By Phillip Jensen
Translated by Lawrence Ng
Bilingual with Traditional Scripts
耶穌受難日(Good Friday)，「好」在那裡？
Good Friday is a great day. It is the day when we have a public holiday to celebrate the saving death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
耶穌受難日是美好的一天。在這一天，我們有公衆假期來慶祝主耶穌基督的受死救贖。
People who don’t know of this salvation find the English name “Good Friday” strange. Its history is derived from the 13th century where the word ‘good’ meant ‘holy’. So it was ‘Holy Friday’ but as the word ‘good’ changed its meaning, Christians saw no reason to change the name. If anything the name became more appropriate to describe the rationale for the holiday. For there’s no better day than the one when our saviour died for our sins. In his death God’s love was demonstrated, Jesus was glorified, God’s just anger against us was turned aside, our sin was paid for, we were redeemed, Satan and his works were defeated – just to mention a few things that happened that day. Any day that is set aside to celebrate the saving death of our Lord deserves at least the title “Good”.
不認識救恩的人會覺得 「耶穌受難日」的英文名稱「Good Friday」很奇怪。它的歷史起源於13世紀，「好」一詞意為「聖潔」。本來是「聖星期五」，但是隨著「好」這個詞的含義改變，基督徒認為沒有其他理由更改名字。如果有的話，這個名字就更適合描述假期的合理性了。因為沒有一天比救主為我們的罪而死的那一天更恰當。在衪的受死中，神的愛得到了彰顯，耶穌得了榮耀，神對我們的憤怒止息了，我們的罪孽得了償還，我們被贖回，撒但和他的工作被擊敗了…這只是當天發生其中的一些事情。慶祝我們的主受死救贖的那一天，被冠以「好」的銜頭實不為過。
As people move away from the Christian understanding of the death of Jesus, their celebrations become distorted. For the religious, this day ceases to be a celebration of his saving death as they try to connect to God by their religious
observances. For the irreligious, this day becomes like any other public holiday; time off to enjoy themselves.
當人們遠離基督徒對耶穌之死的理解時，他們的慶祝活動就變得扭曲了。對於宗教人士而言，當他們試圖藉著他們的宗教儀式來與神建立聯繫，這一天不再是慶祝祂為救贖的死亡。對於無宗教信仰的人來說，這一天就像其他任何公衆假期一樣，作為了享受自己的時間。
Instead of trusting the message, that Jesus’ death is sufficient to bring us forgiveness, religious people try to gain the benefits of his death by their actions. Justification is no longer by faith in Christ’s death alone but by faith and works, especially sympathetic re-enactments by which the observant can participate in the sufferings of Christ. From Thursday evening, with the ceremonial foot washing, the stripping of altars and reserving the ‘host’ to celebrate the mass of the Pre-sanctified, the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrificial death is consistently undermined through religious observances. A distorted retelling of the events of the day, by a meritorious procession called the stations of the cross, fails to accept the spiritual reality of the day. It is worse still when dramatic re-enactments even involve actual crucifixions. From medieval times the “Veneration of the Cross” has turned the events of history into idolatry – even “Creeping to the Cross” to kiss the feet of the crucifix. Christ’s supposed ‘Reproaches’ from the cross are sung as people once again seek mercy, or worse still, make ‘Acts of Reparation’ to pay Jesus for the sins that they have committed against him!
宗教人士不再相信耶穌的死足以使我們得到寬恕的信息，反而想通過自己的行為來獲得祂受死的益處。稱義不再僅僅依靠對基督之死的信心，而是依靠信心和行為，特別是通過同情的重新重演，讓參觀者可以有份去體驗基督的苦難。從星期四晚上，以洗腳的禮儀開始，清空了的祭壇和預定了的「聖體」為未蒙聖潔者舉行彌撒，宗教儀式不斷破壞耶穌犧牲的足夠性。通過稱為「十字架的立功遊行」扭曲地重述當日的事件，未能接受當日的屬靈實際。當戲劇性的重演甚至涉及實際的受難時，情況更糟。從中世紀開始，「十字架的尊崇」將歷史事件變成偶像崇拜，甚至是「爬行到十字架」來親吻耶穌受難像的腳。當人們再次尋求憐憫時，傳講的是基督從十字架上傳來的「責備」，更糟的是，為他們所犯的罪向耶穌做出「賠償行為」!
