Good Friday? How about Bad Friday, Black Friday, or Depressing Friday? If this is the day in which we remember Jesus suffering, bleeding, and dying on the cross, what is so good about it? The movie, The Passion of the Christ, in many ways, change the way we feel about Christ suffering. The graphic and bloody movie was a stirring portray of Jesus’ last hours. For some, Good Friday induces feelings of guilt, depression, and even remorse. Christians, on this day, truly feel a sense of sadness.
On this day of sadness, we wonder: Where did we get the term “Good Friday? There is no clear answer, but the word “good” and “God” mixed together in the English speaking world. For instance, the surname “Goodspeed” derives from “Godspeed”, which comes from the expression “God speed (with you)” The expression, “good bye” came from the phase, “God be with ye (you). Despite the origins of the phases, we don’t really feel “good” on Good Friday.
No matter what the origins of the phase comes from we cannot escape our feelings. Are we meant to feel guilty and depressed on Good Friday? We don’t feel “good” about Christ suffering. Are we meant to feel the pressure to be grateful of Jesus’ torment?
Christianity Today recently published an article that gives a good take on this day. John Witvliet explains why we should not punish ourselves:
Contrary to rumor, the church’s observance of Good Friday, which is often accompanied by a decrescendo of light, is not primarily designed to induce a crescendo of guilt. You and I may have a lot of that to deal with—and dealing with it may be a very redemptive thing. But make no mistake: We gather on Good Friday not to wallow in guilt, but to announce that sin and guilt have been atoned for, conquered, healed, addressed, dealt with once and for all, in heaven and on earth through the blood of the cross. (link)
Very well stated. Indeed, we are not meant to wallow, but to declare the Gospel story of atonement (or as I like to say the at-one-ment, that puts us right with God). It is almost impossible to get away from the feelings of agony and pain because of what Jesus went through. Right? Well, sort of.
We cannot deny these feelings, nor should we, however the 5 stages of grief are real for us as they were for Jesus and his disciples:
Denial – “Surely, not I Lord.” (Judas)- Anger – “I will never deny you Jesus.” (Peter)
- Bargaining – “Father take this cup away from me…” (Jesus)
- Depression – “Tell me where you have taken my Lord?” (Mary Magdalene)
- Acceptance - “Not my will, but yours Father.” (Jesus)
Clearly, we cannot hide our emotions, nor should we punish ourselves because of what Christ went through. Christ, who is good, gave up his life willingly and lovingly so that we could have eternal life. There is seriousness on this day, but there is also hope:
Nor is this decrescendo of light designed to generate a crescendo of sadness. True enough, the story is filled with sorrow and shame and agony. Indispensably so. But this is no funeral for Jesus. We know how the story turns out. We live in Easter hope 365 days a year, and the story we tell today is worth telling because it is an act in the Easter drama.
True! This is no funeral for Jesus because he lives! And, lives within us! May this Good Friday truly be good for you and your family. Embrace the good news this Friday: God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good — even in death.
As Tony Campolo said, “It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming!”
