Today is Good Friday the day Christians commemorate Jesus’s crucifixion
and death on the cross. It is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The
origin of the word “good” in Good Friday is unclear. There are traditions to
commemorate the events of Good Friday. The trials Jesus had to endure leading
up to his crucifixion and his final words as he dies on the cross are worthy of
remembrance.
Some people may ask why the day is referred to as Good
Friday when it’s the day in which Jesus is killed. There are some conflict as
to the origin of the word “good” in Good Friday. Some claim “good” refers to
pious or holy, while others claim it’s a corruption of “God Friday.” The Oxford
English Dictionary supports the former claim with a definition as “a day or
season observed as holy by the church.” It is interesting that in German
speaking countries, Good Friday is generally known as Karfreitag. Kar is from
the Old High German word, kara
meaning “grieve” or “mourn” and Freitag
is “Friday.” Essentially meaning Mourning Friday which fits the events of the
day better as mourning is appropriate when someone dies. Those individuals who
were there on that day didn’t know what was coming so “Mourning Friday” would fit
what they were feeling.
There are a few Good Friday traditions that are followed around
the world. A popular tradition is hot cross buns. Hot cross buns are spiced
sweet buns made with currants or raisins marked with a cross on the top. The
ban mark the end of Lent. The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus and the
spices used to embalm Jesus at his burial. When I was in the fourth grade, I
learned the nursery rhyme to hot cross buns on the recorder. The lyrics go:
“Hot cross buns!/Hot cross buns!/One a penny two a penny/Hot cross buns!/If you
have no daughters/give them to you sons/One a penny two a penny/Hot cross buns!
The earliest recording is in the Christmas Box London 1798) and earlier
references as a London street cry recorded in Poor Robin’s Almanac in 1733. Another tradition is many churches
recreated the path that Jesus took with the cross. Generally, following a
person carrying a cross, the congregation stops at certain points to read Bible
passages or sing a hymn before heading to church for a service.
Over the course of six trials, Jesus is questioned, tortured
and beaten. The first three were before the religious leaders and the next
three were before the Roman authorities. First, a preliminary hearing before
Annas, the high priest (John 18:12-24). Second, a hearing before Caiaphas
Annas’ son-in-law (Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65) Third, a trial before the
Sanhedrin, 70 member Jewish council (Matthew 27:1-2, Mark 15:1, Luke 22:66-71).
Here the religious leaders who charged him with blasphemy for claiming to be
the Son of God and approve the previous trials before sending Jesus to the
Roman authorities. The religious leaders had condemned Jesus to death on
religious grounds but only the Roman authorities could grant the death penalty.
Jesus’ first appearance before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:2-5, Luke
23:1-5, John 18:28-37), the Roman governor was for the charge of treason and
rebellion crimes. Pilate saw that Jesus was innocent but was afraid to set him
free for a possible uproar caused by the religious leaders. So Pilate sends
Jesus to stand trial before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12). Herod Antipas was the
ruler of Galilee and was in Jerusalem for the Passover. He asked Jesus
questions and demanded to see miracles but Jesus refused to answer. Herod then
sent him back to Pilate. The sixth and final trial was before Pilate (Matthew
27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:13-25, John 18:39-19:16). He knows Jesus is
innocent and he knows that a religious uprising would cost him his position as governor,
so he tries to compromise and have Jesus beaten to satisfy the leaders. When
that didn’t appease them, he finally gave in and hands Jesus over to be
executed.
Jesus is led away to be crucified to the place called
Golgotha (The Skull) where he is nailed to the cross and hangs there as his
body is essentially crushed under its own weight and breathing is extremely
difficult. The gospels record his final words. Both Matthew and Mark record him
saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
Luke records him saying “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke
23:46) and John records “It is finished” (John 19:30). He was laid in a
borrowed tomb. The tomb is sealed and Roman guards stood watch as to deter any
followers from stealing Jesus’ body. Little did they know that the seal and the
guards wouldn’t stop what would happen next.
In conclusion, on Good Friday, Jesus completed the second
part of his mission. He died on the cross for our sins when he was completely
innocent. He took our sins upon himself so that God his father had forsaken
him. While there is mourning on Good Friday, there is also rejoicing. For us,
as believers, our sins have been paid with Jesus’s death on the cross. We have
created many traditions to honor the day with hot cross buns or recreation of
Jesus’s path to Golgotha. No matter what you do, remembering the price which he
paid for us is the important part.
