The name "Good Friday" may seem paradoxical, as it commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. Still, it is thought to have originated from the phrase "God's Friday," which over time evolved into "Good Friday."
The day's goodness lies in the belief that Jesus' death is a great sacrifice for the forgiveness of humanity's sins and the promise of eternal life. Since the beginning of Christianity, Good Friday has been commemorated as a day of grief, penance, and fasting.
The Scriptures highlight that on this day, the Jewish religious authorities brought Jesus to the Romans for judgement after condemning him the previous evening for claiming to be the son of God and king of the Jews. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sent Jesus to Herod, who then returned him to Pilate, who ultimately condemned Jesus by crucifixion, the most severe form of capital punishment at the time. Pilate ordered that Jesus be scourged and beaten to appease the Pharisees and the mob. Afterwards, at the Pillar, Jesus was scourged and flagellated (John 19:1; Mark 15:15; Matt. 27:26).
After a vicious scourging, Jesus was mocked by Roman soldiers (Matt 20:19, Mark 10:34, and Luke 18:32). The mocking of Christ took place in three stages: right after his trial, immediately following his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, and when he was being crucified. The mockery focuses on Jesus' prophetic and kingly roles. The soldiers spat on Jesus, knelt before him, and jeered: "Hail, King of the Jews" (Matt 27:29).
The Roman soldiers mocked and ridiculed Jesus as the "King of the Jews" after they placed a crown of thorns on his head the morning of his execution. (Matt 27:29). The crown of thorns may have been fashioned by the Roman soldiers as a mock coronation for a lowly political prisoner.
The crown of thorns is a reminder of two things: (1) Jesus was and is indeed a king. What the Roman soldiers intended as a mockery was a representation of Christ's dual roles as a triumphant Messiah-King (Rev 19) and a suffering servant (Isa 53). (2) For our sakes, He was prepared to endure suffering, slander, and humiliation.
They stripped him and dressed him in a red robe (Matt. 27:28), a horrible parody of the imperial attire. A red robe symbolises a royal gown. They knelt before him and said, "Hail, king of the Jews!" (Matt 27:29). This was done as a mockery of Jesus' kingship. They then repeatedly beat him on the head with the stick and spat on him. Then they were made to carry a large wooden cross through jeering onlookers before the Romans finally nailed his wrists and feet to a wooden cross.
Jesus was mocked by the chief priests and teachers of the law, who said: "He saved others, but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Finally, one of the convicted thieves who was crucified on the side of Jesus also heaped insults at him (Mark 15:32). According to the Gospel of Mark, He died by the 9th hour of the day (at around 3 pm).
Over the centuries, many changes have been made to the Good Friday liturgy. There is no mass in the Roman Catholic Church; only a liturgy is held on Good Friday. Holy Communion, consecrated during the Maundy Thursday mass, was administered by the officiating priest starting in the 13th century. However, since 1955, the lay people also received Communion on Good Friday. The liturgy of Good Friday consists of reading the Gospel Passion narrative, the cross veneration, and Communion distribution.
How Good Friday is marked across the world
Many churches hold special services that commemorate Jesus' journey to the cross, such as the Stations of the Cross. Processions, crucifixion reenactments, and cross veneration are held in most churches to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for humanity and the importance of his death and resurrection. In certain nations, like the Philippines, Christ's followers even participate in self-flagellation and crucifixion to demonstrate their love for Jesus. Some men are nailed to a cross every year to recreate the crucifixion of Jesus.
After an earthquake in Peru in the 17th century, the Jesuits added the Three Hour Service, a contemplative prayer on Jesus' "Seven Last Words on the Cross." That happens between noon and three o'clock. Similar rites occur in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which does not observe Communion on Good Friday.
Today, many Italians decide to fast or stick to a fish-only diet. Every church statue and cross is covered with black or purple fabric in observance of the Catholic Church's day of mourning.
In Jerusalem, where Jesus' crucifixion took place, many individuals on pilgrimage carry crosses and retrace the steps Jesus took to the cross at Golgotha. There is an evening funeral procession in which participants reenact the burial of Jesus.
A custom in Jamaica entails cracking an egg and separating the yolk from the white. They will add the egg white to a glass of water before dawn. The egg will produce patterns on the glass as the sun's heat heats it. Elders from Jamaica once thought that the way predicted death.
One of the most unusual Good Friday customs is practised in Bermuda. On this holy day, the residents enjoy a feast of codfish cakes, hot cross buns, and kite flying. The kites' spectacular flight represents Christ's ascension to heaven.
