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Good Friday
Good Friday is the day when Christians from all denominations all over the world pause in memory of Jesus' crucifixion on the
cross and what that means to believers. It is written in Leviticus 17:11 that:
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For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls:
for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Leviticus 17:11 |
To Jesus' friends and followers, this day was filled with despair and grief. It
was not a good day. For Christians today, it is a "good" Friday because Jesus
became the sacrifice for the atonement of sin. Good Friday is the only Christian
holiday accepted by all denominations and the only one that has not been
commercialized.
Services on Good
Friday are simple, and the churches are not decorated. They take place between
noon and 3:00 p.m. Worshippers concentrate on the agony of Jesus as He was on
the Cross and separated for the only time from His Heavenly Father.
Many Christians
will make a pilgrimage to Israel during this time. Roman Catholics, Angelican
Episcopalians, and Lutherans in Jerusalem on Good Friday will walk the Via
Dolorosa from outside the city walls to the
Church of the Holy
Sepulcher. Most Protestants will visit the Garden Tomb where special
services are held on Good Friday and Easter.
Photo Courtesy of
The
Praetorium
Some
Christians will stand at the Jerusalem bus station and look at Golgotha where
they believe Christ was crucified:
Golgotha
Photo from Google Images
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bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place
of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he
received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his
garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it
was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Mark
15:22-25 |
Services will concentrate on
the seven last things Jesus spoke from the cross:
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"Father , forgive them; for they do not know what they do."
Luke 23:34
"Verily I say unto you, today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Luke 23 :43
"Woman,behold thy son.... Behold thy mother."
John 19:26
"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which being interpreted, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me?
Mark 15:34
"I thirst."
John 19:28
"It is finished."
John 19:30
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
Luke 23:46
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