April

Good Friday

April Good Friday Commemorating the execution of Jesus Christ by Crucifixion

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It is one of the most important days for the people of the Christian faith, commemorating the execution of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. It is a day of mourning in both Catholic and Orthodox churches with Christians remembering Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

Quick facts
When is it?

What’s the date pattern? The Friday before Easter Sunday
Tagged as
  • Religion & Belief
What’s the hashtag? #GoodFriday

good Friday

Easter is a famous Christian holiday, praising the Resurrection of Christ, the miracle upon which the Christian faith was established. However, Easter is not an isolated event. There’s a complete chain of Christian events that fall before Easter during the Holy Week. One of the most important events is Good Friday, the day on which Jesus was crucified, commemorated the Friday before Easter Sunday.

Good Friday Dates For Orthodox and Catholic

The date of Good Friday is calculated differently in Western and Eastern Christianity. The Western Christianity calculates Good Friday using the Gregorian Calendar, while Eastern Christianity uses the Julian Calendar.

According to the Gregorian Calendar — In Western Christianity, Good Friday can fall between 2nd April and 6 May. In Eastern Christianity, Good Friday can fall between 20 March and 23 April.

  • Good Friday 2023 (Catholic): Friday, 4 Feb
  • Good Friday 2023 (Orthodox): Friday,11 Feb

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is a Christian religious holiday observed annually to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is also known by the names of Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Jesus’ Sacrifice.

Good Friday is part of the Holy Week, And also a part of the Easter Triduum (the three days liturgical period that includes Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday).

As the date of the Jewish festival of Passover is reliant on the Jewish lunisolar calendar, Good Friday falls between March 20th and April 23rd annually. Easter Sunday, which observes the Resurrection of Jesus following his crucifixion, falls on the Sunday two days after Good Friday.

Shortly after having his Passover meal, known as the Last Supper, Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas. He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and was ordered to be crucified by Pontius Pilate over allegations that professed to be the Son of God. Despite the fact that Christians today believe Jesus is the Son of God and their Savior, the priests and people of his time said this was blasphemy that deserved capital punishment.

According to Christian scholars, the crucifixion of Jesus occurred on Friday in the year 33 AD, and Jesus stayed on the cross from 9 am to 3 pm. The entire of his suffering is known as the Passion of Christ.

What happened on Good Friday?

While Jesus was on Earth, he taught his people about God’s love, did many miracles like calming storms, raised people from the dead, and healed people from their sickness. At this time, the Jewish people were observing a festival called Passover (a famous Jewish spring festival that commemorates the freedom of Israelites from Egyptian slavery). So Jesus was going to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

The news that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem swept through the city. The people of Jerusalem heard about all the amazing miracles he had done, so they decided to arrange a Grand Welcome for Jesus on Palm Sunday. To know more about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, click here: Palm Sunday Story

Increasing Jealousy for Jesus, Judas the Disciple Agrees to Betray Jesus

The Pharisees and religious rulers of that time got jealous of the amazing treatment that Jesus was receiving from the general population. They felt threatened by the love and following Jesus was gaining. These people got together with Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus who too was jealous of all the love that he was receiving. Judas agreed to betray Jesus and hand him over to religious leaders for some money (30 pieces of silver).

Jesus’ Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and His Prophecy on His Sacrifice Tomorrow

On Thursday evening in Jerusalem, Jesus sat down with his disciples to eat the Passover meal. There, He told his friends that the next day he would leave them all and join his Father in Heaven. As one amongst them had already taken money to betray him.

During the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus presented the ordinance of the communion as a recognition of the body and blood he would soon sacrifice for all mankind.

“And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many” (Mark 14:22–24).

