I prefer the German translation of Gottes Freitag, or God’s Friday. It has also been called Karfreitag, or Sorrowful Friday. Early translations suggest that it may have been originally God’s Friday and then turned into Good Friday.
In any event, the day is a day of remembrance, and should be taken as such. We commemorate all who have served our Nation with Memorial Day. I suggest this be a Sacred Memorial Day - where we pay homage to our Savior for what He has done for us. He paid the price for any sins that we have or will commit in our mortal sojourn. He paid for those in the Garden of Gethsemane and finally on the cross.
For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. - D&C 19:16-19
No other person on this earth could do what He has done for us. The 7 last statements of the Savior as recorded in the gospels show us His true nature:
1. He asked His Father (our Father in Heaven) to forgive what those have done to Him.
2. He assured the other person on the cross that He will be remembered in paradise.
3. His concern over the welfare of His mother. So He left the care of His Mother to His disciple.
4. He feels “mortality” where God’s presence is not felt all the time and shouts, “My God, my God, why has Thou Forsaken me?
5. His only acknowledgment of the pain He feels. He says, “I thirst”. He thirsts no only for physical by spiritual food.
6. It is Finished. Acknowledgement that His mortal ministry is ending and that He did fulfill all that His Father has asked of Him.
7. Only Jesus could yield up his spirit. No one else could take His life away. By His final word, He willingly gave His life to His Father.
These Seven last words can be a footprint for how we are to govern our lives:
1. We are asked to forgive others freely.
2. We have the assurance of the gospel in our lives through those called to lead us. This weekend, we have that wonderful opportunity to have that spiritual assurance that God truly is in charge of His church and that His prophets are on this earth.
3. We are commanded to love one another. I believe this also means that we overlook others flaws. We love unconditionally.
4. When we stray from the paths of the gospel or do things which we know we should not be doing, through repentance, we will not feel alone or abandoned any more. “Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints…"
5. When we stray from the paths of the gospel or do things which we know we should not be doing, through repentance, our spiritual wells can be filled once again and we will not thirst again.
6. When our time on this earht is concluded, may we all say as Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have ginished my course, I have kept the faith..”
7. When we yield our lives completely to will of the Lord, we will be blessed for our efforts. As we do so, Satan and his minions has little power over us. We will flee from sin.
So, as we reflect on Gottes Frietag, may we be mindful of what He has done for us; he has given us the possibility of eternal salvation. May we remember that this was the plan from the beginning. May we always hold our Savior near and dear to our hearts - and this will be a GOOD and GODLY thing.
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