Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?

Why is “Good Friday” called “Good Friday”? 
By Mayborn Lyngdoh R

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ, the son of God was flogged mercilessly, ordered to carry the cross on which He was to be crucified, humiliated, spit-on, and then nailed to the cross. He bled until every ounce of blood oozed out of his body. It is difficult, too difficult to commit oneself to think that it was ‘good’.  

The BBC states that originally according to the Oxford English Dictionary the adjective traditionally designates “a day or season observed as Holy by the Church and hence the ‘good tidings for Christmas”.  

Translation and mis-translation also acts as a major contribution. The Catholic Encyclopaedia, first published in 1907, states “the origins are not very clear”. It says that some origins look upon it as “God’s Friday” taken from the German translation of “Gottes Freitag”. Germans also used “Gute Freitag”. ‘Gute’ translates as quantity which can be understood as “Long Friday” as perceived by the Anglo-Saxons and is referred to as such in modern day Denmark. It is also referred to as “Great Friday” in Greek liturgy and “Holy Friday” in others.  

The above are the etymological connection to the term “Good Friday” which can only be understood under the argument: 

Good Friday is the commemoration of the Lamb of God that was sacrificed for the sake of humanity.  

Why would Jesus, a God trade the Cross? 

If we delve into the Old Testament, animals were sacrificed to sanctify human inadequateness. The evil snare of sin grew stronger with each passing generation until there was a need for God to come and die for us. He traded the suffering and agony of the Cross because man is too precious. The sins underneath the heart of man is much greater than the agony of the Cross. 

 Loukas 23:39 “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and save us” is a common question that we often ask unfruitfully. 

Hebrew 9:28 “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him”. We are born in sin. Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in my sin my mother conceived me”.  

Therefore, there was a need. In human language, we have learnt that “Nothing is for free”. We always have a price to pay. He paid for our sins with His life. His body was mutilated and broken, and His blood was shed (Luke 22:19 “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me”. John 6:54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day”.) so that we could be saved.  

While on the Cross gasping for his last breath, Jesus was given a sour drink to quench His thirst, “It is finished” and bowing his head he gave up His spirit.  

We fail to understand the importance of the accuracy of the meaning of the word “Good Friday” because we cannot understand how great it is to be forgiven. It is ‘Good’ because “It is finished” (John 19:30). It is good because we are redeemed. It is good because He died so that we could live. And best of all – It is good because He died so that death could be conquered.  

Jesus led by example. He had always wanted us to be just like Him. Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God”.  

To conclude, when we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God, we become partakers of Christ and He lives within us. Since Christ conquered death, we too now have a shot at Heaven.  

IT IS GOOD! 

Amen.

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