GOOD FRIDAY AND PASSOVER
This week, two of the world’s major religions celebrate special holidays. For Christians, the celebration began last Sunday (Palm Sunday) when Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the last time. Today is Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified. This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ’s resurrection and ascension to Heaven.
For Jews, this year’s Passover observances began on April 9 (Thursday) and will continue for 7 days, until Wednesday, the 15th day of April.
GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. On this day Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Many Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. The celebration of Good Friday is ancient, and some of the practices associated with Good Friday are attested to by Egeria in the 4th century. The day gradually became a time of penance and fasting as the anniversary of the death of Christ. The name "Good Friday" possibly comes from "God's Friday," although the exact reason for the current name is unclear. Various churches observe Good Friday in addition to Catholics and Eastern Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans all observe Good Friday to varying degrees.
The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.
PASSOVER
The significance of Passover dates back more than 3,000 years, when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to escape the rule of the Pharaoh, who had enslaved and oppressed them for many years. Passover also marks the first day of the harvest season in Israel, although it does not occupy a central place in the celebration.
The historical account and origin of Passover, as commanded in the Bible, is found in the Book of Exodus. When the Pharaoh refused to grant Moses’ request to free the Israelites, God visited 10 plagues on Egypt. To escape the tenth and final plague, which claimed the first-born of each family, Jews were given the following command: “And the blood (when placed on the door post) shall be for you for a sign on the houses where you are, and I shall see the blood and I shall pass over you, and there shall not be among you a plague to destroy” (Exodus 12:13).
To Jews and Christians in SL and in RL - have a deeply meaningful celebration.
I wish to personally encourage all of you, whether religious or not, to reflect upon the meaning of these holy days. Commit to making the following 12 months a special time in your lives and in the lives of those whom you touch.
Peace!
