Good Friday is the most solemn day in Christianity. For me, this is a day on which Christians should not work or engage in commerce, because the importance of this day is so far-reaching, that is cannot be over-stated.
Before you continue reading, please know that this article contains some graphic descriptors and images, which may be shocking and uncomfortable for some people.
The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is referred to as “Holy Week.” While Good Friday is not a “holiday,” the entire three-day period from the day of Christ’s crucifixion to his miraculous resurrection on Easter Sunday, is of utmost importance to our faith. I wonder however, if in our manic world today, we have perhaps forgotten that Easter is not about the Bunny, but is actually about the Lamb? I worry that with all the bright pastel colors, the candy and cute Rabbits associated with Easter, if we haven’t glamorized it all a bit too much? Yes, Good Friday is heart-wrenchingly sad and Easter is gloriously joyful, but, do we still remember why? Do most Christians take the time to really understand what happened during those three days and what Jesus endured…for us?
There is a detailed medical description of the horrendous torture and incredible pain that Christ suffered, so be aware that this graphic description and accompanying images may not be suitable for everyone:
“In 1986, The American Medical Association published an article titled “The Physical Death of Jesus Christ”. It details the entire process of Jesus’ trial to His death on the cross. In Luke 22, before Jesus is arrested, it is written that He was in great distress & sweating blood. Although rare, it is recognized as Hematidrosis, caused by high amounts of stress.
At the time, the crucifixion was considered the worst death for the worst of criminals. But this is not all Jesus faced. He endured whipping so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. He was beaten so horrific that His face was torn & His beard ripped. A crown of thorns, 2-3 inches long cut deeply into His scalp. The leather whip used to flog Him had tiny iron balls & sharp bones. The balls caused internal injuries while the sharp bones ripped open His flesh. His skeletal muscles, veins, & bowels we’re exposed, causing major blood loss. Most men do not survive this kind of torture. After Jesus was severely flogged, He was forced to carry His own cross while people mocked & spat on Him.
Crucifixion was a process meant to instill excruciating pain, creating a slow & agonizing death. Nails as long as 8 inches were driven into Jesus’ wrists & feet. The Roman soldiers knew the tendon in the wrists would tear & break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the courage..Jesus endured this reality for 3 hours!
The Gospel of John writes that after Jesus’ death, a Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear & blood & water came out. Scientists explain that from hypovolemic shock, the rapid heartrate causes fluid to gather in the sack around the lungs & heart. The gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called Pericardial effusion & the lungs, Pleural effusion.
To the world, Christianity is as foolish as it can get. They believe it’s for the weak. But when you are confronted by the reality of the cross, it’s clearly not a pretty sight. It is brutal & horrific. This is the weight Jesus carried. The weight of the sins of the world, all so that we can live. God’s wrath is fully satisfied in Jesus. This is what it took.
Repent & believe! Jesus is “God among us” in the flesh. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus loves you so much, He went through this spiritual and physical punishment for your sins and mine. Jesus is Lord, Almighty God, Everlasting Father.” – Source unknown
Did this description of what Christ endured for us upset you? I’m sure it did. But maybe, we need that jolt. Many people who have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ” commented on how difficult it is to watch, but this medical description tells us it was fairly accurate. Christians are taught to be kind, loving, generous and compassionate. We are told to hold tight to faith and trust in Jesus, seeking His forgiveness for our sins. We are also taught not to fear or be sad, but instead, to be uplifted and filled with joy — we should be, but for three days a year, we should also be fully aware of the terrible cruelty, pain and humiliation the Son of God endured…for us.
At the Last Supper, Jesus knew what awaited him and even still, He showed love and compassion — he washed the feet of his Disciples and commanded them to do the same for each other and, he gave a new commandment:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
The very least we can do, is to learn more about what Jesus suffered for us and to obey his commandments and honor His teachings — for Jesus, we should love one another, just as He loves us. Some religious scholars say we should not focus on His suffering, but rather, on His resurrection and glory. Of course this is true to an extent, but if we fail to at least have a basic understanding of the intensity of His suffering, aren’t we in effect minimizing the sacrifice?
