Today, Christians all over the world commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ whom they revere and worship as God-the-Son and Saviour of the world. The day is popularly known as Good Friday. Crucifixion is understood as a sacrifice by Jesus in which he demonstrates his perfect love for humankind. Christians believe that this singular act of Jesus’ suffering and death saved the world from sin and death; the salvation referred to is not essentially about human and mundane experiences, but about an ultimate experience hoped for at the end of time or in an afterlife, which however, is predicated upon the quality of this mundane life reckoned by morality and spirituality.
The circumstances and events that led up to the death of Jesus are graphically represented in the gospels of the Christian’s Bible. They include: first, the insurrection engineered by the leaders of the Jewish people, especially the high priests, which led to the arrest of Jesus, facilitated by one of his closest associates known as Judas Iscariot. Secondly, the unusual arraignment of Jesus before the Governor in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate, who was unschooled in Jewish religion, tradition and culture and the consequent political intrigue which led to his condemnation for crimes ranging from felony to treason, though in real sense was a mere religious misdemeanor called blasphemy. Thirdly, the subjection of Jesus to an unprecedented physical torture, lethal laceration and execution by crucifixion at the apex of Mount Calvary known as Golgotha together with two other notorious criminals.
On Good Friday, Christians live out these realities again through charity, fasting, prayer and abstinence recommended as ways of personal participation in the suffering of Christ. These mere human actions are believed to contribute to their quest to gain the salvation hoped for at the end of time.
In observing Good Friday, Christians are mindful of the Last Supper of Jesus often celebrated on the previous day known as Maundy or Holy Thursday. The Last
Supper is understood, especially in the Catholic tradition, as the bloodless version of the bloody sacrifice of Good Friday. The celebration of the Mass which derives from the Last Supper is understood in that tradition as a re-enactment of the suffering and death of Jesus in a bloodless manner.
It is difficult to separate the Last Supper from his crucifixion, death and Resurrection. That is why Triduum is used to refer to these great Christian events which took place in seventy-two hours. Triduum is made up of two Latin words-Trium – three and Dies – Days which stands for three inseparable days. Until the fourth century, the Last Supper, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus were celebrated in one swoop on the eve of Easter.
Many Christian denominations especially the mainline churches which include Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant and some Reformed traditions (including certain Continental Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches), observe Good Friday with fasting and church services. It is the culture of Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches to hold services to commemorate the three great hours of Jesus’ agony on the cross which usually begins by 3pm on Good Friday. In keeping with this culture, Good Friday is the only day, mass is not celebrated in the Catholic Church. Before 1955, from medieval times, it was only priests who received Holy Communion on Good Friday, which was consecrated on Holy Thursday.
Good Friday is in common sense a sorrowful day; the sense of “Good” ascribed to it derives from “Holy, Pious or Awe-inspiring”. The son of God inspires humanity on the scary trajectory of human life dotted by betrayals, injustices, denials, abandonment, suffering and lastly death. Jesus becomes the icon of a triumphant earthly life which Christians should emulate, not just a benefactor-conqueror from whose exploits they should benefit. Christians are charged to willingly undertake the uncomfortable and less pleasurable paths in life which purges them of earthly filth and prepares them for eternal life.
Written by REV. FATHER CHIKA OKPALIKE
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