by Brooke Brinker, Staff Writer
Good Friday falls on the Friday before Easter and is a significant day for Christians as it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While Easter and Palm Sunday are typically joyful occasions, Good Friday tends to carry a more somber tone.
The story of Good Friday is recounted in the Gospels of the Bible—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus, betrayed by his disciple Judas, was arrested by Roman soldiers and tried for claiming to be the king of the Jews.
He was sentenced to death by crucifixion, compelled to carry his cross up a hill while wearing a crown of thorns. Despite the torment, Jesus asked God to forgive his persecutors, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus knew that not everyone would believe in him or choose to follow him, but he still sacrificed himself out of love. This act of sacrifice is why Good Friday is called “good news”—Jesus took the punishment for humanity’s sins, offering the possibility of salvation and eternal life to all who believe in him.
On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, an event known as the Resurrection, as foretold in the Bible. He continues to perform miracles every day.
Since the early days of Christianity, Good Friday has been observed as a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. Despite the pain of Jesus’s death, Christian’s honor and commemorate it because they believe he died for their sins, making the ultimate sacrifice.
“For me, Good Friday is a day to remember how much Jesus loves us and to reflect on the sacrifice he made on the cross, all because of the love he had for us,” said Tamar Alzate, a sophomore majoring in clinical psychology. “Every day I feel thankful for his compassion.”
Catholics around the world observe Good Friday by attending mass, praying the rosary, refraining from certain activities like listening to music or watching TV, engaging in Bible studies, attending church services, and spending quiet time with Jesus.
Grace Lundfelt, a junior majoring in nursing, said, “It’s the day that Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. And as Catholics, we fast and show reverence to the sacrifice he made for us.”
As Christians around the world reflect on the significance of Good Friday, they remember the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the weight of our sins and suffered for our redemption.
