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Two millennia ago, a moment unfolded that shook the foundations of humanity. It involved the tragic execution of a religious teacher, a man of compassion, by powerful figures succumbing to popular demand. This event saw his own people turn against him, with many of his closest followers abandoning or denying their allegiance. In the face of hostility, he endured the merciless mockery, torture and humiliation inflicted by soldiers.
This teacher faced crucifixion, a brutal method of execution. Despite the agony surrounding him, he refrained from returning the animosity of those around him. Instead, he embodied his teachings by offering forgiveness and grace to his persecutors.
On that day, an innocent man met a harrowing demise. The Christian Gospel according to Matthew describes nature’s own mourning as it reacted to the event, stating that the temple curtain tore in two, the earth trembled, rocks split, and tombs opened. This response signifies the profound impact of the day.
The man revered within Christian faith as the Son of God, a pillar of the Trinity, descended into the depths of despair to embrace the world’s sins.
Within the Christian tradition, this pivotal day is known as Good Friday. But why is this harrowing day characterized as good?
Many Christians perceive the saga of Jesus as the narrative of an omnipotent God humbling Himself by entering into fellowship with His flawed creation. This grand entry began with His birth to impoverished teenagers, in a stable typically reserved for animals, heralded not by affluent rulers or clergy, but by humble shepherds.
During his lifetime, Jesus chose to live in relative anonymity. He dedicated himself to learning, loving others, and studying the Scriptures. His public ministry lasted a mere three years, during which he left no written record. Instead, he surrounded himself with the marginalized rather than society’s affluent and influential. He dedicated his time to those battling disease, hunger and thirst.
In an age marked by patriarchy and systemic discrimination, Jesus actively chose to associate with women, outcasts, and those suffering from various afflictions. His disciples were not warriors; they were often the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Many lacked formal education. Yet their inherent fragility resonated with deeper divine humor as Jesus showed that faith trumps all displays of power.
Expectations among the Jewish community centered on a messianic figure possessing military strength. Contrary to these anticipations, Jesus never commanded an army nor wielded a sword. When one of his followers resorted to violence by severing a soldier’s ear, Jesus reprimanded him and miraculously restored the injured man. Ultimately, this powerful God incarnated as flesh met His end as a condemned criminal, executed beyond the city’s walls, witnessed only by a handful of followers and a deriding crowd.
Everything about Jesus contradicted the expectations of the messiah. This paradox raises the question of how we can label such a tragic day as ‘good’?
In the etymology of the term “good” in Good Friday, there may be traces linking its meaning to
