Good Friday is the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday, marking the culmination of Jesus's Passion during Holy Week
What Happened on Good Friday?
- Jesus's Arrest and Trial: Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane, arrested by soldiers, and taken for a series of trials. The Jewish leaders accused him of blasphemy and sought to have him executed. Since they lacked authority to carry out a death sentence, they brought Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, falsely accusing him of treason against Rome
- Mocking and Beating: Jesus was mocked, beaten, whipped, and humiliated by Roman soldiers. He was given a robe, a crown of thorns, and a staff as a form of cruel mockery, with soldiers sarcastically hailing him as "King of the Jews"
- Crucifixion: Jesus was forced to carry his cross to the site of execution, Golgotha, where he was crucified-a slow, painful, and humiliating form of Roman execution typically reserved for criminals and slaves
- Events During Crucifixion: From noon to 3 p.m., darkness covered the land, and the temple curtain was torn in two, symbolizing a significant spiritual event. At about 3 p.m., Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and then died. A Roman centurion acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God upon his death
- Burial: After Jesus died, his body was taken down and placed in a tomb before the Sabbath began at sunset
Significance of Good Friday
Though it commemorates a day of suffering and death, Good Friday is called "good" because it represents the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for humanity's sins, enabling salvation and reconciliation with God. The term "good" in this context means holy or pious rather than joyful
Observances
Good Friday is observed with church services, prayers, fasting, and reenactments of the Passion of Jesus in many Christian traditions, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches
. In summary, Good Friday marks the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ, events central to Christian faith and the Easter story
