It is Holy Week, and one of the most important days of Holy Week is Good Friday. You’ve probably heard of Good Friday before but do not know what it is. Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! After the events of Maundy Thursday comes Good Friday. That is the day that Jesus was officially sent to the cross and died for our sins. If Jesus died, then why is it called Good Friday? We’ll get to that ;), so without further delay, let’s get into what is Good Friday and why it is important.
The Events of Good Friday
To learn more about Good Friday, we will go through the events that took place, following the book of John, so you can get a clear idea of what this day was like. This will help you understand the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice and His immense love for humanity. Jesus went through great ordeals and suffering just so we could have a personal relationship with Him and spend eternity in Heaven!
Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to live a victorious life every day. We don’t have to be defeated in any way; when Jesus died, He destroyed all the power of the enemy! There is nothing left for him, so rejoice because you already won because you have Jesus! So, let’s look into why today is, in fact, a good day!
Jesus Goes Before Pilate
Early on Good Friday, the high priests brought Jesus before Pilate, the governor of the Roman providence of Judea. John 18:29-30 reads, “Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” Notice how the high priests were not able to give an exact answer. The accusations against Jesus were that He taught the doctrine they disagreed with. Also, He is the Son of Man; it was evident that Jesus was through His signs and wonders. However, they allowed their jealousy and anger to overtake them.
Don’t Let Go of Your Assignment
When you’re preaching and talking right, people will hate you. And sometimes, it will be people who claim to be a part of the church! But you must hold onto your assignment! God gave you something to say for a reason, and He didn’t care if people would like it or not. He has a message to bring through you! So, take the prosecution with stride because you are in good company!
As Pilate questioned Jesus, he found fault in Him and was confused as to why He was brought before him in the first place. However, the Jews wanted Jesus dead and would not stop until then. So, traditionally, Pilate would release a prisoner to the Jews during Passover, and they chose a robber named Barabbas over Jesus.
Regarding what to do about Jesus, the Jews “cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law, He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of God.” (John 19:6-7)
Don’t Partake in Wickedness
Pilate let the responsibility of killing Jesus go to the Jews because he wanted no part in it. When you see evil happening around you, don’t be peer pressured to partake. God holds us to a higher standard and expects us to stand apart. Though everyone may want something or do something, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. As young Christians, peer pressure exists all around us, but we must take a stand!
Even if the wicked thing appears to be the popular thing to do, you must deny the temptation. It doesn’t matter what the consequences are from man; what matters is God’s opinion. You must sow good fruit in order for good to return to you, so be mindful of what you do. Even if your friends and family are doing it, don’t give in, and do what God requires of you!
Jesus Sentenced and Crucified on Good Friday
Pilate tried to understand what Jesus had done wrong, but the Jews overwhelmingly shouted, “Crucify Him.” Matthew 27:24 says, “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” they replied, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Don’t Let Hate Rule You
The Jews, at this moment, had no idea what they were saying. Their hatred for Jesus was so intense it blinded them. It skewed their understanding of the responsibility they were taking for killing Jesus. Though it was a part of God’s plan for Jesus to die, I want this to be a lesson on not allowing hate to overshadow your judgment. Getting revenge may feel good in the moment, but God said vengeance is Mine.
God is supposed to handle those kind of things, not you. Your responsibility is always to show the love of Christ and let God deal with people. No matter how much you disagree with someone or dislike them, you must obey God. Hate is an evil thing that is an open door for the enemy. He uses hate to control you and your actions, so be mindful when you start not to like someone. Pray for wisdom concerning the situation, forgive, and let God handle the rest.
Jesus Beaten
The Roman soldiers took Jesus to prepare Him for crucifixion and beat Him brutally, to the point where He didn’t even look human. They then mocked Him by putting a crown of thorns on His head and dressed Him in a purple robe. They yelled, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.” John 19:3.
Also, a quick disclaimer: Depending on the book you read, whether John or Matthew, some say the mocking and beating took place before Jesus was sentenced to death, and others (Matthew) say it took place after. Also, some say a scarlet robe and other gospels say purple.
At this point, to make sure you’re following, Jesus was arrested, brought to trial, brutally beaten, and now He was on His way to be crucified. On the top of His cross, they wrote, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Some told Pilate to write, I AM THE KING OF THE JEWS, but Pilate refused; this leads me to believe that Pilate believed Jesus was the Son of God. Again, refusing to take part in evil and not being responsible for Jesus’ death.
Jesus at the Cross
The Roman soldiers stripped Jesus of His garments and made Him carry His cross. However, Jesus was so weak that He couldn’t do it, so a man named Simon carried it for Him. Jesus was crucified on a hill called Golgotha, and He was placed between two robbers. The Bible says from 12 pm to 3 pm, it was dark. Just imagine, during the regular hours of sunlight, it was dark; some say the sun refused to shine because of the fate of the Son.
While Jesus was on the cross, they blasphemed and mocked Him, saying things like, “You’re the son of God; can’t You get yourself down?” Jesus suffered humiliation for our sake, and even though He did have the power to get Himself down the cross, He didn’t for us. So we can spend eternity with Him and also live a victorious life! It demonstrates the indescribable love God has for His creation.
Matthew 27:46 says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” God forsook Jesus so that He would never have to forsake us. Though it hurt God to see His own Son die, He did it so that we could be with Him for eternity and escape Hell! After this, they gave Him wine from a sponge, and after drinking it, Jesus said those famous words in John 19:30: “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
The Veil Was Torn on Good Friday
There was an earthquake, and Mark 15:38 says, “Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Now, it is humanly impossible for the veil to be torn in such a way. But it represented our ability to have a relationship with God. From the top down, it shows that God was now opening His arms to mankind and allowing us into His presence. We have an open door to God because of Jesus and His sacrifice. Now, anyone and everyone could have a close, intimate relationship with God.
When Jesus was finally dead, “evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.” This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock, and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed (Matthew 27:58-60 NKJV). This is the end of Good Friday, but it is not the end of the story, and I’ll be back Sunday to share about His resurrection and its importance!
Why Good Friday is Good!
Good Friday is important because it was the day Jesus suffered and died for our sakes so that we can have healing, freedom, and eternal life! I Peter 2:24 says, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” We can live sin-free and sickness-free, all because of what Jesus did on Good Friday, and we can be righteous! We are redeemed from the curse and can live in blessing, as Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),” I encourage you to read all four of the Gospels because each one presents Good Friday a little differently.
God’s Unfailing Love
Good Friday is good because it shows God’s unconditional, unfailing, overwhelming love for us. It is the day that Jesus restored God’s relationship with man so that we don’t have to spend eternity in Hell! It sounds like good news to me—to spend forever with the God who loves me the most! I want you to know that God loves you and doesn’t want to be apart from us.
John 3:16 says,” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “You only have eternal life if you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection. So, if you feel you haven’t fully accepted Christ, say this prayer:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of my sins and turn my back to them; I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I accept Him into my heart now; I believe Jesus is Lord, and By faith, I give Him my whole life, heart, mind, and soul. Amen!” If you said this prayer, go to the I Just Got Saved page for church recommendations, a Bible, and a journal! I hope this helped, and God bless! You are blessed, and Jesus loves you beyond measure, which is why He did what He did! I hope this helped, and God bless!
Helpful Resources
The Gospels
This was lovely!! Thank you!
Glory be to God! I’m grateful to Him you enjoyed this! Be blessed!