Is there even such a thing as “GOOD FRIDAY”? When did we start celebrating Easter? Who decided Christ died on Friday? I will do my best to help you understand, through the Biblical Word of God, just what is wrong with elements of celebrating 'Easter', good Friday and the Catholic, and even main stream Christian, claims of this "holy season".
I have no issue with, at the time of year when Christ was crucified and rose again, remembering that, pondering on that, being thankful, and celebrating our new life in Him. What I have issues with is when I hear people refer to this as a “holy time” and how they need to prepare for the “Easter season.” This is something we should consider and ponder year around, and what we should be preparing for is the soon return of Jesus Christ!
This day, 'Easter' Sunday, is not any more “holy” than any other Sunday, or for that matter any other day of the week. This was clear to the apostles, it is what Christ taught us, and unfortunately man made religion has brought us to this place of not searching out the full truth.
This day, 'Easter' Sunday, is not any more “holy” than any other Sunday, or for that matter any other day of the week. This was clear to the apostles, it is what Christ taught us, and unfortunately man made religion has brought us to this place of not searching out the full truth.
First of all Paul, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, rebuked the Galatians in Chapter 4 verses 9-11 for “observing days, and months and seasons..” he referred to them as “returning to the weak and beggarly elements.” Is this where we want to be as Christian's? Not me, I chose to be more like the Berean's (Acts 17:11), and study the scriptures, and live as Christ taught.
So, technically speaking, as again, I do not wish to emphasize days or season's as being important, but rather my goal is to dispel the lies of man, and show that Jesus had to be crucified on Wednesday and rose from the grave on Saturday and here are the scriptures and history to prove it:
Jesus said, just as the sign of Jonah, that he would be “ in the belly of the Earth 3 days and 3 nights” Matthew 12:38-40/Jonah 1:17 He did not enter the 'belly of the earth' until after he said "It is finished", breathed His last breath, and died. His time being tried, beaten, hanging on the cross and dying do not count in the three day and night period.
Jesus said he would rise on the third day. Mt.16:21/Mk.10:34/Lu 24:7
“the third day” and “three days and three nights” are synonymously used in scripture as is described in Genesis when Jesus himself created the earth. The first DAY included daylight/night and so on. Gen. 1:4-13. (Even so, the “third day” after Friday is Monday, no matter how you try to explain it!)
Jesus understood and taught how many hours were in a DAY, 12 for daylight, 12 for night. John 11:9,10 A full 24 hour period.
Jesus arose “AFTER 3 days” (this would have to mean a full 72 hours) Mt. 12;40/Mk. 8:31
At the time the Bible was written, and Jesus walked the earth, according to Jewish tradition, the next calendar 'day' always began at sundown (6pm) Lev.23:32. The day did not begin at 12am as our “modern” calendar is based on, which comes from a Pagan calendar system, brought to us by none other than our friends from Rome. The night (dark) hours were first, then the daylight hours, but each were their own 12 hour period. We know Jesus was tried in the morning, Mark 15:1, which begins at 6am (start of the Jewish daylight hours), and if Jesus died shortly after the “ninth hour” (of the 12 hour daylight segment of the day), this would be around 3pm in the afternoon. Mt.27:46-50/Mk.15:34-37/Lk.23:44-46.
Jesus was crucified on the “preparation day” the day before the “high Sabbath.” This was the Feast of Unleavened Bread Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath on Saturday (I will discuss this later). Because of this fact, special arrangements were made by the Jews to have the bodies of the crucified removed from the crosses before sundown (Sabbath day begins at 6pm). This is why they besought Pilate to have their legs broken. Jn.19:31-33. However, as a note, Jesus was already dead so they did not need to break his legs, they just pierced his side and fulfilled more prophesy.
He was then taken down and buried quickly by Joseph of Arimathea. Jn.19:42.
The Bible says these things took place “when the even was come” the Greek word translated “even” here is “opsios” meaning “late afternoon” Mk.15:42.
The tomb was discovered empty early in the morning, on the first day (Sunday) while “it was yet DARK” and Jesus was NOT there (Jn.20:1,2) And even an Angel spoke and said “he is not here: for he is risen, as he said” this means he did not rise on Sunday morning. Mt.28:6+ Remember, the day of Sunday started at 6pm, so if it was morning, and yet dark, it was likely anytime between 12am and 6am that the women got to the open tomb.The Bible clearly states that it was 'discovered' on the first day (Sunday) that Jesus 'was risen', it never states that Jesus ROSE on Sunday, read it carefully. Mt.28:1-6/Mk.16:2-6/Lk 24:1,2/Jn.20:1,2. The Greek word here rendered 'was risen' is “anastas” and has the meaning of “having risen” which is the PAST tense.
