Good Friday: Meaning, Scripture, and How to Observe This Solemn Day

Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Church year. It holds profound significance for Christians as we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary. It is a day marked by deep spiritual gravity as we remember the sacrificial love of Christ, who bore the sins of the world and “reconciled to Himself all things, whether in heaven or on earth, making peace by the blood of His cross”

(Colossians 1:20).

As we observe Good Friday, we are invited into a time of quiet reflection and reverence. Christians around the world pause to consider this pivotal moment in our salvation story, when God’s love was fully revealed through the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross.

In Scripture

The events of Good Friday, the betrayal, trials, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ, are recorded in all four Gospels.

After His arrest, Jesus was brought before the Jewish religious leaders, including the high priest Caiaphas. There, He was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. Though He offered little defense, the council declared Him guilty and determined that He deserved death.

Because they did not have the authority to carry out an execution, Jesus was then sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. He was accused of claiming to be a king, which was seen as a threat to Roman authority. Although Pilate found no fault in Him, he attempted to appease the crowd by offering to release either Jesus or Barabbas, a known criminal. Influenced by the chief priests, the crowd chose Barabbas.

Pilate, symbolically washing his hands to show his innocence, ultimately handed Jesus over to be crucified. According to Luke’s account, Pilate also sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who likewise found no reason for condemnation and returned Him.

Jesus was then mocked, beaten, and crowned with thorns by Roman soldiers. He was forced to carry His cross to Golgotha, “the place of the skull,” where He was crucified between two criminals. Above His head, a sign declared Him “King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

During the crucifixion, darkness came over the land, and Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Before His death, He entrusted the care of His mother to the disciple John and declared, “It is finished.” At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, the earth shook, and tombs were opened, revealing the significance of what had taken place.

After His death, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who had not agreed with their decision, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. He wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in his own new tomb, which had been cut into the rock. The tomb was sealed with a large stone and guarded.

Prophetic Fulfillment

The events of Good Friday are not only historical but deeply rooted in prophecy. The suffering and death of Jesus fulfill what had been foretold in the Old Testament, revealing that His sacrifice was part of God’s redemptive plan from the beginning.

In Isaiah, we read of the “suffering servant,” one who is despised, rejected, and bears the sins of many. This passage has long been understood as pointing to Christ and the purpose of His suffering.

Psalm 22 begins with the very words Jesus spoke on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The psalm goes on to describe details that closely reflect the crucifixion, including the piercing of hands and feet and the casting of lots for garments, while ultimately turning toward hope and praise.

Zechariah 12:10 speaks of one who is pierced and mourned, which is fulfilled in the piercing of Christ’s side during the crucifixion (John 19:34–37).

Psalm 34:20 declares that not one of the righteous man’s bones will be broken. This, too, is fulfilled in Jesus, as His legs were not broken, unlike those of others who were crucified.

The Good Friday Service

Good Friday has been observed by the Church since at least the fourth century. Early accounts from Jerusalem describe believers gathering to venerate the cross and remember the events of Christ’s Passion.

Today, the Good Friday service remains deeply somber. Traditionally held between noon and 3 p.m., it marks the hours Christ spent on the cross.

The church is stark and stripped bare. The altar is without cloths, candles, or adornment. Crosses may be veiled, and the clergy are often dressed in black, reflecting the Church’s posture of mourning.

During the service, a wooden cross is brought forward, and the congregation is invited to reflect on its meaning.

O ye people who pass by on your journey, behold and see,Look upon me: Could there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow?Behold and see, all ye people come, give heed,And consider my grief and sorrow.— O Vos Omnes, Tomás Luis de Victoria

The Veneration of the Cross follows, an ancient practice in which believers honor the Cross and what was accomplished through it. We are reminded of the words of John 3:16–17, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, not to condemn the world, but to save it.

Holy Communion is not consecrated on Good Friday. In some traditions, however, the faithful receive from the reserved sacrament that was set apart the night before. This is the last time the Eucharist is received until Easter.

The service concludes with the Lord’s Prayer, and all depart in silence.

The Stations of the Cross

Many churches also offer the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. This devotional practice traces the events of Christ’s final day, from His condemnation to His burial.

The Stations originated as a way for early Christians to retrace Jesus’ steps along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Over time, this practice was brought into local churches so that all believers could participate in this prayerful remembrance.

There are fourteen stations, each marking a moment in Christ’s suffering. As individuals or families move from station to station, they are invited to reflect, pray, and consider the depth of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

Ways to Observe Good Friday

• Read Luke 23:1–54, Isaiah 52:13–53:12, and Psalm 22

• Attend a Good Friday service at your church

• Observe a fast, as this is a traditional fast day of the Church

  • Many abstain from meat and alcohol

  • Some observe a more complete fast, taking only water

  • This is not expected of young children but may be practiced by adults and older children

• Walk the Stations of the Cross, either at church or at home

• Watch a film about the life of Christ or listen to sacred music

• Cover crosses in your home with black cloth

• Wear black as a sign of mourning, and explain its meaning to your children

  
  

You may also choose to make Hot Cross Buns, a long-standing Good Friday tradition. These buns, marked with the sign of the cross, date back to at least 1361 at St. Alban’s Abbey, where they were distributed to the poor. They are traditionally eaten after the Good Friday service and serve as a simple reminder of the Cross.

the recipe -

Hot Cross Buns.pages

Download PAGES • 254KB

Hot Cross Buns

1 package dry yeast

¼ cup warm water (100-110 degrees)

1 teaspoon white or light brown sugar

1 cup milk

½ cup butter

1/3 cup brown or raw sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

4 to 4 ½ cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground ginger

2/3 cup dried currants or raisins

Icing:

2 tablespoons milk

4 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar (more if needed)

Grated rind of one lemon

Sprinkle the yeast into the lukewarm water. Stir in one teaspoon sugar. Let sit until frothy.

Scald the milk. Add the butter, sugar and salt. Stir until blended. Cool to lukewarm. Beat the eggs until light, and combine with the milk mixture. Add the yeast.

Sift 3 ½ cups of the flour with the spices into a mixing bowl. Make a well, and pour in the yeast mixture. Beat for 5 minutes.

Toss the currants with the remaining ½ cup of flour. Mix into the dough.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. The dough should be fairly firm: otherwise, it will not take the cuts for the cross.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover the dough with a towel and put it to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in volume; this will take about two hours.

Punch the dough down. Shape it into two dozen buns. Place them 1 ½ to 2 inches apart on well-greased cookie sheets or in muffin tins. With a sharp knife, cut a cross on the top of each bun. Allow them to rise until doubled in bulk, 30 to 45 minutes.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

For the frosting: Mix the milk with enough sugar so that the icing is not runny. Add the rind. Brush a cross on the top of each bun.

Recipe from A Continual Feast.