Hence the death of Jesus Christ was a sad event for his disciplines in the past and
in the present, and so the day is called
“Dhukh Velliazhcha” (Sorrowful Friday). However, as expressed in Hindi, it is holy day (Pavitr Dhin) for it is the memorial day of the Holy One whom Christians accept as their Lord and Saviour and so the day is also known as
“Pavitr Shukravar”.
It is also “Good Friday” because Jesus did not die in vain but he died for you and me. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and life to the full”. He came to give full life, eternal life as a participation in the divine life by atoning for our sins, as self-sacrifice offered to God for the forgiveness of the sins of others.
Jesus had foretold the purpose of his coming several times to his disciples. When Jesus asked ‘who do you say that I am’ and Peter replied, ‘you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God’, Jesus congratulated Peter for his confession. But then Jesus told his disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life” And when Peter resented to such a tragedy to befall on Jesus saying “God forbid it, Lord”, Jesus chided him severely, “Get away from me Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts don’t come from God but from man”. On his last journey to Jerusalem Jesus again “took the twelve disciples aside and spoke to them privately, as they walked along. ‘Listen’, he told them, ‘we are going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn him to death and then hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him, whip him, and crucify him; but three days later he will be raised to life’ “He knew that he came to die for his people, “as the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep”. That was the purpose of his life. He said, “I have come not to be served but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many” Before his death, at the last supper with his disciples, Jesus “took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me’ In the same way he gave them the cup after the supper saying, “This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with by blood, which is poured out for you”. Jesus went to Jerusalem consciously that it would cost him his life. But he wanted to offer his as an atonement for our sins, just as the High priest of the Old Testament would enter the Holy of Holies, in the sanctuary of the temple to offer the blood of the sacrificial lamb for the sins of his people and for himself. Thus on that Friday of his death Jesus offered his life and saved us from the punishment for our sins. Death of Jesus was good for humanity because through his death he has saved us from sin and reconciled us with the Father whom through our sins, we have offended. That is why Jesus is called our Saviour because he has saved us from our eternal death, our separation from God our Father because of our sins.
Death of Jesus on Friday has been good for humanity, and in this sense the memorial Friday of Jesus death is “Good Friday” and a “Happy Good Friday”.