The Meaning of "Good Friday" - Above All

I am a Christian, and I cannot let this day pass without telling the meaning to Christians of this day. Today is "Good Friday," a day which is very significant to all Christians. It would seem odd that a day which remembers the death of Jesus Christ on a cruel cross is called "Good" Friday. But the Bible teaches that Jesus went to that cross as the Great Sacrifice for the sin of every person. As the Bible says, "He who knew no sin, became sin for us."

You see, Jesus came into this world for the express purpose of doing for us what we could never do for ourselves - pay the penalty of our sin. No matter how hard we may try, no amount of good living or good works could ever erase the stain of even one sin. Therefore, Jesus - God who became a man - entered human history and lived a sinless life and took the burden, guilt, stain, and penalty of our sin upon Himself. He died in our place to destroy the power of sin, death, and hell. That's why it is called "Good Friday."

His death is linked inextricably to His resurrection which Christians will celebrate on Easter Sunday. Had He not died for us, there would be no hope of forgiveness and eternal life. Had He not risen from the dead, His death would have no real meaning. But because He died AND rose again, the door to heaven is wide open. All who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ walk through that door to life everlasting. The video above tells the story of Good Friday through a beautiful song called "Above All," using some scenes from . . . . . . . (Watch Video)

We pretty much believe that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. Not that it matters. He died for us, and rose again, and that’s what’s important, not the day He died. The “Good Friday” thing is a tradition, probably with Roman Catholic beginnings.

It’s an interesting study when you consider Jonah as a Type of Christ (Matt. 12:40), where He would be dead for three days and three nights; the fact that there were three Sabbaths in the week Christ died; the fact that Jewish Sunday began at 6 p.m. Saturday, etc.

Anyhow, WHEN He died isn’t the issue. The fact THAT He died and rose is everything.

Date of Christ's Death Pinpointed

Two astronomers from Romania made a sensational revelation: they determined the time of Jesus Christ's death, pinpointed it to the exact minute and also named the time of his miraculous resurrection.

Scientists Liviu Mircea and Tiberiu Oproiu set themselves an objective to make a research dedicated to the last hour of the God's Son life in a human body.

As the scientists from Romania's Astronomic Observatory Institute say, Jesus Christ died at 3 p.m. on the Good Friday, April 3, 33AD and rose again at 4 a.m. on April 5.

To obtain the information the astronomers turned to the primary source, the Bible, and then started some astrology computer programs. However, the New Testament says that Jesus Christ died on the day after the first night with a full moon following the vernal equinox day.

The astronomers employed information about revolution of the planets within 26-35AD and found out that it was only two times within the period that the fool moon followed the vernal equinox immediately. The first date was Friday, April 7, 30AD and the second time this combination repeated was April 3, 33AD. However, the Bible also mentions a solar eclipse that occurred during crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

According to astronomy records, a partial solar eclipse was registered only in 33AD. So, this is how the scientists determined the exact dates of Christ's death and resurrection.

In the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament), we learn that for the first Pesach (Passover) God told the Israelites to take a lamb, a 1 year old lamb, into their homes on the 10th of Nisan (alternately named Aviv) and keep him until the 14th. During that time, they were to examine the lamb and make sure it was without spot or blemish. Then they were to sacrifice it in the evening of the 14th.

Yeshua (Jesus) rode into Jeruselem on the 10th of Aviv and was received with cheering as the people threw down palm branches for him. During the next three plus days, the Pharisees ‘examined’ and tested him in the Temple.

Remember, also, at the end of that time period, on the 14th of Aviv, that Pilate said, “I find no fault with this man.” Jesus was found to be without spot or blemish.

The Lamb of God. He is risen.

_________________________________

Rom 8:31-9 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you look in Luke 22:36-39 you will see that before Jesus proceeds to the Mount of Olives after the Last Supper He has the disciples get two swords:

He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Hope this helps... It doesn’t specifically say whether they bought them or not it just says that they have them. However, they do have the Man who can feed thousands of people with just five loafs of bread and also the one who can turn water into wine, so who knows!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.