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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

891.0. "Why is it "Good" Friday?" by CVG::THOMPSON (An AlphaGeneration Noter) Fri Apr 01 1994 12:47

    RE: 14.219
    
>    Tomorrow, April 1, is Good Friday.
    
    Now today. :-)
    
>    Someone asked recently why it's called "good" when the events were
>    so filled with pain, suffering, degradation, and ultimately, death.

    The key word here is "ultimately." One event of that day did lead
    to death for one individual. However, ultimately, three days later
    life returned. But not just for that individual but potentially for
    all. Thus Good Friday is the start of the great finally of Jesus'
    ministry. Just as the pain of childbearing starts the joy of 
    parenthood the pain of Good Friday started the joy of salvation
    for the body of Christ.

    			Alfred
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891.1O Lord, by virtue of your cross, joy has come to the whole worldCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertFri Apr 01 1994 13:2841
                    Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;
                      Sing the winning of the fray;
                    Now above the cross, the trophy,
                      Sound the high triumphal lay:
                    Tell how Christ, the world's Redeemer
                      As a victim won the day.

                    Thirty years he dwelt among us,
                      His appointed time fullfilled,
                    Born for this, he met his passion,
                      This the Savior freely willed:
                    On the cross the Lamb was lifted,
                      Where his precious blood was spilled.

                    He endured the nails, the spitting,
                      Vinegar, and spear, and reed;
                    From that holy body broken
                      Blood and water forth proceed:
                    Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean,
                      By that flood from stain are freed.

                    Faithful cross! above all other,
                      One and only noble tree!
                    None in foliage, none in blossom,
                      None in fruit thy peer may be:
                    Sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
                      Sweetest weight is hung on thee.

                    Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
                      Thy relaxing sinews bend;
                    For awhile the ancient rigor
                      That thy birth bestowed, suspend;
                    And the King of heav'nly beauty
                      On thy bosom gently tend!

                    To the Trinity be glory
                      Everlasting, as is meet:
                    Equal to the Father, equal
                      To the Son, and Paraclete:
		    God the Three in One, whose praises
		      All created things repeat.
891.2GUCCI::RWARRENFELTZFollow the Money!Fri Apr 01 1994 14:593
    Excellent note, Alfred!
    
    Ron
891.3CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatFri Apr 01 1994 15:2410
    I had postulated that the term Good Friday came to us something like
    our farewell "Goodbye," which was originally "God be with you."
    Could Good Friday have originally been called something like "God's
    Friday?"
    
    I could research it, I suppose.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
891.4The curtain was tornCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatFri Apr 01 1994 15:328
    One of the most important events, for me, that occured according to
    the Gospel during that first Good Friday was the tearing of the curtain
    in the Temple.  It has profound implications which would have been
    abundantly clear to the Jews of that time.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
891.5Torn CurtainJUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAFri Apr 01 1994 15:336
    RE: .4
    
    Could you explain?
    
    
    Marc H.
891.6LaterCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatFri Apr 01 1994 15:3810
    .5 Marc H.,
    
    	I must prepare to attend the Way of the Cross/Way of Justice
    event mentioned in 5.80, but I'll get back to you.  In the meantime,
    maybe John Covert or someone will share the significance of the
    Temple curtain being torn.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    
891.7CSLALL::HENDERSONjust a closer walk with theeFri Apr 01 1994 16:0812


 I'm not an expert, but I believe the curtain provided a separation
 between man and God and that only the temple priest was allowed to 
 go beyond the curtain.  The tearing of the curtain indicated that man
 was now able to approach God.




Jim
891.8CVG::THOMPSONAn AlphaGeneration NoterFri Apr 01 1994 17:323
    RE: .7 Right in one. That's exactly it.
    
    			Alfred
891.9originsRDVAX::ANDREWSYou're a mess, honeyFri Apr 01 1994 17:4915
    
    richard,
    
    i did do a little research over lunch about the origin of
    the phase "good Friday"...but i don't have much to report
    
    the phase has been in use since at least 1290 (according to
    the Oxford English dictionary)..
    
    in the Orthodox branch of our faith it is known as Great Friday
    
    it is not a contraction but just as it appears, that is, good as
    in "good"
    
    peter
891.10CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatFri Apr 01 1994 22:595
    .9  Thanks, Peter, for looking into that.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
891.11Reconciled and restoredCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatFri Apr 01 1994 23:1014
    (.7 by Jim Henderson)
    
    Yes, the torn Temple curtain means that nothing now stands between
    God and us.  Nothing, as Paul put it in his letter to the Roman
    church, can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
    
    The torn Temple curtain represents a Divine breakthrough, a breakthrough
    of reconciliation and restoration.
    
    This may be at least part of what's good about Good Friday.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
891.12Tearing the CurtainSNOC02::LINCOLNRNo Pain, No Gain...Sat Apr 02 1994 14:0928
    I remember as a young Chrisitan seeing a dramitization of the events
    that took place on that first Good Friday.  The event we have spoken
    about here - the tearing of the temple curtain to the Holy of Holy area
    - still sends chills up my spine when I think about it.  The tearing of
    the curtain is so incredibly significant to Chrisitan followers.  
    
    The tearing of the curtain meant that for the first time in history
    mankind had direct access to God.  No priest was necessary to make a
    temporary offering for the atonement of our sins.  The atonement which
    we had waited for in the person of Jesus Christ was now made.  
    
    Another interesting thing about the tearing of the temple curtain was
    that it took place being torn from TOP TO BOTTOM.  This was a huge
    curtain.  In human terms it would have taken two very strong men to
    tear it in two.  The only way that humans could have torn it was from
    BOTTOM TO TOP by grasping and tearing from ground level.  The
    signficance of its being torn from TOP TO BOTTOM was that it was God
    who did the tearing.  This signifies that God Himself had been
    satisfied by His precious Son's sacrifice.
    
    We can now approach God because we are Justified by Christ's blood. 
    Justification means that we are treated "just as if" we had never
    sinned - Christ's blood covered it all.  Because the curtain has been
    torn in two we can now "Come boldly before the throne of grace."
    
    Rob
    
    
891.13JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAMon Apr 04 1994 13:133
    THanks ,all...interesting insight into the torn curtain.
    
    Marc H.