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Why do we call the day of the Crucifixion ‘Good’ Friday?

In Germany, for example, it is called Karfreitag. Kar is an obsolete word, the ancestor of the English word care in the sense of cares and woes, and it meant mourning. So in German, it is Mourning Friday. And that is what the disciples did on that day—they mourned. They thought all was lost.

I’ve read that the word good used to have a secondary meaning of holy. There are a number of cases in set phrases where the words God and good got switched around because of their similarity. One case was the phrase God be with you, which today is just good-bye. So perhaps Good Friday was originally God’s Friday. But I think we call it Good Friday because, when you think about it, all that tragedy brought about the greatest good there could be.

I can see sense in using either terminology. If we call it Mourning Friday, as in German, we are facing reality head on, taking up the cross if you will, fully aware that the Christian walk is seldom a walk in the park. But if we call it Good Friday, as in English, we are confessing the Christian hope that no tragedy—not even death—can overwhelm God’s mercy, love, and grace. Either way seems fine to me!

While continuing to research this special day on the internet, I read that Good Friday is observed as a public holiday in countries with strong Christian roots. According to the history books, the United States of America was founded upon solid Christian principles. How did we fall so far away from our roots as to completely ignore the most important day in Christianity? In some countries shop owners close their stores down for the day and limit television and radio advertising. An example of such a country would be Singapore. In the country of Ireland, alcohol is prohibited from being sold and many restaurants are closed entirely on date. Germany prohibits comedy performances and public dancing on this day. Yet, here in the US, it is business as usual.

We’ve sent missionaries around the globe, bringing the message of the gospel to the unsaved. Those countries with generations of strong missionary influences show respect and take time to remember our precious Lord’s sacrifice, yet here in a country with the motto “One Nation Under God” the day goes by virtually unnoticed, except for the faithful few who attend Good Friday church services. We’ve turned into a nation of self-centered hypocrites no longer honor the day because it would cut into “profits”…which brings to mind Mark 8:36: “What profit will a man have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

We need to be missionaries in our OWN backyard and remind our leaders and citizens why we are the greatest country in the world…it is because of the abundant blessings by the God of our Fathers on those who were faithful to the Lord and His biblical teachings…make the dangerous journey across the wide expanse of the ocean to an unknown land so they could worship their Lord and Savior freely. Seems like the USA needs a HISTORY lesson!