Unlocking the Meaning of Good Friday: Significance, Traditions, and History Explained

 

As all Christians are aware, Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave to atone for humankind's sins and to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him. Every spring, on Easter Sunday, Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus by taking part in Easter customs such as egg hunts, jelly bean munching, and Easter basket gift-giving.

However, Good Friday, which is celebrated a few days before Easter and near the conclusion of Lent, doesn't get as much attention because it's an official holiday in India and many people don't know why it's honored there. What exactly is Good Friday, then? Below, we go over a lot of information regarding the significance, history, meaning, and customs of Good Friday.

For Christians, Good Friday simply commemorates the day that Jesus was crucified. However, what took place on Good Friday? The Bible says that on this day, Jesus was taken before the Romans for punishment by Jewish religious authorities who had the previous evening condemned him to death for claiming to be the Son of God and the King of the Jews.

After being brought before Pontius Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again, Jesus was finally condemned to death by crucifixion, which at the time was the harshest punishment available for offenders. After being beaten, Jesus was had to carry a large wooden cross through the throng before being nailed to the cross and hanging there by his wrists and feet until his death later that day.

It may seem strange to term this feast "Good Friday" considering its dark history. However, the meaning of "good" in this context is different. What it means here is "a day (or sometimes a season) observed with religious practices."

In case you're wondering what Christians, including Catholics, do on Good Friday, it's a serious day for introspection. Christians commemorate Jesus' suffering and death on the Friday before Easter as atonement for their sins. They can take part in a service honoring Jesus's grueling crucifixion, and others choose to fast—that is, refrain from eating—as a way to express their grief. As a symbol of sadness, Catholic churches remove their altars and turn down their bells.

But after a short while, Christians shift their attention to happy occasions: Easter, which is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, is marked with church services, happy hymns, and family get-togethers.