"Pilate gave in and explained to the multitude that he would have nothing to do with this innocent man's death and it was them, and only them, condemning him. The multitude told him, "let his blood be on us and our families."
Christ was then sentenced to death.
He was taken by the soldiers. They made fun at him. Dress him up in a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns. They mocked him. They spit on him. They beat him.
Then started the long road to Calvary.
Christ carried the cross on his back. A man named Simon took it and carried the cross for a while. Then, Christ took it again. Jesus was given a strong drink to ease the pain, but he refused to take it.
Christ reached that hill. The Jews nailed him on the cross and hung him there in Calvary. Above his head it read:
זה ישו מלך היהודים]
Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων
Iēsus Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum
Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews
The people demanded of him "If you have saved so many, save yourself. If you are truly a king."
We know that God had the power to save him at any moment. However, he did not. His mission was much bigger.
Christ said to his mother, nearby, that she would be in the care of one of his disciples.
He then was in excruciating pain. The Holy Ghost left him. Then he gasped,
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani"
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
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"Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary,
the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit,
the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins.
For His Atonement to be
to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw,
infinite and eternal
He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually,to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw,
leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone."
-Jeffery R. Holland
None Were with Him
April 2009
Once he did all he was sent for, he gave himself to God.
He was taken down and sent to Pilate. Joseph, a disciple, begged for the body and it was given to him. They wrapped him gently in clean linen cloth and put him in the tomb. Pilate was told that he had to put guards in front of the tomb in case Christ's disciples wanted to steal the body and then falsely say that he was "risen." The guards stayed watch for three days.
Friday was a painful day for Christ. I am grateful he had the will to accomplish such agony and suffering for me, for the whole world.
Friday was truly a hard day. Friday- a day of pain. Friday- a day of suffering. Friday- a day of tears. Friday- a day of fear. Friday- a day of accomplishment. Friday- a day of fulfilling.
Friday- a day so holy.
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