Entertainment
‘Why Christians Celebrate Good Friday’
A renowned scholar, Justin Holcomb once asked: “Why do we call Good Friday good when it is such a dark and bleak event commemorating a day of suffering and death of Jesus?”
For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the whole of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised from death, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive marking point for all creation.
Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the death to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the scriptures (1st Corintians 15:3).
On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1st John 1:10) it is followed by Easter the glories celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Romans 6:5).
Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death good Friday, instead of ‘bad Friday’ or something similar? Some Christian traditions do take this approach. In Germany for example the day is called ‘harfreitag’ or ‘sorrowful Friday in English, infact the origin of the term good is debated. Some believe it developed from an older name ‘God’s Friday’.
Regardless of the origin, the name good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from further sins.
In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The goodness of deliverance only make sense once we see how we are enslaved. Another way of saying this is that it is important to understand and distinguish between law and gospel in scripture. We need the law first to show us low hopeless our condition is, then the gospel of Jesus, grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.
In the same good Friday is good because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out to the nations in that awful day of suffering, sorrow and Jesus blood on the cross.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
Nancy Briggs
