What is Good Friday?

by | Apr 10, 2020 | 02 Library, What is

This post last updated March 206

Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross on the Friday before Easter or Resurrection Sunday. It’s called “good” because Christians believe Jesus died in our place, paying the penalty for sin so that forgiveness could be just and real.

Why is it called “Good” Friday?

That sounds like a strange name, doesn’t it? Why call the day Jesus was tortured and executed “good”?

Because Christians believe the crucifixion is the moment Jesus willingly took our place under judgment so that God could forgive sinners without pretending our sin doesn’t matter. The day is good because what God accomplished through the cross is good.

How can the death of an innocent man be “good”? Jesus’ death is more than ancient history. It is the center of God’s rescue plan, the foundation of the gospel.

Jesus died as a substitute—the righteous for the unrighteous—so that the penalty of sin could be paid and forgiveness could be just. That’s why the cross sits at the center of Christian faith.

Having Begun by the Spirit, Are You Perfected by the Flesh

Easter: Why have you forsaken me? Mark 15:22-41

What Happened on Good Friday?

The events of Good Friday are recorded across all four Gospels.

Thursday night: Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples (Matthew 26:17-35) and then went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). There, Jesus spent his last hours praying to the Father while his disciples slept nearby.

Early Friday morning: Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:47-56), then brought before the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, and condemned (Matthew 26:57-75).

Before Pilate: Because the Jewish leaders needed Roman authorization for execution, they took Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea (Matthew 27:1-26). Pilate found no reason to charge Jesus.

Before Herod: When Pilate discovered that Jesus was from Galilee, which was under Herod’s jurisdiction, Pilate Jesus sent to Herod in Jerusalem. Jesus refused to answer Herod’s questions, so Herod sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:6-11).

Sentenced and mocked: Although Pilate found no basis for the charges against Jesus, he feared the crowds, so he sentenced Jesus to death. Jesus was brutally beaten, mocked, struck on the head with a staff and spit on (Matthew 27:27-31). A crown of thorns was placed on his head. He was stripped naked and forced to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion. When Jesus grew too weak to continue, Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry it for him.

Crucified at Calvary: Soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross and posted a sign over his head that read “King of the Jews.” Jesus hung on the cross for approximately six hours while onlookers mocked him and soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing (Matthew 27:32-56) .

Burial before the Sabbath: As evening fell, Joseph of Arimathea (with the help of Nicodemus) took Jesus’ body down from the cross and had him placed in his own new tomb. A great stone was rolled over the entrance, sealing the tomb (Matthew 27:57-66). 

Resurrection Sunday: God resurrected Jesus from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10).

What do expiation and propitiation mean?

What should Christians do on Good Friday?

The Bible doesn’t command a specific annual Good Friday service. (Like Lent, this is a church-calendar practice.) But remembering the cross is always appropriate.

If you’re looking for simple, non-performative ways to observe Good Friday, here are a few that keep the focus on meaning:

  • Read one Gospel crucifixion passage slowly (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19).
  • Listen to a teaching that explains what’s happening at the cross, not just the emotions of the moment.
  • Pray with honesty: confession, gratitude, and hope—because the story doesn’t end in the tomb.

Telling the Story

When churches moved their services online in 2020 due to COVID, I took advantage of the opportunity to “attend” about 10 different Good Friday services. This video above was my favorite. Why was it my favorite? Because this service concentrated on telling the story of Good Friday.

That’s a helpful standard: Good Friday isn’t mainly about mood. It’s about meaning: what happened, why it matters, and how it connects to Easter.

What is Lent?

Where to next: What is the Gospel?

Questions? Please ask

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