Those Reformers of the 16th century, who continued to celebrate Good Friday, dispensed with the medieval practices and proclaimed the death of Jesus for our sins. The Anglicans, together with the continental Protestants, celebrated the Lord’s Supper – a practice that continues in Evangelical churches to this day. But as people lose touch with our justification by faith in the Gospel word of the finished work of Christ, so there is a turning back to medieval practices or the development of new ways to please God. For example the 17th century Jesuit three hour (from midday to 3pm) service was introduced into Anglican churches by the 19th Anglo-Catholic ritualist, Alexander Mackonochie.
16世紀改革者繼續慶祝耶穌受難日，放棄了中世紀的習俗，並宣佈耶穌為我們的罪而死。英國聖公會與歐洲的新教徒一起慶祝主的晚餐…這做法一直持續到今天的福音派教會。然而，在他們的福音訊息中，傳講基督已完成的工作却忘記了因信稱義，因此有一種轉向中世紀的做法或發展出新的討神喜悅的方式。例如，19世紀的英國國教的高教會派重禮儀式的亞歷山大·麥科諾奇（Alexander Mackonochie）將17世紀的耶穌會修士三小時（從中午到下午3點）的崇拜引入了英國聖公會。
On the other hand, the irreligious use Good Friday to continue to trade or to pursue pleasure. Our Government is under great pressure to allow trading on every day of the year – including Good Friday. A society that has no time off from trading has only the poverty of materialism to hold it together. But most people gratefully use the public holiday to enjoy themselves. If you know nothing of the death of Jesus, then it’s understandable that you would use your free time to pursue whatever made you happy, be it the family barbeque or a fishing trip, a game of football or an opportunity to get into the garden.
另一方面，非信徒用耶穌受難日來繼續交易或追求快樂。我國政府承受著巨大的壓力，要求在一年中的每一天（包括耶穌受難日）進行交易。一個沒有休息時間的商業社會只有唯物主義的貧窮才能將其團結在一起。但是，大多數人很高興有公衆假期來尋開心。如果您對耶穌的死一無所知，利用空閒時間做自己開心的事情是合理不過，無論是家庭燒烤，釣魚之旅，足球比賽還是搞搞園藝。
Christians know that we don’t need a holiday to mark the day our salvation was won. There’s nothing wrong with trade or pleasure on any day of the year. Yet, if the society grants us a day in which to celebrate our Lord’s victorious death, we should use it to the full – use it and not lose it.
基督徒知道我們不需要假期來紀念我們得救的日子。一年中的任何一天交易或娛樂都沒有錯。但是，如果社會給予我們慶祝主光榮受死的日子，我們應該充分利用它…使用它而不是失去它。
Good Friday is the day when nobody can complain if we proclaim our Lord’s all conquering death. Family, presents, Santa and children may dominate Christmas Day, while chocolate and the bunny are taking over Easter day but Good Friday has only buns with the cross on them. This is the day to spend time remembering our Lord’s death, pondering with thankfulness its significance and implications for our lives. It’s the day to invite our friends and neighbours to hear what Jesus did when he died for sins. Most Australians don’t know why he died or what his death achieved. They think that Christ’s message is about being nice and kind and good. If they could only find out the wonderful news of sins forgiven, pardon and redemption, justification and adoption! But how will they find out unless we who know the truth, love it and love them enough to tell them. And when better than the day set aside – by our community – to celebrate this death by calling it ‘Good’.
