Easter or Good Friday…Which is More Important?

I’ve often wondered which was the more important act? Christ’s death or His resurrection?

Let me say this first, they are both important that shouldn’t be looked at lightly. But is there one better than the other?

Could we have had an Easter Sunday without the agonizing Holy Friday? Could Jesus have resurrected as an old man after living a long life and dying a less painful death at the hands of the Roman soldiers?

What if his death was like a true sacrificial lamb? Not to be morbid, but the lambs didn’t suffer long. The point of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were not for the lambs fault, but the sins of those doing the sacrificing. If Christ’s death was quick, would it mean as much?

There are many notable Biblical figures who sacrificed themselves and we don’t worship them.

Samson

Jeremiah and many of the other prophets

The disciples of Christ (except John)

There are probably many others, but these were the ones that quickly came to my head. But does a death invoke worship?

Throughout history men and women have sacrificed their lives for their children, their country, their beliefs. Today we respect them. We honor them. We look to them as inspiration. But we don’t worship them.

So what’s the difference?

How is Christ’s death any different than a soldier being tortured for the sake of protecting my earthly freedom?

Once again, I have to say, I deeply revere the sacrifice Christ made. But without his resurrection, it would be deemed no other than a religious, good man, dying for his cause. Like all the other martyrs in the past.

We wouldn’t worship His name today without the triumphant defeat of death.

I don’t sing praises to Him because of Holy Friday. My faith wasn’t found whole because of His death. I don’t cling to Him when I’m confused because of the blood He spilt.

That may sound harsh. But without the resurrection, I wouldn’t have a need to sing to him. Or be found in Him. Or cling to Him.

Some may say that these two acts are equally important, but I still find that the resurrection inches out His death.

The resurrection was proof of His identity.

The resurrection was a sealed guarantee that death held no power on Him.

The resurrection was the act that only God could do.

Sorcery and magic could possibly turn water into wine. There are probably tricks of healings by using a fraud pretending to be sick and curing him. There could be ways around some of the miracles if someone wanted to trick people.

But the resurrection couldn’t be done with smoke and mirrors.

I will always cherish Holy Friday. I will hold that day close to my heart in remembrance. I will honor that day with the sacrifice Christ took on my behalf. I will reflect on the blameless one taking my tarnished image. I will speak of it with importance. And I will worship Christ because of what came on that glorious morning.

May you have a blessed Easter and see that without the Holy Friday we couldn’t have an Easter and without Easter there would never be a Holy Friday.

Peace