What does Good Friday mean to you?

**forHISglory** · 03-21-2008, 11:14 AM

It's Good Friday, and to me, it represents the worst of humanity and the worst of evil as men sought to kill God. Reflecting on this gives me sorrow, but it is also good for me to take time for this reflection. It's a sort of reality check.

A lot of folks go to church on Good Friday. Our church does not have Good Friday services, but I take time at home to reflect and pray.

I also recognize that if not for Good Friday, then Easter would have no significance. And to me, Easter is the most holy, most significant day of the year. It is such intense hope, that despite the evil of Good Friday, God still has a plan, and God is still in charge. Easter is triumph over evil!!

So that's my take on Good Friday. Does it have any special significance to you? Do you observe it in any way?

**M55FF** · 03-21-2008, 11:21 AM

Good Friday is the Friday within Holy Week, and is traditionally a time of fasting and penance, commemorating the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and death. For Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith. The Catholic Catechism states this succinctly:

Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men (CCC 1992).

This is based on the words of St. Paul: "[Believers] are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood... (Romans 3:24-25, NAB). The customs and prayers associated with Good Friday typically focus on the theme of Christ's sacrificial death for our sins.

The evening (at sunset) of Good Friday begins the second day of the Paschal Triduum. Good Friday worship services begin in the afternoon at 3:00 (the time Jesus likely died). Various traditions and customs are associated with the Western celebration of Good Friday. The singing (or preaching) of the Passion of St. John's gospel consists of reading or singing parts of John's gospel. The Veneration of the Cross is also common, where Christians approach a wooden cross and venerate it. In addition to these traditions, Holy Communion with the reserved host is practiced. In the modern Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, no Masses are said on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, therefore the reserved host from the Holy (Maundy) Thursday Mass is used. This is called the "Mass of the Pre-Sanctified." Another service started by the Jesuit Alphonso Messia in 1732, now less common, the Tre Ore or "Three Hours," is often held from noon until 3:00 PM, and consists of seven sermons on the seven last words of Christ. This service has been popular in many Protestant churches. Good Friday, along with Ash Wednesday, is an official fast day of the Catholic Church.

The Eastern Churches have different customs for the day they call "the Great Friday." The Orthodox Church begins the day with Matins (Morning Prayer), where the "Twelve Gospels" is chanted, which consists of 12 passages drawn from the Passion narratives. In the morning, the "Little Hours" follow one after the other, consisting of Gospel, Epistle, and Prophet readings. Vespers (Evening Prayer) ends with a solemn veneration of the epitaphion, an embroidered veil containing scenes of Christ's burial. Compline (Night Prayer) includes a lamentation placed on the Virgin Mary's lips. On Good Friday night, a symbolic burial of Christ is performed. Traditionally, Chaldean and Syrian Christians cease using their customary Shlama greeting ("peace be with you") on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, because Judas greeted Christ this way. They use the phrase "The light of God be with your departed ones" instead. In Russia, the tradition is to bring out a silver coffin, bearing a cross, and surrounded with candles and flowers. The faithful creep on their knees and kiss and venerate the image of Christ's body painted on the "winding sheet" (shroud). For more information see The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church and The Catholic Source Book.

History

**brenda67** · 03-21-2008, 11:32 AM

It's just another day to me..JMHO..

**mombottoo** · 03-21-2008, 11:50 AM

Good Friday for me means the beginning of Christianity. Without the crucifixion of Christ, Christianity would not exist. JMHO

**Samigirl** · 03-21-2008, 12:08 PM

Good Friday is a day of personal sorrow...a day where I reflect on the fact that Jesus in his perfection, went willingly to the cross to pay for my failure and sin. It's a humbling day of repentance. It is also a day of hope...a reminder that God loves me, and all mankind enough to rescue us from despair. I can't fathom a love so deep. A gift of eternal life that I did not earn, but am grateful beyond measure to have received.

(For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23)

**VanVivCam** · 03-21-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Samigirl

Good Friday is a day of personal sorrow...a day where I reflect on the fact that Jesus in his perfection, went willingly to the cross to pay for my failure and sin. It's a humbling day of repentance. It is also a day of hope...a reminder that God loves me, and all mankind enough to rescue us from despair. I can't fathom a love so deep. A gift of eternal life that I did not earn, but am grateful beyond measure to have received.

(For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23)

This pretty much sums up my belief. I was talking to my daughter this morning about the importance of Good Friday. What a wonderful weekend this is for Christians and Believers World Wide.

We will be attending Church this evening.

**Dixie** · 03-21-2008, 01:44 PM

I agree with Samigirl and VanvivCam.

I will always be thankful to Jesus for his death on the cross. The Bible says that Jesus died for us while we were at our worst. That is amazing love to me.

**IntlMom** · 03-21-2008, 02:21 PM

I'm another one that will be eternally grateful for Christ's death on the cross. Without His death, there would have been no blood shed to save me from my sins and bring the Holy Spirit to live within me. I thank my Jesus for His willing death on a cruel cross.
In the words of Tony Campolo...."It's Friday, but Sunday's a-comin!!!"

**POOTERSMOMMY** · 03-21-2008, 06:07 PM

If you haven't seen Passion of the Christ - you should. It really makes everything so real. I too am thankful for the most precious and unselfish gift ever given.

**FrugalWitch** · 03-21-2008, 06:28 PM

Just another day. However this year it did happen to fall on Ostara, so Happy Ostara to all!

**kellydoeshair** · 03-21-2008, 07:50 PM

I'm not what I would call religious by any means
maybe romantic skeptic, with much respect for what others believe
but for me it means I can't park in the normal spot I do for work, because we share a parking lot with Red Lobster:-(

**HisDaisy** · 03-21-2008, 09:06 PM

Good Friday is a day of reflection. It is day to reflect on my life and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He became an offering for my sin by die on the cross.
It is a sad day, but Sunday will arrive soon enough.

**forHISglory** · 03-21-2008, 11:11 PM

I saw The Passion of the Christ, and it touched me, also, especially the place where Christ stepped on the head of the snake. What a vivid way to show prophecy!

Happy Easter! It's dark now, but the sun(Son) will rise again! I'll be gone a few days, so just wanted to give you Easter greetings.

**Samigirl** · 03-22-2008, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by hunertime

I saw myself in Peter when he denied Jesus because he was afraid, I was touched when Jesus fell and Mary said I'm here, I'm here.

That part of the movie makes me cry every time I see it. My heart breaks for for Mary. It must be the mother in me. I can't imagine the pain she must have gone through, seeing her son suffer, and not be able to do a thing about it.