Roman Soldiers Capture Jesus and Pass Him Through Unjust Trials

After the Passover meal or the Last Supper, Jesus along with his Apostles marched towards an olive orchard at the foot of the Mount of Olives called Gethsemane. Reaching there, Jesus prayed intensely to his Father. Luke affirmed of the intensity of the Jesus’ prayers to his Father:

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood pouring down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

“This blood was shed for the atonement of our sins” (Alma 24:13)

Later, some armed Roman soldiers sent by the Pharisees and chief priests arrived at Gethsemane. Among these soldiers was Jesus’ disciple Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Jesus for money). Judas showed the soldiers who Jesus was and He was arrested by the forces.

Jesus was taken to the rulers of the land so that they could decide what to do with him. He was presented before the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Council) and the high priests asked him if he was the Messiah, the Son of God? To this, Jesus replied: “I am”. Listening to this, the council members got furious and said that it is an insult to God. They shouted that Jesus is guilty of blasphemy and he deserves to be sentenced to death!

Not having the legal authority to carry out Jesus’ capital punishment, the Jewish Council took Jesus before the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate on early Friday morning, and he heard the case against Jesus.

Approval of Jesus’s Death Sentence – Crowd Chants “Crucify him, we want him dead”

After interrogating Jesus’ case, Pilate didn’t think that Jesus had done anything wrong and he found him to be innocent. But the crowd kept screaming louder and louder: “Crucify him, we want him dead”.

Jesus's DeathAs a Passover tradition, the Roman governor could discharge one prisoner as per the decision of people. To abstain from shedding innocent blood, Pilate asked for the people’s decision — release Jesus or a man named Barabbas, who was a killer sentenced to jail. Everyone in the crowd voted for Barabbas’ release and asked Pilate to carry out Jesus’ death sentence by shouting: “Crucify Him” (Mark 15:14) Because of the pressure of the crowd, Pilate turned Jesus over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Jesus had himself predicted these events leading to his crucifixion, earlier:

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death” – “and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day, he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:18-19)

Jesus’s Crucifixion Carried Out in the Most Painful Way

Following the sentencing, Jesus was hurt and spit on. His clothes were torn and taken from him, and a crown made out of thorns was put on his head. He was beaten with a whip of leather strips weighted with metal and edged with pieces of bone. He was beaten so badly that he could barely stand on his own. And then he was forced to carry his cross so far up a mountain that he needed help because he could not do it on his own. This suffering at the hands of soldiers fulfilled Old Testament Prophecy (refer to Isaiah 53:1-12)

Bleeding and in pain, Jesus was forced to carry his cross to The Skull (Golgotha), receiving help only from Simon the Cyrenian. Once Jesus made it to the place where he would be crucified called The Skull, the soldiers around him nailed his hands and feet to the cross and waited for him to die. Jesus cross was placed between two other men who were being crucified that day.

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, many people shouted to him “if you really are the son of God save yourself from the cross”. But Jesus knew he had to die to forgive his people for their sins. Even going through so much suffering from the hands of his own people, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus’s Last Breathe and Final Moments On The Cross

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land. Three hours later, Jesus took his last breath and finally died. Jesus said, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). At that very moment, the curtain in the temple that separated the priests from God’s holy place tore in two and there was a great earthquake. A soldier watching the whole thing said: “this man truly was the Son of God”.

Then a righteous man named Joseph came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Joseph brought him down from the cross and laid him in a cave and made it his tomb. They sealed the cave with a rock.

Three days passed and it seemed that there was no hope. But very early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, the woman who cared for Jesus went to go visit his body and found that his tomb was empty and that he was no longer there. Mary stood crying outside the tomb.

“Don’t be afraid”, said an angel. “He is not here, he is risen”. (See here: JOHN 20)

At this, the woman remembered that Jesus had told them that he would rise again on the third day and ran to go tell the disciples what they had seen and heard.

And then for the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to his disciples and many others and showed them that he was alive and well. He taught them that what he did was the only way that they could be forgiven and be with God forever for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Why it is called Good Friday?

We know from the above Good Friday story that the events occurring on this day were treacherous and horrific. It’s not obviously a happy or good day for the Christians. Why then, do Christians call this Friday “Good Friday”? Here’s the answer:

A Compensation For Sins

As the Bible says, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). From the garden of Gethsemane to the place of The Skull (Golgotha) where crucifixion took place, Jesus accepted all the weight and agony of every sin and wrongdoing ever known to mankind.

