Like so many expressions man has adopted, the coinage ‘Good Friday’ has come to stay more out of general usage than from deep understanding of its significance.
In general thinking, the death on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ served as propitiatory sacrifice which brought redemption from out of sins for mankind, especially those who profess a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. To this extent, therefore, Christ’s death on the cross was thought to be necessary and good. With this thinking which has gained strong ground in the whole Christendom, the day such act occurred then became ‘Good Friday’.
A close examination, however, of the entire history of the events surrounding the birth, mission and eventual death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, does not support the thinking held by many about the reason for his death. On the contrary, everything points to the fact that Christ’s death was a serious crime of cold blooded murder of a Truth Bringer recorded against mankind. The first clue to this realisation came from the last words uttered by Christ Himself: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do….’
This prayer of forgiveness also carries along with it, a tone of accusation. If His killing was a good act meant to wash away sins, Christ would not have prayed His Father to forgive those that carried it out. Indeed one aspect of the ‘good’ that came out of that event for mankind was this prayer of intercession said by Christ. If He had not said it, mankind would have counted on total annihilation.
Then also it was recorded that the natural elements revolted, and there were earth tremors and the veil covering the Holy of Holies tore into two– all acts of condemnation against mankind. On top of that, Judas Iscariot, the chief culprit, realising the full import of his wrong acts, tried to return the bribe he earlier received and eventually committed suicide. All these could not be called ‘good’; instead these were very sad occurrences, and the whole of Creation stood in deep grief and mourning , for mankind again rejected the Divine Hand of Help extended to them.
For the purpose of His Mission of Love, however, Christ stood in triumph, for He boldly faced death and thereby put a firm final seal of conviction upon his mission of sacrifice. The sacrifice was in bringing the Word of Truth and Light to a humanity almost encompassed by the darkness, knowing full well the possibility of being attacked. A celebration of Good Friday should therefore be a sober moment for mankind, and an opportunity to re-energise one’s volition to live in accordance with Christ’s true teachings, as the way towards man’s salvation.
A belief that Christ’s death on the cross will bring spiritual salvation to one is a delusion and would bring no spiritual benefit. Christ’s message has to be absorbed and lived by those who profess to follow Him, and therein lies that ‘good’ in His mission.
The explanation given in this article is based on the author’s understanding of the Work “In The Light of Truth”, The Grail Message by Abd-ru-shin.