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Good Friday is a deeply significant Christian festival commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary, and it will be celebrated on April 18, 2025. It is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for the salvation of humankind and takes place during the Holy Week, two days before Easter Sunday. While Christians all over the world remember the suffering and death of Christ, which is fundamental to their faith, the day is marked with seriousness and contemplation. Jesus’s death is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Good Friday’s roots could be traced as far back as the early years of Christianity. The New Testament says that Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor, had Jesus arrested after Judas Iscariot betrayed him and sentenced him to death. He was whipped, mocked, and forced to bear his cross to Golgotha, where he was crucified. Despite it being called “Good,” it is a day of sorrow in remembrance of the immense sufferings Jesus had to endure. The designation “Good Friday” likely resulted from an early application of “good” for “holy” or “pious.”
History of Good Friday
The events that preceded the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a turning point in Christianity, form the foundation of Good Friday’s history. In accordance with the New Testament of the Bible, specifically the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Pontius Pilate, the Roman leader, arrested Jesus, judged him, and sentenced him to death by crucifixion. This occurred when Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus, betrayed him and handed him over to the Roman authorities.
Significance of Good Friday
Good Friday is meaningful as it has a spiritual message of love, sacrifice, and salvation. Jesus’ death for Christians was a necessary element in God’s plan to redeem man from sin, not the end. His crucifixion is said to have opened the door for God and man to be reconciled. Due to this, the day is a reminder of pain as much as a celebration of hope, building up to Easter Sunday, which honors the resurrection of Jesus.
It is observed by numerous religious faiths around the world on Good Friday. Numerous individuals attend unique church services commemorating the Passion of Christ, often featuring hymns, prayers, Gospel readings, and veneration of the cross. The faithful often abstain from food or avoid meat during Catholic and Orthodox denominations. Especially in countries such as Spain and the Philippines, some communities engage in processions or reenactments of the crucifixion. Importantly, the Catholic Church does not have Mass on Good Friday, which serves to underscore the solemnity of the day.
Good Friday is a public holiday in many countries, such as the UK, Australia, Canada (some provinces), and some states in India. Although some states observe it, it is not a federal holiday in the US. Despite its legal status, Good Friday is nonetheless one of the most sacred days of the year to millions of Christians, and it offers an opportunity to reflect on the scope of God’s love and the value of unselfish sacrifice.
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