Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Christ on the Cross. It is a day of reflection
and mourning, but the graciousness of God’s sacrifice makes it ‘good’.
Good Friday is observed to commemorate the crucifixion of Christ on the Cross
at Calvary and is considered to be the most important day on the Christian
calendar after Easter. It is the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and his
subsequent resurrection on Easter Sunday that form the cornerstone of the Christian
Faith. Good Friday will be observed by Christians all over the world
observing Good Friday, it is, in general, a day of quiet reflection and mourning.
Church services are
usually held between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to coincide with the timing of the
crucifixion and focus primarily on the events that
lead to his death as well as his Seven Utterances from the cross.
why is it called ‘good’? This is a common question asked by those who literally
connect the gloomy nature of the day with its name. Good
Friday, in fact, unfolds the goodness of God’s plan to offer Himself as the
ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind and offer all repenting believers a pathway to paradise.
Good Friday church services across most Christian denominations. The Seven
Sayings reveal the purpose of God’s plan, his forgiving character and magnify
the painful sacrifice He made in the flesh while enduring terrible physical
torture.
Jesus spent the last hours before the crucifixion at several places in Jerusalem.
He started the evening in the Upper Room, in southwest Jerusalem. At the Last
Supper, He told the disciples that His body and His blood were to be given for
them.(Matt 26: 26-29)
He went outside of the city to the Garden of Gethesemane. He was then arrested
and brought back to the to the palace of the High Priest. where He was questioned
by Annas, a former High Priest, and Caiaphas, Annas' son in law . Afterwards,
He was tried by the Sanhedrin, and found to be guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming
Himself the Son of God. He was sentenced to the death penalty. Since only the
Romans were able to execute criminals, He was sent to Pontius Pilate at the Antonia
Fortress. Pilate, not finding anything wrong, sent Him to King Herod , who returned
Him back to Pilate. Pilate, submitting to the pressure of the crowd, then ordered
that Jesus be flogged and crucified. He was finally led out of the city walls
to be crucified at Calvary.
Before the crucifixion, however, He was forced to walk 2.5 miles over a sleepless
night, during which He suffered great anguish through His six trials, was mocked,
ridiculed and severely beaten, and was abandoned by His friends and Father.
being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
all the disciples deserted him and fled."
Psa 22:11: "Do
not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help."
While in Gethesemane, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Jews.
His disciples all desert Him, even at the expense of running away naked (Mark
14:51-52). He is bound (John
18:12) then brought back to the city to the court of the High Priest, which
is located near the Upper room.
witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he
may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two
or three witnesses."
Deut 17:6: "On
the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but
no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness."
Mark 14:56: "Many
testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree."
While in the court of the High Priest, He was questioned by Annas (John
18:13) and struck by a soldier (John
18: 22). He was then brought to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. who sought
to put Jesus to death by the false testimony of many witnesses. The witnesses
brought against Him did not agree. By the law, no one could be put to death
without the agreement of two or three witnesses. Although the witnesses did
not agree, He was found guilty of blasphemy when He told them of His identity
as the Son of God. He was sentenced to death. Jesus suffered ridicule from
the palace guards, who spat on Him, beat Him and slapped Him on the face.(Mark
14:65.) During the trial, Peter denies Him three times. The proceedings
of Jesus' trial violated many of the laws of His society. Among some of the
other broken laws were:
to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,
and handed him over to be crucified."
The Sanhedrin met early the next morning and sentenced Him to death. (Matthew
27:1) Because the Jews were not, and the Romans were, able to carry out
an execution, Jesus was brought before Pilate. The charge was now changed
to an allegation that Jesus claimed to be King and forbade the nation to
pay taxes to Caesar. (Luke
23:5) In spite of all the charges, Pilate finds nothing wrong. He sends
Jesus to Herod. Jesus is speechless before Herod, except to affirm that He
is King of the Jews. Herod sends Him back to Pilate. Pilate is unable to
convince the crowds of Jesus' innocence and orders Jesus to be put to death.
Some sources state that it was Roman law that a criminal that was to be crucified
had to be flogged first.
and mourning, but the graciousness of God’s sacrifice makes it ‘good’.
Good Friday is observed to commemorate the crucifixion of Christ on the Cross
at Calvary and is considered to be the most important day on the Christian
calendar after Easter. It is the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and his
subsequent resurrection on Easter Sunday that form the cornerstone of the Christian
Faith. Good Friday will be observed by Christians all over the world
A Day of Somber Reflection and Mourning
While various Christian denominations follow their unique traditions whenobserving Good Friday, it is, in general, a day of quiet reflection and mourning.
Church services are
usually held between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to coincide with the timing of the
crucifixion and focus primarily on the events that
lead to his death as well as his Seven Utterances from the cross.
What is "Good" about Good Friday?
If Good Friday is day of mourning over the crucifixion of Christ on the Cross,why is it called ‘good’? This is a common question asked by those who literally
connect the gloomy nature of the day with its name. Good
Friday, in fact, unfolds the goodness of God’s plan to offer Himself as the
ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind and offer all repenting believers a pathway to paradise.
The Seven Last Words of Christ
Reflecting on the Seven Utterances of Christ forms the foundation for mostGood Friday church services across most Christian denominations. The Seven
Sayings reveal the purpose of God’s plan, his forgiving character and magnify
the painful sacrifice He made in the flesh while enduring terrible physical
torture.