If you have at any point felt pain from wrongdoing, you realize how difficult that might be, but you can’t begin to comprehend the agony and extreme pain suffered by Jesus Christ. Jesus felt the pain for each sin. The pain for the sin of each individual. For you. Through Jesus’ willing act, God’s requirement for justice and His desire for mercy and kindness were balanced.

The Resurrection of Jesus

On the Sunday after Jesus’ Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb to show regard and bless his body with embalming oils. But Jesus’ body was there and the tomb was empty. Jesus has risen and His body was restored in perfect form. Jesus had defeated death and thus he lives today. Furthermore, His Resurrection guarantees that we will all live forever.

As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26).

Silhouette of Jesus carry his cross on the hill

So Good Friday is called Good Friday because of the ending of the story. It ends with the pardoning of mankind sins and guarantee of eternal salvation.

Good Friday Prayer

O Jesus, Who by reason of Thy burning love for us
hast willed to be crucified
and to shed Thy Most Precious Blood
for the redemption and salvation of our souls,
look down upon us here gathered together
in remembrance of Thy most sorrowful Passion and Death,
fully trusting in Thy mercy;
cleanse us from sin by Thy grace,
sanctify our toil,
give unto us and unto all those who are dear to us our
daily bread,
sweeten our sufferings,
bless our families,
and to the nations so sorely afflicted,
grant Thy peace,
which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Thy commandments
we may come at last to the glory of heaven.
Amen.

How is Good Friday Celebrated?

Christians around the world commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. Across the globe, there are Good Friday processions, the reenactment of Jesus crucifixion, and extraordinary religious services to mark Good Friday. Some adherents go that extra mile to honor Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of His people, by mimicking His suffering and sometimes literally nailing themselves on the cross. Have a look at Good Friday celebrations around the world:

Good Friday in Bermuda

Bermuda has one of the most unique Good Friday celebrations. A common custom associated with Good Friday in Bermuda is flying kites and eating a meal of codfish cakes and hot cross buns. The high-flying kites in the blue skies symbolize Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

Good Friday in El Salvador

During the Holy Week in El Salvador, people of Catholic Churches pull buckets of colored sawdust to the streets. Then, on Holy Great Friday, they transform the raw materials into colorful scenes, which portray the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Soon after this, a Holy Friday procession takes place mimicking the Jesus’ funeral.

Good Friday in England

On Holy Friday in England, a huge number of British people gather together in London Trafalgar Square to observe the passion play portraying the execution of Jesus. The play continues for more than an hour, with free entry for the public. Different Holy Good Friday shows are also telecasted online in England.

Good Friday in Germany

One of the largest Good Friday celebrations takes place in Bensheim, Germany. There’s a Grand Good Friday procession, which is attended by thousands of people. Families from the local community portray the betrayal, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus in a theatrical performance.

Good Friday in Ireland

Since Ireland has a majority of the Catholic population, Good Friday in Ireland is commemorated with great honor and regard for Jesus. Most of the pubs are closed in observance of this somber holiday. On this day, people remember Jesus’ crucifixion and shed tears in His remembrance – the suffering which Jesus faced just to forgive the sins of his people.

Good Friday in Israel

In Jerusalem, the city where Jesus was crucified, people of Christian faith in Isreal honor their Messiah by marching the very same path Jesus did on that day. People who participate in this walk, bear the same weight Jesus did by carrying huge crosses on their backs.

Good Friday in Malta

All of Holy Week is celebrated with great honor in Malta, and the celebrations turn Grand on Easter Triduum, the three day period which includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, a lot of processions take place in almost all towns and villages of Malta. The story of Good Friday is told during these processions, and people remember the events that occurred on this day.

