The True Meaning of Easter and Good Friday

The true meaning of Easter and Good Friday is Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death as well as the enactment of a new covenant. (Mathew 26:28)

Easter is the time set apart to commemorate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is one of the most widely celebrated Christian holidays all over the world and it is preceded by Good Friday. Good Friday is the day set apart to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. This makes the entire Easter weekend quite significant because that was the weekend that Jesus Christ both died and resurrected.

He didn’t do any wrong and he didn’t commit sin, the records of His deeds according to scripture were all good.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:22-23 ESV)

Yet, He was put to death by crucifixion by the rulers at that time. They thought doing so would put an end to His reign and ministry but alas they were wrong.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8 ESV)

We will first examine why we call it Good Friday and then examine in greater depth the true meaning of Easter. This is because they are interconnected, and Good Friday precedes Easter.

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Easter and Jesus resurrection from the dead

The Significance of Good Friday

As earlier stated, Good Friday is the day set apart for Christians all over the world to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

Why Do We Call It Good Friday?

We call it Good Friday because it is the day that Jesus took the punishment for our sins (past, present, and future). Good Friday is good because it’s a commemoration of Jesus’ death, which is a good thing for all of humanity. Though Jesus died a brutal death, it was in line with God’s purpose which God had earlier revealed through His prophets. The prophet Isaiah especially received a lot of revelations in this regard.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6 ESV)

From the above scripture, we see that it was God’s plan for one man, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world.

When Jesus died on the cross on that fateful day, He bore our griefs and our sorrows. The nails that pierced His hands and feet was for our transgressions and every wound He got brought us healing. That is why we call that Friday a Good Friday.

Good Friday is significant because if Jesus hadn’t died, then there would have been no resurrection. The reason we celebrate Easter is first that Jesus died and thereafter rose again. #teacupclub #easter Click To Tweet

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

So, through Jesus death, we were reconciled to God, and that is what makes Good Friday good.

Significance of Temple Curtain Tearing Apart

On that Friday, lots of things happened before Jesus Christ died. In the hour when Jesus Christ gave up the ghost, one thing that happened was that the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. ³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Mark 15:37-38 ESV)

The tearing of that curtain is significant because before then, only the high priest could go beyond the temple curtain. Once a year, the high priest would go in to offer sin offerings on behalf of himself and the people.

³Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, …
…⁶These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. (Hebrews 9:3, 6-7 ESV)

The miraculous tearing of the temple curtain when Jesus died, signified that the Most Holy place is now accessible.

By this, the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing Hebrews 9:8

Above scripture is a corroboration by Apostle Paul that the way into the holy place could only be deemed open when the first section was no longer standing.

Thus, by Jesus death, we gained access to the Most Holy Place where we can commune with God ourselves. And through His death, we have victory over sin.

Related post: How to Pray and Receive Answers

The True Meaning of Easter

The true meaning of Easter is Jesus' victory over sin and death as well as the establishment of a new covenant. #Easter #teacupclub Click To Tweet

In the preceding section, we examined the significance of Christ’s death and how we have victory over sin through it.

Jesus death and resurrection go hand in hand and that is why Easter is so important.

By Jesus Christ dying and resurrecting back to life, He demonstrated that He has victory over death.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 ESV)

Through death and resurrection, Jesus Christ destroyed the devil and swallowed up death in victory. Hallelujah! And because of this, we are delivered from the fear of death.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV)

Through His resurrection, we have newness of life and we are seated with Him in heavenly places far above principalities and powers.

… even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:5-6 ESV)

Easter Means a New Covenant in the Blood of Jesus

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The new covenant was established during the last supper Jesus had with his disciples, a night before He was betrayed.

It is a covenant of peace, forgiveness, and unlimited access to God. Something that was inexistent prior to that time.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20)

Apostle Paul wrote a lot about the new covenant and he also established how that a new covenant cannot be in effect without the abolishment of the old. (Hebrews 9:16-20)

Essentially, the new covenant was established through the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary. And because of this new covenant, you and I can approach God’s mercy seat to obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)