Good Friday
I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross. On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.
Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day those men stood triumphant.
On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.
On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.
On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled. It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.
I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest. -Joseph B Wirthlin
Good Friday is the time we remember the crucifixion of the Saviour. In England we eat Hot Cross Buns, and throughout the Christian world services are held between 12 and 3pm.
I really have no words for this day, but the words of this favourite hymn of mine speak it beautifully. The last verse especially vocalises my feelings for the Saviour today.
O Savior, thou who wearest
A crown of piercing thorn,
The pain thou meekly bearest,
Weigh’d down by grief and scorn.
The soldiers mock and flail thee;
For drink they give thee gall;
Upon the cross they nail thee
To die, O King of all.No creature is so lowly,
No sinner so depraved,
But feels thy presence holy
And thru thy love is saved.
Tho craven friends betray thee,
They feel thy love’s embrace;
The very foes who slay thee
Have access to thy grace.Thy sacrifice transcended
The mortal law’s demand;
Thy mercy is extended
To ev’ry time and land.
No more can Satan harm us,
Tho long the fight may be,
Nor fear of death alarm us;
We live, O Lord, thru thee.What praises can we offer
To thank thee, Lord most high?
In our place thou didst suffer;
In our place thou didst die,
By heaven’s plan appointed,
To ransom us, our King.
O Jesus, the anointed,
To thee our love we bring!Text: Karen Lynn Davidson
Hymns 197 available to download here
Karen - Thanks for sharing the words of Elder Wirthlin and the lyrics of that beautiful song to help put in context the events of that dreadful day so long ago. As I contemplate the conditions in the world today I am puzzled and perplexed in trying to decide how Jesus’ sacrifice on that day has impacted the world.
Certainly we see suffering and despair in the world far more prevelent than we have ever seen before. But is this because modern technology allows us more access to it or is it because there is, in fact, more of it. I think of the simple lives lived by the earth’s inhabitants in the days that Jesus walked the earth and wonder if our lives would be better if we lived the same way but then I realize that only a tiny corner of the world had access to the Savior’s life and teachings and today those same teachings are available to virtually everyone (perhaps with a few exceptions). And then I switch back to the dreadful conditions in the world today and realize that only the Atonement of Jesus Christ offers any hope at all. What a blessing in our lives.
Comment by lamonte — March 21, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Thank you for this remembrance of this important day. When I was a child, we never had school on Good Friday. But it was set apart from other holidays in my memories. My mother would buy fresh hot cross buns from the neighborhood bakery, and we would sit around the kitchen table eating them as she contemplated the meaning of this day–the sorrow of the two Marys and the apostles and all the suffering in the world, represented by Christ’s suffering on the cross.
Three years ago, my youngest daughter and I traveled together in Europe for a month. As we stood in front of Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica, I was overcome with the sorrow of the crucifixion, but then, just as overwhelming, came the hope of the resurrection. Thank you for reminding me of these things.
Comment by CatherineWO — March 21, 2008 @ 9:36 am
lamonte - it’s Rebecca not Karen!
Catherine - I made Hot Cross Buns with my kids today after attending a Church of England Good Friday service. It’s good to remember these things I think.
I know we often focus on the resurrection, but the resurrection didn’t make repentance/forgiveness possible. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday that remember these events are important to me because of that and for the other reasons I’ve stated in my posts.
Comment by Rebecca — March 21, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Having been raised in a predominantly Mormon area, I never really knew what Good Friday was, let alone celebrated it. I love the idea of recognizing it though & think it is such a great idea to go to a service. Can you give me your recipe for hot cross buns? I’d love to do that with my kids today, or at least make some for dinner. Thanks!
Comment by brittany — March 21, 2008 @ 10:42 am
The recipe I used is here. It’s all in metric or ounces though. For one in US measurements, go here.
Comment by Rebecca — March 21, 2008 @ 11:02 am
I too didn’t have much of an appreciation for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday or Palm Sunday until I moved East. It is definitely cause for pause, reflection and study.
And interestingly enough - Karen Lynn Davidson (author of the song Rebecca referenced) spoke to our RS this week. She is quite an accomplished woman and was very interesting to listen to.
Comment by Sara — March 21, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Now that I live in Australia I love Good Friday. It bothered me for years that it’s a public holiday but all of the stores (except fish and chip shops) are shut (until a few years ago it was illegal to trade on Good Friday) - I mean, what’s the point of a public holiday without sales? It also bothered me that DH insisted on eating fish on the day, because he said it was disrespectful to Christ and the crucifixion to eat meat. (This from a self-confessed agnostic.) But now I love it. I love having to actually think about what we’re eating on the day, and why. It always makes me pause to remember, even if just for a few minutes.
Comment by Quimby — March 21, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
[…] Rebecca quotes Elder Wirthlin on Good Friday at FMH […]
Pingback by Blog Segullah : Holy Week Awareness — March 21, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
#7, I grew up in Catholic countries and somehow missed that fish on Good Friday tradition entirely. I wonder where the Aussies get it from. The idea really appeals to me; I wish I’d read this thread earlier.
Comment by Christian — March 22, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Fish is traditional on every Friday in England. Many people still go to the fish and chip shop on Fridays. No idea where it came from!
Comment by Rebecca — March 22, 2008 @ 11:37 am
Rebecca,
You inspired me to go to Good Friday services with my mother, an unusual choice that surprised and pleased her. There were about 2 dozen people (and two dogs) present. While I was disappointed that there was no music, I really enjoyed going through the stations of the cross.
When you first started talking about the holy week traditions my first reaction was an indifferent one, but between Ronan’s poll and Kristine’s poems over on BCC and your posts here, I really have been focusing on the Savior more than I usually do.
Thanks. I needed that.
Comment by Jami — March 22, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
Something that I thought of for the first time this Good Friday: Jesus was abandoned by most of his friends on Friday. All the more reason, then, for those of us who aspire to be his “friends” to mark the Passion on Good Friday and not just wait until the Resurrection. After all, that’s exactly the mistake the apostles made, hiding in fear in an upper room.
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