What is “Good Friday”? What Does Easter Celebrate?

Good Friday is actually very important. Good Friday has been described as the crux of time, itself. Good Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified. Easter is not about Easter bunnies and Chocolates… It is the day that Jesus rose from the dead – never to die again.

Did you ever notice that Easter varies so much as to what time of year it is celebrated? Easter is actually determined by Good Friday – not the other way around as you might suppose. Easter is the first Sunday after the first Friday after the first full moon after the Spring (Vernal) equinox. Good Friday came within one day of being as early as is possible in the year 2008 because the full moon and the spring equinox fell on the 21st. This will not happen again until 2106. The earliest possible Easter is March 22. The next occurrence of the earliest possible Easter will be March 22, 2285. The last time it fell on the 22nd was in the year 1818. The latest possible Easter is May 10. Easter has not fallen on the 9th or the 10th ever in history. The first time in history that it will fall on the 9th will be the year 2173. We will not see a May 10th Easter until the year 2268. The dates listed above may be verified at timeanddate.com

A lot happened on Good Friday. It is also known as Holy Friday and several other names.

On the original Good Friday, Jesus was convicted of blasphemy in front of a kangaroo court. He admitted to being God Incarnate (God in a human body so to speak) and that was the last straw! They did not throw Jesus in an insane asylum like they might, today — the religious leaders demanded his death! Jewish leaders did not have the authority to execute people under Roman Law so they took Him to Pontius Pilate. Pilate wanted to release Jesus badly — especially since Pilate’s wife had had a disturbing dream about Jesus. But the Jewish people would not hear of it. Instead of letting Jesus off the hook, they let a rebel named Barabbas walk.

Pilate had Jesus scourged. This is the most heinous thing you can imagine. The whip was tipped with bone and iron shards so it cut through both skin and muscle. Many people did not survive a scourge. This did not satisfy the people. They want Jesus dead.

On the third day (early Sunday morning — Approx. 36 hours after He died — if the Good Friday model is correct. Jesus was actually dead only one full day: Saturday. He died Friday evening and was raised sometime before sunup on Sunday morning.) some people went to Jesus’ grave but he was gone. He had been resurrected! And He still lives! This is now known as Easter.

Jesus was taken up to heaven approximately 40 days after He was resurrected, and now rules at God the Father’s right hand.

The angels that attended Jesus’ ascension told us that Jesus will be coming back in the same way He was taken to Heaven.

And He’s coming back soon!

Maranatha!

Jesus Was Just Another Prophet?

Misconception: Jesus was just another a ‘good man’, Good teacher, or prophet

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 KJV)

Jesus is much more than a “good man” or a prophet or teacher (Rabbi). He is God. He is the fullness of God in a human body. Jesus created the Universe.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.(John 1:1-3, 14 KJV)

• Jesus is the only person who ever walked who could possibly be the Messiah of prophecy;
• Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies when He walked on earth. The odds of that happening by accident are simply non-existant;
• Jesus knew He was God incarnate when he walked on the earth;
• There is more proof (Of the kind that would be admissible in a court of law) that Jesus was resurrected than there is that Julius Caesar even lived.