Good Friday in Mexico

Mexico holds one of the most unique Good Friday celebrations. In Iztapalapa, Mexico, thousands of characters reenact Jesus’ walk to his death in a theatrical performance. One man, picked for his character and physical strength, goes the additional mile by playing the role of Christ. He is dressed like Jesus, wears a crown of thorns, and is flogged on the roads, all while carrying a heavy 200-pound cross on his back.

Good Friday in Peru

Just like Ireland, Good Friday is a somber holiday in Peru, as well. The commemoration of Jesus’ crucifixion is marked with processions throughout the city streets. In Lima, hundreds of believers rush to the artwork of the crucifixion of Jesus called the Lord of Miracles, which was painted in the 1600s by a slave. The days following Good Friday: Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are lively celebrations with traditional meals in Peru.

The modern fresco Jesus Calms the Storm in church Chiesa di San Agostino from 20. cent

Good Friday in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the men wear a crown of thorns and tied to the cross. A very painful Good Friday tradition that is still followed in Pampanga, Philippines, is that around 3 to 12 men are literally nailed to a cross on Good Friday to recreate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The men stay nailed on the cross for several hours until they feel washed down of sins.

Good Friday in Spain

Good Friday is one of the great religious festivals for Catholics in Spain. All over the nation, fellowships of priests hold Good Friday processions in towns and villages. The most intense observances take place in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, in which Catholic men self-beat themselves as an act of faith.

Good Friday in Rome

The Holy Week is a mega celebration in Vatican City and Rome, with Catholics of different countries gathering together for the festivities. On Holy Friday, the Pope recites the “Way of the Cross” outside the Colosseum. A large cross with torches burns in the sky and adherents hold their very own candles as the “14 Stations of the Cross”, which portray Jesus’ path from unjust trials to sentencing to crucifixion, are read.

The Stations of the Cross are used in numerous other countries as well, for example, Spain and Puerto Rico, representing the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Some Other Good Friday Customs & Traditions Around The Globe

Many Christians observe a fast on Good Friday. While in some nations fasting for everything but one meal is considered important, in others it is just the meat that is forbidden on this day and fish is generally eaten.

Hot cross buns are a delicacy in the UK, USA, and Australia on Good Friday. The cross on top of the buns represents Jesus Christ. These hot buns are loaded up with dried fruits and sold in large amounts during the Holy Week.

In many countries where Good Friday is celebrated, it is common among the worshipers to carry a heavy 200-pound cross on their backs during the Good Friday processions.

Numerous people of Christian faith also reenact the Passion of Christ on Good Friday. In some areas, men literally nail themselves on the cross and stay nailed for several hours while they feel their sins are washed away!

Indian and Pakistani Catholics take part in Good Friday processions to reenact the Passion of Christ on this day. Passion plays are an emotional presentation showing the passion and crucifixion of Jesus and are an essential custom of Good Friday festivities for Christians.

Good Friday in Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Christianity: Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics, Byzantine Christians, Eastern Christians

In the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christianity, Good Friday is known as “Great and Holy Friday”, or “Great Friday”. Deep scarlet red and purple are the traditional Holy Week colors, but on Great Friday these colors are replaced with dark black. The church hangings are also changed to black and will remain so until Easter Sunday.

The faithful remember the events of Great Friday through the reading of Psalms, the Gospels, and singing hymns about Jesus’ crucifixion. Both adults and kids, take part in Good Friday lessons and learn in detail about the events that occurred on this day.

 

Many Byzantine Christians also observe a strict fast on this day, known as the Black Fast. The people who observe fast on this day, abstain from eating and drinking the entire day to the extent their bodies can bear the thirst and hunger. Old or ill people, who are unable to observe fast for so many hours, are given bread and water after sunset. In this way, the people of Oriental and Orthodox Christianity fulfill the commandment of the Holy Apostles not to eat or drink on Great and Holy Friday.

