Holy Week Ramblings

Why do we call it "Good Friday" anyway?  Have you ever wondered what's so good about the day?  And while we're at it, what does "Maundy"* even mean?!?

If you have plans to walk closer with Christ this week, and maybe are even considering attending one or more of the services planned in just about every church, then it might be helpful to know what these things are all about.

Maundy (or Holy) Thursday is the day we remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples.  This is the meal famously portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci (right).  It is also when Christian's remember Jesus' betrayal by one of his own disciples (Judas).  One final aspect of a Maundy Thursday service is the remembrance of Jesus' act of washing his own disciples' feet, thus showing them how they were to treat one another.

Now Good Friday is another one of those days, that is often practiced/observed but not often understood.  The day itself comes before Easter Sunday and after Maundy/Holy Thursday and is the commemoration of Jesus' crucifixion and death.  The word "good" here does not necessarily mean good as in happy or excellent, but rather good as in holy.  Therefore it might be less confusing if we just called it "Holy Friday".  Of course it could be argued that from a Christian perspective, Good Friday is in fact "good" because it commemorates forgiveness and salvation being made open to all humanity.  No matter what, this service is marked with a somber tone with little or no frills, decorations and/or special music.  It is a service to realize that it was our sin that put Christ on that cross, and because of our sins that he had to die.  It is not meant to be a happy or joyful day.

Hopefully this brief rambling has given you a better understanding of the day(s) that we have begun to enter and why they are what they are.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor John

*In case you were curious, "Maundy" means "command" or "ceremony" and in Christian usage specifically refers to Jesus' act of washing his disciples feet.