So, since we are told he died at around 3pm, and we know it must be three full days later, we know this cannot be 3pm Sunday for him to rise, that is too late, they already came to the tomb way before that, this cancels out Sunday morning as the time He rose, amazing, who would have thought? If he 'rose' prior to Sunday morning (daylight hours), that means he could have rose Sunday evening (night), but in order for it to coincide with when he actually died and went directly into the ‘belly of the Earth’ (to complete the 72 hour period), it would have to be Saturday sometime just after or exactly at 3pm! We simply don't know anything about the time from when he was laid in the tomb until the time the women saw it empty. Jesus well could have returned from the 'belly of the earth' at 3pm (or so) on Saturday, and sat inside the tomb unwrapping himself, talking with the Father or Angels or whatever. He could have caused the guards to fall asleep and rolled the stone away at anytime before the women came, and just roamed around the garden waiting for his followers to come to Him. And that they did on Sunday (night) that we know, and that is ALL we know, except there had to be ONLY, and ALL of, 3 days, and 3 nights.
So, counting backwards, this then means he was crucified on Wednesday afternoon, and buried before the start of the next day. This makes sense because most Bible scholars believe, on the year Jesus was crucified, the “HIGH (HOLY) DAY” of the Feast of Unleavened Bread’s Sabbath fell on a Thursday. John also points out that this was a 'high day' Sabbath in Jn.19:14,31. We also know that the “last supper” was celebrated with unleavened bread as well, so Wednesday would have also served as preparation day of the feast of Unleavened Bread as well as the Passover meal (Wednesday night 6pm-5:59am. Then Jesus would be tried, crucified, died and buried Wednesday day 6am-5:59pm. Mt.26:17/Mk.14:12/Lk.22:7-8/Jn.13:1
There were two Sabbaths that week, 1st day Sabbath of Feast of Unleavened Bread (which lasts 7 days) and the weekly Sabbath on Saturday. Carefully compare verses from Mk.16:1 and Lk.23:56.
Saturday was the weekly Sabbath and those that loved Christ, knew they would have to wait for the following day to anoint his body and do the customs that the Jewish people did for their deceased loved ones. And may I say, isn't it fitting for the Lord to actually rise from the dead on the SABBATH! (Since his dying and resurrection would fulfill the Weekly Sabbath requirements for the Jew (and Gentile). Countless times he showed the Pharisees and Sanhedrin the error of their thinking of “God's ways” by healing and helping people on the Sabbath. What better way to drive this point home than to himself rise up from the dead, on the Sabbath, and thus fulfill his mission to save the souls of men! IT IS THIS VERY POINT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
In light of all this historical and Biblical information, how did the religionists come up with Friday as the day of the crucifixion? Well, again, just like claiming December 25th to be the day of Christs birth, they established the day of the crucifixion of Christ and even the most important resurrection to coincide with yet more pagan god(dess) veneration's.
His birth, his death and his resurrection, the three most important events in Christianity, were all falsely dated and named for the purpose of appeasing the Pagan worshipers into accepting a form of Christianity. Thus giving them an avenue to continue in the worship of their false gods, while at the same time, appearing to be honoring Christ (because Constantine, the Roman Emperor in the 4th century, established Christianity to be the official religion).
The word Friday comes from the ancient pagan goddess of peace, joy and fertility named "Freya" who's sacred image was the fish. The Romans called the goddess of sexual fertility Venus, who's day of veneration was on Friday. I guess this explains fish on Friday, because that rule was NEVER mentioned in the Bible or any other ancient Christian writings. Another thing that may surprise the born again Christian is the symbol of the fish, widely accepted by many in the world to symbolize Christianity, actually comes from this custom of pagan tradition! Of course the claim is, now, that it symbolizes Christs multiplying of the fish, but he also multiplied bread as well, so that is really a weak argument for the use of this symbol. I think it is important to know where these symbols really came from, though I cannot judge how God feels about using them, I just know we will influence, and lead to salvation, more souls by our example, and love for the truth, than by what emblems we have on the back of our cars!
So we see why the Roman Catholics wanted to establish Christs crucifixion on Friday. Even they, at that time, knew full well the Jewish traditions and culture of Christs time on earth, and though they do not claim this to be true, they intentionally misled, and continue to mislead, the "masses" to believe this lie and appeased the pagan worshipers of their day, and the ecumenical believers of today.