The Matins of Great Friday, known as The Order of Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, start on Maundy Thursday night with the Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels. There are twelve readings from all four of the Gospels which commemorate the events starting from Jesus’ Passion to the Crucifixion and Burial. Some Orthodox Churches, have a candle-holder with twelve candles on it, and after each Gospel reading, one of the candles is lit.  Just before the Gospel reading of the chapter of Jesus Crucifixion, a large cross is brought inside the church by the priest and is placed in the center of the congregation.

During the Holy and Great Friday Service, believers kiss the feet of Christ on the cross, followed by Great Friday hymn, Royal Hours pray, and commemoration of Jesus Descent from the Cross or Deposition from the Cross.

Good Friday in Western Christianity: Roman Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Latin Church

In Western Christianity, Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday. The Roman Catholic Church regards this day as the Paschal Fast. In the Latin Church, a fast is observed on this day with believers having only one full meal or two collations (two small meals on the day of fasting).

There’s no celebration of Mass on Good Friday. The only sacraments observed on this day are Baptism (the Christian ritual of sprinkling water on to an individual’s forehead, symbolizing purification and admission to the Christian Church), Penance (the obtaining of absolution for the sins committed against God), and Anointing of the sick (religious anointing for the benefit of an ill person). Holy water fonts are also emptied on this day, and no bells are rungs on Good Friday.

In Western Christianity, Good Friday consists of three parts liturgy: the Liturgy of the Word (symbolizing the grief and sorrow), the Adoration of the Cross (commemorating the cross used in Jesus Crucifixion), and Holy Communion.

Other than the Good Friday liturgical services, the Stations of the Cross (a series of images portraying Jesus on Holy Friday and accompanying prayers) are prayed on this day. Another common Good Friday tradition in the Roman Catholic Church includes prayers as Acts of Reparation for the sufferings that Jesus went through during his Passion on Holy Friday.

Good Friday in Lutheran Church

Good Friday is one of the most important days in the Lutheran Church. A common Good Friday service in the Lutheran Church is the devotional practice of “The Stations of the Cross”, which consists of 14 different stations, each one depicting an event that occurred in the Passion of Jesus. Creative art, combined with literature and prayer help the believers as they perform this service.

Then, there’s there commemoration of the “Seven Last Words of Jesus”, which were the seven last phrases spoken by Jesus during his crucifixion. Mentioned in the Gospels, these phrases reveal Christ’s Divinity and Christ’s Love for his people.

Good Friday in the Lutheran Church is accompanied by the ritual of “Tre Ore” service. Tre Ore refers to the time that Jesus Christ was on the cross. The congregation chant hymns, observe silent meditation, and the station of the cross during this service.

Tenebrae is generally held the evening of Holy Friday and includes the dimming of lights and extinguishing of candles. The Christ candle is expelled from the sanctuary and a “Strepitus” or loud clamor (hammering shut the Bible) symbolizes the heavy earthquake that struck the city at the Passing of Christ.

Good Friday: Public Holiday, Religious Holiday, State Holiday

Good Friday is a religious holiday in many countries with a strong Christian tradition and Christian majority. The day is observed as a public or federal holiday in:

Australia, Brazil, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, the countries of the Caribbean, Finland, Germany, Malta, Mexico, Hungary, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Peru, the Scandinavian countries, the Philippines, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom. Fore more information check out world national holidays.

In the United States, there are 12 states that observe a state holiday on Good Friday. These states are:

Hawaii, New Jersey, North Dakota, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

In the Netherlands, some people have a day off on Good Friday, while others work.

Good Friday Importance & Teachings

The people of Christian faith have declared the cross and Resurrection to be the definitive defining moment for all creation. On Holy Friday, Christians recall the day Jesus willingly suffered and got crucified as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and wrongdoings.

It is trailed by Easter, the wonderful festival of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, proclaiming his triumph over sin and death and indicating ahead a future resurrection for all those who are joined to him by faith.

Good Friday or Holy Friday, as horrendous as it was, denoted the sensational perfection of God’s arrangement to save his people from their wrongdoings and sins. As terrible as that day seemed, it needed to happen for us the mankind to get the delight of Easter Sunday. The anger of God against sin had to be spilled out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, all together for pardoning and forgiveness to be spilled out to the nations. Good Friday, the day that appeared to be the victory of evil was actually the final knockout in God’s good plan to reclaim the world from bondage.

