Friday is Good

Good Friday is called “Good” because of the day’s connection to Easter. Certainly, the actual day of Jesus’ death did not feel “good” to any of His family or friends. But then, on Sunday morning, resurrection redefined His death. Since then, every Holy Week Friday has been called “Good Friday” because it occurs after the Resurrection of Christ. The Good Friday worship service is a solemn remembrance of the Crucifixion done in the knowledge that death is the precursor of the Resurrection.

During the service, the worship space is stripped of the Lenten purple, and black cloth is brought in to remind us of the death of Christ. Throughout the evening, candles are extinguished one by one, shrouding the space almost completely in darkness – with the important exception of the Christ Candle. The Christ Candle is never extinguished during the Good Friday worship service because even though we are remembering the death of Christ, we know of His resurrection. We remember His death but know it was His death that made the Resurrection possible. We remember His death, having celebrated and remembered far more Easter mornings than we have Good Fridays. It is what makes the Friday before Easter, Good.

Through His death on the cross, Jesus showed us the ultimate example of God’s love for us. His resurrection was not for His sake but for ours. He conquered death on our behalf to help us to “see” that death is not the end but rather the beginning of eternal life. We remember the death of Christ on Friday through the resurrection of Easter Sunday.

Good Friday reminds us death is not the end but rather leads to everlasting life. And if that was not great enough, everlasting life with our loved ones in the presence of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

As you experience the worship service on Good Friday, pay attention to the Christ Candle leaving the worship space. For as the darkness envelops the room, you can still see the Light of Christ; for even though Christ died, Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Easter is what makes Good Friday, Good.

Rev. Wendy Lambert, Senior Executive Pastor