What is Good Friday?

"Jesus answered, 'My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.'" —John 18:36 (NLT)

Good Friday (also called "Holy Friday") is the Friday before Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. It's a time for Christians to remember the significance of the events of the day Jesus was crucified on the cross (Matthew 27).

The Bible doesn't command us to set aside a certain day to remember Christ's sacrifice. In fact, in the final hours of Jesus' time on earth, He taught His disciples to remember Him through observing communion (also called "the Lord's Supper") (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). But Good Friday is an additional day observed by the church once a year.

Should we observe Good Friday?

"Some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable." —Romans 14:5 (NLT)

We are not specifically commanded to observe Good Friday, so it's a personal decision whether to participate (Romans 14:5). Just make sure that you don't judge anyone else for their convictions. Some churches hold Good Friday services, and you can participate in good conscience if you wish to.

Good Friday services stand in stark contrast to the joyful light and excitement of Easter Sunday services. Solemn hymns or other songs are performed or sung as a congregation, prayers of thanksgiving are spoken, a message centered on Christ's suffering for us may be given, and an observance of the Lord's Supper may all be a part of such a service. It's usually very subdued and leaves space for quiet, inward contemplation.

What's so good about Good Friday?

"God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." —Romans 5:8 (NLT)

Good Friday is not so much a "celebration" as it is a remembrance. It might seem weird to call a day "good" when it's the day Jesus was brutally beaten, abused, and put to death on a cross. All the horrible things that were done to Jesus were anything but "good" (Matthew 26-27).

Why would we want to remember something so gruesome? Because what happened as a result of Christ's death turned out to be the greatest gift mankind would ever receive.

Without His crucifixion, there would be no resurrection. Without His sacrifice, there would be no salvation. There's no resurrection into new life without being buried with Him in His death (Romans 5:8; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 3:18).

Regardless of if we observe Good Friday as a holy day, we should continue to remember the truth of these events in our hearts always. Why? Because Jesus' sacrifice is the only reason we can have hope in eternity (Romans 6:23).

"We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." — Romans 6:4 (NLT)

For Bible references in this video, check the description on YouTube.

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