Good Friday: Signs, Symbols, Icons

Good Friday

There are different symbols and signs attached with Good Friday and with the crucifixion of Jesus. The team at DayFinders brings an overview of these symbols that have been used over a long period of time, and across different countries where Good Friday is observed annually.

The Cross – By his crucifixion on the Cross, Jesus made the way of salvation for us all. Along these lines, we kiss the wood of the cross on Good Friday. By kissing the cross, we respect Jesus’ generosity as well as commit to living by that cross.

Black color ­- Unlike other days of the Holy Week, black color is used on Good Friday. The cross, statues, paintings in churches are covered with black cloth. Some people also create a plain appearance in their homes by removing all flowers. The color black is used to signify mourning and grief.

Hot Cross Buns – Hot Cross Buns are a delicacy in the European countries on Good Friday. The cross on top of the buns represents Christ.

Good Friday: Discussion Questions & Answers

Good Friday commemorates the execution of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. Jesus was crucified. The Messiah was sentenced to death. Darkness fell all over. Jesus has risen.

But Good Friday also raises many questions: Why did Jesus have to die? Why the curtain of the temple torn in two when Jesus died? Why Jesus didn’t save himself from being crucified? Below is the list of most frequently asked questions about Friday, answered.

Why did Jesus have to die?

Jesus death was a part of God’s plan for our salvation. It might be weird to us today, but animals sacrifices for compensation of sins (a compromise between God and people) were common in that time. Lambs were sacrificed in the sanctuary to make up for sin. God accepted the sacrifice of the animal as a substitute for the death that the sinner deserved.

Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice to make up for the sin of all people. Through His crucifixion, people have washed away from the deadly grip of wrongdoing. Although we don’t completely know how or why of Jesus’ crucifixion, it offers us a possibility for salvation, and that is the main belief and faith of Christianity.

Where was Jesus crucified?

Jesus was crucified at a site immediately outside Jerusalem’s walls, known as Golgotha or Calvary (the place of the skull).

Who was responsible for Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death?

The Pharisees, chief priests, Judas the disciple, Pontius Pilate, the Roman soldiers, and the crowd who cheered “Crucify Him”, were all responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion and death.

However, you have to understand the fact that death on the cross was Jesus’ destiny. When the right time came, Jesus did what was important to make sure it occurred as planned. He angered his rivals (Matthew 23). He showed no resistance when the Roman soldiers came to arrest him. He even showed no resistance when he was sentenced to death. Jesus said those in charge of his death were fulfilling God’s will (Mark 10:33-34, Matthew 26:53-54, John 12:24-28, 19:10-11). Jesus knew that he needed to die to atone for the sin of all people.

Who buried Jesus after his death?

Jesus was buried by a righteous man named Joseph, who came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Joseph brought him down from the cross and laid Jesus in a cave and made it his tomb. They sealed the cave with a rock.

How long did Jesus stay in the grave?

Jesus stayed in the tomb until Easter Sunday, when he was resurrected. So Jesus stayed in the tomb for two days only.

How many hours was Jesus on the cross before he died?

Jesus remained nailed on the cross for six hours. According to Mark’s Gospel, he suffered the torment of crucifixion for some six hours from the third hour (about 9 am) until his death at the ninth hour (about 3 pm).

How far did Jesus walk with the cross?

Although the Bible or other Christian scriptures, don’t tell in detail that for how long Jesus walked with the cross, but according to some archaeologists the distance was most likely less than a mile, about 0.3 – 0.5 kilometers. They arrived at this by calculating the area distance between Pontius Pilate’s palace to Golgotha, the crucifixion place.

Who betrayed Jesus?

Jesus was betrayed by his disciple, named Judas Iscariot. Judas was jealous of Jesus and agreed to the hand over Jesus to the religious leaders for some money (30 pieces of silver).