His birth, his death and his resurrection, the three most important events in Christianity, were all falsely dated and named for the purpose of appeasing the Pagan worshipers into accepting a form of Christianity. Thus giving them an avenue to continue in the worship of their false gods, while at the same time, appearing to be honoring Christ (because Constantine, the Roman Emperor in the 4th century, established Christianity to be the official religion).
The word Friday comes from the ancient pagan goddess of peace, joy and fertility named "Freya" who's sacred image was the fish. The Romans called the goddess of sexual fertility Venus, who's day of veneration was on Friday. I guess this explains fish on Friday, because that rule was NEVER mentioned in the Bible or any other ancient Christian writings. Another thing that may surprise the born again Christian is the symbol of the fish, widely accepted by many in the world to symbolize Christianity, actually comes from this custom of pagan tradition! Of course the claim is, now, that it symbolizes Christs multiplying of the fish, but he also multiplied bread as well, so that is really a weak argument for the use of this symbol. I think it is important to know where these symbols really came from, though I cannot judge how God feels about using them, I just know we will influence, and lead to salvation, more souls by our example, and love for the truth, than by what emblems we have on the back of our cars!
So we see why the Roman Catholics wanted to establish Christs crucifixion on Friday. Even they, at that time, knew full well the Jewish traditions and culture of Christs time on earth, and though they do not claim this to be true, they intentionally misled, and continue to mislead, the "masses" to believe this lie and appeased the pagan worshipers of their day, and the ecumenical believers of today.
As far as the name Easter goes, you will not find this word in the early writings (in Greek) of the scriptures and only one translation today, the King James version, uses the word Easter (only once), but its interpretation is simply "passover" in the Geek language, and all Bible scholars know this. The word Easter comes from the English language and it is derived from the Pagan goddess of spring, Ishtar (also known as Eoster,Ostera, or Astarte). Ishtar was pronounced by the ancient Babylonians the same way we pronounce the word Easter today. So, technically speaking, the word Easter is not a Christian term at all, and has, in it's original meaning, nothing to with with the Christian faith. Quite frankly, it bothers me to refer to that great and marvelous gift of the resurrection that Christ gave us, with a Pagan term for a false god. I try, with all my effort, to just simply say 'happy resurrection day', this makes more sense to me, but others may wonder what I'm saying when I say this on Saturday! ;)
So, in conclusion, do we have an Easter service on Sunday? I think we should always go to church on Sunday, but see no value, or Biblical requirement, in having an "Easter" service. The preaching of the resurrection is appropriate any time of the year, and should never be focused on any one day above another, or one season above another. To treat Easter Sunday any different than any other Sunday, in my opinion, is idolatry. It must be, because if Easter Sunday can somehow hold special significance, special grace or mercy from above, than man will wait for that day to come, rather than give it to the Lord the moment the need arises. Therefore the day is made into an idol, and of course the name itself, as you have learned, comes from idolatrous practices. I don’t think one has to look very hard to see this very thing happening in the church today, and yesterday. We are all so happy and blessed to see a church full of people on Easter Sunday, but, not too concerned when we see church practically empty when the 4th of July falls on a Sunday!
Having said that, should we also have a “Good Friday” service? Absolutely NOT, because it is NOT truth, nor is it required of us. Did you ever wonder why it was called “good” Friday anyway? What was good about that day? (though the actual day was Wednesday) If you were alive back then, and were a true follower of Christ, this would have been seen as a very BAD day! The only thing that made Jesus’ death on the cross “good” was his resurrection! If he never resurrected, the day of his crucifixion would be remembered as a horrible thing. So, our focus should be on Jesus, who is alive now, and not crucified and hanging dead on a cross. He is sitting at the right hand of God, and is our KING! He wants us to know why he had to die for us, of course, as is told us by his Word. But, he does not want us to keep putting him back up there on the cross time and time again! He has conquered the grave, his sacrifice for us was once, 2000 years ago, he is alive, and he is the giver of life!
The end does not justify the means here. My feeling is, that more souls will be won to Christ if this truth is put out there, in a loving way. People who doubt the resurrection story because it “makes no sense because there's not three days between Friday and Sunday” would then not have reason to doubt, only face their 'unbelief'. This is a MUCH better way to win souls to Christ, THE TRUTH! Who can deny that?
Man's wisdom says, "don't put all your eggs in one basket" but, God's wisdom says "put all your eggs in one basket, mine (Gods), there they will be safe, and not one broken".
Man's wisdom says, "don't put all your eggs in one basket" but, God's wisdom says "put all your eggs in one basket, mine (Gods), there they will be safe, and not one broken".
God Bless
