I've always hated the term 'Good Friday' as well. Years ago, I was in a class and the discussion was on 'the real Jesus'. We took a true and false test about Jesus. It was one of those moments when you just want to crawl under your chair. It's hard enough to not know the answers on a school test, but to not know the answers about Jesus. Seriously. One of the things I answered incorrectly was something to the effect of Jesus says we should celebrate his birth. I answered true and of course, the answer was false. (Jon got it wrong too...just thought I'd throw that in.) We are supposed to celebrate his death, which I totally don't get. Why would I celebrate suffering? Wouldn't that make me some sort of serial killer or sicko of some sort?
I remember back in high school when there was talk of a fight in the parking lot. Everyone would pour out to watch. I would cover my eyes and run to the car. (Try covering your eyes and running.) Not only did I cover my eyes, I talked or sang loudly to cover up the noise. I could not stand the noises associated with fighting. Even now, if there is a violent part in a movie, even if it is playing in the other room, I will still squeeze my eyes shut, cover my years, and sing loudly to drown out the sounds.
I do not like sadness. I do not like pain. I do not like violence.
And yet, we call this day Good and of all the year, this time is the time to celebrate.
I ask the question: Why do we celebrate? It seems like such a trivial question and I guess it can be. But to different people, the answer is quite different.
I have asked this for my entire life and am always fascinated by the diverse answers I have gotten. So again, I pose the question:
Why do we celebrate?
9 comments:
Hmmm - I'm not sure I agree with whoever graded your test...I guess I would say I don't celebrate Good Friday...I remember it. And I am humbled by what the day represents. It's a time to think about the meaning of what Jesus did and why...And how much love He showed us through it. I do celebrate His resurrection, and what it means for me and for those I love and for anyone who comes to believe it...And why did those folks say we shouldn't celebrate His birth?
I am the same way you are about violence...I don't like the sounds of it or the sight of it...We'd be quite the pair watching a kung fu movie!
I have never understood the term Good Friday either. I do have to say though, after watching "The Passion" last night I have a different thinking about it. I also do not like violence and covered my eyes every single time Jesus was hit. I tried not to listen, but that was not easily mastered. But as I was sitting there with my eyes covered, hearing what was going on, God reminded me that each hit was for ME and my sins, and my friends and their sins. Each and every hit, was for me and showed me how much I am truly loved.
I still would not call it Good though.
i'm not a christian, bc i do not go to church nor do i follow any secular religion... i consider myself agnostic. but to me... it seems that we celebrate this day bc it is what Jesus, ultimately, would have wanted. rejoicing in the light of life, thanking God for giving us life and giving His son to us to let us live, as we want to live. i suppose Jesus wouldn't want any sort of sadness or negativity to surround his life or being... i think the Jesus that lived would have wanted to be remembered as loving, kind, giving- giving even his life for other mankind. so... i think it's good friday bc this is the day that people finally realized that Jesus WAS the son of God and that He was telling the truth.
but this is coming from a girl who was raised Buddhist and is now wandering faith-wise, so who knows :)
Lo: i like your outlook. i'm a christian but i've been wandering since i left home 20 years ago. i know that daily i am saved. so, i guess that's a good thing:)...
Jesus' death wouldn't mean a thing if He hadn't risen to life again on the third day. So that is what we are celebrating -- His rising not his dying. I think its odd that the teacher of your class says that Jesus said to "celebrate" His death. Jesus said to remember his death which to me is not the same thing. Also, I believe Good Friday is not refered to as "Good" Friday every where in the world. I think in Germany they call it "Mourning" Friday and it's also called Holy Friday in some other countries. I also remember from an English syntax class in college that it was originally called "God's" Friday but as the English language evolved it transformed into "Good" as in "Goodbye" which is a contraction of "God be with you."
Melanie- if it makes you feel any better the actual term "good friday" was coined by the catholic church and is not really in the bible. So you don't have to call it good friday.
In fact, it's not good at all. He should never had to die because we all suck. There's nothing good about us sucking so much that an innocent manGod dies.
Not to mention it would have really been on a Thursday this year since the Jewish Passover was Wednesday night. Good Thursday?
Plus- everyone dies- I celebrate his resurrection. Why don't we call it Good resurrection day rather than Easter (which is actually named after a pagan fertility goddess- ok, off track).
speaking of Christ's birth:
The Catholic church also made up Christmas which is actually a pagan Holiday that the Christian's stole. Jesus is the one who says that we shouldn't celebrate his birth (or his mother for that matter). Everyone is born and has a mother. Yet, every year I am decorating my Christmas tree (which in Isaiah it says not to be like the pagans who decorate trees with silver and gold or something like that. ..)
The point is, that we screw everything up- even holy days meant to honor God. He's used to it and still loves us.
So it's all "good".
I am also like you about violence and have yet to see the passion of the Christ for that reason.
Anyway- sorry for my lengthy comment.
oops, the tree thing was Jeremiah 10:1-5 not Isaiah. (I guess I was not properly brainwashed!)
Also, I like how the title of this post, a simple question, has brought on such long comments!
Ok, I've been looking and I don't see where Jesus said not to celebrate his birth. It's probably more cult leftover.
Sorry!
I can't find it either, but I remember seeking it out soon after that class and finding it. After giving it more thought, I think that the question was more along the lines of celebrating Jesus resurrection more than celebrating his birth. Not that his birth should not be celebrated, but everyone is born. Not everyone can die and then be alive.
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