What happened to Jesus after he rose?

Jesus was raised from the dead by God on Easter Sunday. He appeared to witnesses for 40 days, before ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

What year did Jesus die on the cross?

According to Christian scholars, the crucifixion of Jesus occurred on Friday in the year 33 AD, and Jesus stayed on the cross from 9 am to 3 pm. The entire of his suffering is known as the Passion of Christ.

How big and heavy was the cross that Jesus carried?

According to the Research Scholars of Oxford University, Jesus was 5’11 ft. tall and weighed 85 Kg. The crucifix or the cross that he carried was between 120-150 Kg with 8 feet breadth and 15 feet in length. It is said that Jesus had fallen thrice on his way carrying the cross.

 

How old was Jesus when he was crucified?

Most of the Fathers and Catholic Tradition support the theory that he was between 33-36 years of age when being crucified.

How many days was Jesus alive after he rose from the dead?

Jesus was raised from the dead by God on Easter Sunday. He appeared to witnesses for 40 days, before ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

Birthday celebration on Good Friday and eat cake?

According to most scholars, On Good Friday we are supposed to be one with the suffering of Christ in a very somber way, in order to feel His pain so that this way, we may be more connected to Him. Celebrating Birthday party does not sound appropriate. You can always move your birthday to another day.

On the day of Good Friday fasting, you are allowed one ordinary meal and two other things during the course of the day that would not, together, add up to a full meal. A slice of cake would fall into the latter category. There is no requirement about what your food that day should consist of, except that it may contain no meat, of course.

Why is Good Friday called “Good?”

The “good” is the salvation our Lord’s sacrifice earned for us.

Is it Okay to attend a wedding on Good Friday?

Good Friday is not a holy day of obligation, and there is nothing in Church law that would forbid you from attending a wedding of a non-Christian relative held on that date.

But on the other hand, you have to understand that Good Friday is a day of deep prayer and to go dancing at a wedding would be a total disregard for the remembrance of the day our Lord and Savior died for us. For many scholars, it’s not an appropriate day for party or functions.

Can you drink on Good Friday?

Catholics observing Good Friday should abstain from drinking alcohol on Good Friday.

Can you eat meat on Good Friday?

Catholics observing Good Friday should abstain from eating meat on Good Friday. The Catholic law of abstinence dictates that Catholics aged 14 and older should refrain from meat on Fridays altogether during Lent, including on Good Friday.

Can you eat chicken on Good Friday?

You should not eat chicken on Good Friday. The only meat ordinarily allowed on Good Friday is fish.

Can you shower on Good Friday?

Yes, you can shower on Good Friday. Avoiding a bath on Good Friday is just plain, silly superstition.

Good Friday Facts

Good Friday is the Friday that falls before Easter. It is one of the most important religious days for the people of the Christian faith, commemorating the execution of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. It is a day of mourning in both Catholic and Orthodox churches with Christians remembering Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

Good Friday greetings

2022 Date: Friday, Feb 4 (Catholic) – Friday, Feb 11 (Orthodox)

Observances: Good Friday Processions, Good Friday Black Fast, Reenactment of the Passion of Christ, Good Friday Worship Services, Prayer and Vigil Services, Reading the story of Good Friday

Significance: Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus

Also called: Holy Friday, Good Holy Friday, Great Friday, Holy and Great Friday, Black Friday, Friday before Easter

Good Friday – QUIZ & Answer

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Catholics honor the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Which popular devotion commemorates Good Friday?

The Stations of the Cross.

Why was Jesus sentenced to crucifixion?

He was convicted of proclaiming himself to be the King of the Jews.

What happened to Jesus after he was flogged before his crucifixion?

He was forced to carry His cross to the place of execution.

How many times did Jesus fall during his walk to the execution site?

He fell three times.

What words did Jesus cry out before his death?

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
  • So this is all you need to know about Good Friday. Liked the info? Do share it with your friends and family, and let them understand what is Good Friday in a clear and explicit manner.
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