What is Good Friday?

Good Friday, observed by Christians worldwide as the day Jesus Christ was crucified, is history’s most paradoxically named event. 

It commemorates a brutal execution that, paradoxically, became the cornerstone of a faith now followed by over 2 billion people. But how did an ancient Roman method of capital punishment become a holy day marked by prayer and fasting? 

The historical crucifixion

The story begins in 1st-century Jerusalem under Roman occupation. Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish preacher who’d gained fame for miraculous healings and radical teachings like loving enemies and championing the poor, had just entered the city to cheering crowds waving palm branches, an event now celebrated as Palm Sunday. 

But within days, the mood soured.

Jewish religious leaders saw him as a blasphemer because he called himself the "Son of God" and a threat to their uneasy truce with Rome. The Roman governor Pontius Pilate, though unconvinced of Jesus’ guilt, bowed to pressure and sentenced him to crucifixion—a torturous death reserved for rebels and slaves. 

By midday, as the Bible recounts, darkness fell over the land. Jesus uttered his final words "It is finished", and by sunset, his body was sealed in a tomb.

This wasn’t just another execution. Early Christians believed Jesus, as the Messiah, had willingly died to "bear the sins of the world." 

As the Apostle Paul later wrote, "God proved his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Thus, the darkest Friday in history became "Good" because of the redemption it symbolised.

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From sombre rituals to superstitions

Over the centuries, Good Friday evolved into a day of stark contrasts in observance:

1. The "three hours’ agony": 

Many churches hold services from noon to 3 PM, mirroring the hours Jesus hung on the cross. In places like Malta, entire towns fall silent; even radio stations pause broadcasting.

2. The hot cross buns:

These spiced buns marked with a cross, originated in 14th-century England. Monks distributed them to the poor, and they became so associated with Good Friday that Queen Elizabeth I banned their sale except on this day, fearing they’d become magical charms.

3. Controversies: 

Some Protestant groups reject observing Good Friday, arguing every day should focus on Christ’s resurrection, not his death. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, actual crucifixions still occur as extreme acts of penance.

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Why call it "good"?

The name’s origins are murky. Some suggest "Good" evolved from "God’s Friday" in Old English. Others argue it reflects the theological "good" of salvation outweighing the horror of the cross. 

In non-English languages, the day’s name is often more sombre: "Karfreitag" (German for "Mourning Friday") or "Viernes Santo" (Spanish for "Holy Friday").

Good Friday’s relevance today

Good Friday is a statutory holiday in over 50 countries, from Canada to Australia. Modern reinterpretations focus on universal themes: sacrifice, injustice, and hope amid suffering.

Here’s what makes Good Friday unique: It’s not the end. Christians believe Jesus rose three days later, an event celebrated as Easter Sunday. The cross, once a symbol of shame, became one of victory. As poet John Donne wrote, "Death, thou shalt die."

This is the 2,000-year-old story of a love so radical, it turned execution into exaltation. Now that’s good news.

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