- “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
- “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke
23:43). - “Woman, behold thy son! … Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26).
- “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).
- “I thirst” (John 19:28).
- “It is finished” (John 19:30).
- “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (see on Luke 23:46).
Jesus spent the last hours before the crucifixion at several places in Jerusalem.
He started the evening in the Upper Room, in southwest Jerusalem. At the Last
Supper, He told the disciples that His body and His blood were to be given for
them.(Matt 26: 26-29)
He went outside of the city to the Garden of Gethesemane. He was then arrested
and brought back to the to the palace of the High Priest. where He was questioned
by Annas, a former High Priest, and Caiaphas, Annas' son in law . Afterwards,
He was tried by the Sanhedrin, and found to be guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming
Himself the Son of God. He was sentenced to the death penalty. Since only the
Romans were able to execute criminals, He was sent to Pontius Pilate at the Antonia
Fortress. Pilate, not finding anything wrong, sent Him to King Herod , who returned
Him back to Pilate. Pilate, submitting to the pressure of the crowd, then ordered
that Jesus be flogged and crucified. He was finally led out of the city walls
to be crucified at Calvary.
Before the crucifixion, however, He was forced to walk 2.5 miles over a sleepless
night, during which He suffered great anguish through His six trials, was mocked,
ridiculed and severely beaten, and was abandoned by His friends and Father.
GETHESEMANE : oil press
Luke 22:44 Andbeing in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
"the Spirit of God ....crushed"
From the upper room, Jesus went outside of the city walls where he spent time in prayer at the Garden of Gethesemane. The garden has many ancient olive trees today, some of which may have grown from the roots of the trees that were present in Jesus' time. (All trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 A.D. Olive trees can regenerate from their roots and live for thousands of years.)
It was here that Jesus agonized in prayer over what was to occur.
It is significant that this is the only place in the KJV where the word "agony" is
mentioned.(Strong's concordance) The Greek word for agony means to be "engaged
in combat"
It is significant that this is the only place in the KJV where the word "agony" is
mentioned.(Strong's concordance) The Greek word for agony means to be "engaged
in combat"
Jesus agonizes over what He is to go through, feeling that He
is at the point of death.(Mark14:34) Yet He prays, "Not my will, but thine
be done."
is at the point of death.(Mark14:34) Yet He prays, "Not my will, but thine
be done."
ABANDONED BY MAN
Matthew 26:56: "Thenall the disciples deserted him and fled."
Psa 22:11: "Do
not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help."
While in Gethesemane, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Jews.
His disciples all desert Him, even at the expense of running away naked (Mark
14:51-52). He is bound (John
18:12) then brought back to the city to the court of the High Priest, which
is located near the Upper room.
THE ISSUE OF WITNESSES
Deut 19:15: "Onewitness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he
may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two
or three witnesses."
Deut 17:6: "On
the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but
no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness."
Mark 14:56: "Many
testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree."
While in the court of the High Priest, He was questioned by Annas (John
18:13) and struck by a soldier (John
18: 22). He was then brought to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. who sought
to put Jesus to death by the false testimony of many witnesses. The witnesses
brought against Him did not agree. By the law, no one could be put to death
without the agreement of two or three witnesses. Although the witnesses did
not agree, He was found guilty of blasphemy when He told them of His identity
as the Son of God. He was sentenced to death. Jesus suffered ridicule from
the palace guards, who spat on Him, beat Him and slapped Him on the face.(Mark
14:65.) During the trial, Peter denies Him three times. The proceedings
of Jesus' trial violated many of the laws of His society. Among some of the
other broken laws were:
- Any arrest could not be made at night.
- The time and date of the trial were illegal because it took place at night
and on the eve of the Sabbath. This time precluded any chance for the required
adjournment to the next day in the event of a conviction. - The Sanhedrin was without authority to instigate charges. It was only supposed
to investigate charges brought before it. In Jesus' trial, the court itself
formulated the charges. - The charges against Jesus were changed during the trial. He was initially
charged with blasphemy based upon His statement that He would be able to
destroy and rebuild the Temple of God within three days, as well as His claim
to be the Son of God. When He was brought before Pilate, the charge was that
Jesus was a King and did not advocate paying taxes to the Romans. - As stated above, the requirement of two witnesses in agreement to merit
the death penalty was not met. - The court did not meet in the regular meeting place of the Sanhedrin, as
required by Jewish law. - Christ was not permitted a defense. Under Jewish law, an exhaustive search
into the facts presented by the witnesses should have occurred. - The Sanhedrin pronounced the death sentence. Under law, the Sanhedrin were
not allowed to convict and put the death sentence into effect. (John
18:31)
PILATE'S VERDICT
Mark 15:15 - "Wantingto satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,
and handed him over to be crucified."
The Sanhedrin met early the next morning and sentenced Him to death. (Matthew
27:1) Because the Jews were not, and the Romans were, able to carry out
an execution, Jesus was brought before Pilate. The charge was now changed
to an allegation that Jesus claimed to be King and forbade the nation to
pay taxes to Caesar. (Luke
23:5) In spite of all the charges, Pilate finds nothing wrong. He sends
Jesus to Herod. Jesus is speechless before Herod, except to affirm that He
is King of the Jews. Herod sends Him back to Pilate. Pilate is unable to
convince the crowds of Jesus' innocence and orders Jesus to be put to death.
Some sources state that it was Roman law that a criminal that was to be crucified
had to be flogged first.
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