在耶穌受難日這天宣佈我們的主征服了死亡，沒人可以抱怨。聖誕節那天，家庭，禮物，聖誕老人和孩子可能佔主導地位，而巧克力和兔子正在取代復活節，但只是耶穌受難日麵包上才有十字架。今天是紀念我們的主之死，並帶著感恩思考對我們生命的意義的美好時光。今天是邀請我們的朋友和鄰居去聆聽耶穌因罪而死的日子。大多數澳洲人都不知道衪為什麼死或衪的死成就了什麼。他們以為基督的信息是關於善良和作好人。真希望他們真正找到罪得赦免，饒恕，救贖，稱義，成為神兒女的大好訊息！但是除非我們這些知道並熱愛真理的，足夠地愛他們以致我們與他們分享，他們將如何找到答案。當我們的社區把這日子分出來，稱之為「好」來慶祝主的死，沒有一天比這一酗更適合去分享。
Bilingual with Simplified Scripts
耶稣受难日(Good Friday)，「好」在那里？
Good Friday is a great day. It is the day when we have a public holiday to celebrate the saving death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
耶稣受难日是美好的一天。在这一天，我们有公众假期来庆祝主耶稣基督的受死救赎。
People who don’t know of this salvation find the English name “Good Friday” strange. Its history is derived from the 13th century where the word ‘good’ meant ‘holy’. So it was ‘Holy Friday’ but as the word ‘good’ changed its meaning, Christians saw no reason to change the name. If anything the name became more appropriate to describe the rationale for the holiday. For there’s no better day than the one when our saviour died for our sins. In his death God’s love was demonstrated, Jesus was glorified, God’s just anger against us was turned aside, our sin was paid for, we were redeemed, Satan and his works were defeated – just to mention a few things that happened that day. Any day that is set aside to celebrate the saving death of our Lord deserves at least the title “Good”.
不认识救恩的人会觉得 「耶稣受难日」的英文名称「Good Friday」很奇怪。它的历史起源于13世纪，「好」一词意为「圣洁」。本来是「圣星期五」，但是随着「好」这个词的含义改变，基督徒认为没有其他理由更改名字。如果有的话，这个名字就更适合描述假期的合理性了。因为没有一天比救主为我们的罪而死的那一天更恰当。在衪的受死中，神的爱得到了彰显，耶稣得了荣耀，神对我们的愤怒止息了，我们的罪孽得了偿还，我们被赎回，撒但和他的工作被击败了…这只是当天发生其中的一些事情。庆祝我们的主受死救赎的那一天，被冠以「好」的衔头实不为过。
As people move away from the Christian understanding of the death of Jesus, their celebrations become distorted. For the religious, this day ceases to be a celebration of his saving death as they try to connect to God by their religious observances. For the irreligious, this day becomes like any other public holiday; time off to enjoy themselves.
当人们远离基督徒对耶稣之死的理解时，他们的庆祝活动就变得扭曲了。对于宗教人士而言，当他们试图借着他们的宗教仪式来与神建立联系，这一天不再是庆祝祂为救赎的死亡。对于无宗教信仰的人来说，这一天就像其他任何公众假期一样，作为了享受自己的时间。
Instead of trusting the message, that Jesus’ death is sufficient to bring us forgiveness, religious people try to gain the benefits of his death by their actions. Justification is no longer by faith in Christ’s death alone but by faith and works, especially sympathetic re-enactments by which the observant can participate in the sufferings of Christ. From Thursday evening, with the ceremonial foot washing, the stripping of altars and reserving the ‘host’ to celebrate the mass of the Pre-sanctified, the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrificial death is consistently undermined through religious observances. A distorted retelling of the events of the day, by a meritorious procession called the stations of the cross, fails to accept the spiritual reality of the day. It is worse still when dramatic re-enactments even involve actual crucifixions. From medieval times the “Veneration of the Cross” has turned the events of history into idolatry – even “Creeping to the Cross” to kiss the feet of the crucifix. Christ’s supposed ‘Reproaches’ from the cross are sung as people once again seek mercy, or worse still, make ‘Acts of Reparation’ to pay Jesus for the sins that they have committed against him!
宗教人士不再相信耶稣的死足以使我们得到宽恕的信息，反而想通过自己的行为来获得祂受死的益处。称义不再仅仅依靠对基督之死的信心，而是依靠信心和行为，特别是通过同情的重新重演，让参观者可以有份去体验基督的苦难。从星期四晚上，以洗脚的礼仪开始，清空了的祭坛和预定了的「圣体」为未蒙圣洁者举行弥撒，宗教仪式不断破坏耶稣牺牲的足够性。通过称为「十字架的立功游行」扭曲地重述当日的事件，未能接受当日的属灵实际。当戏剧性的重演甚至涉及实际的受难时，情况更糟。从中世纪开始，「十字架的尊崇」将历史事件变成偶像崇拜，甚至是「爬行到十字架」来亲吻耶稣受难像的脚。当人们再次寻求怜悯时，传讲的是基督从十字架上传来的「责备」，更糟的是，为他们所犯的罪向耶稣做出「赔偿行为」!
Those Reformers of the 16th century, who continued to celebrate Good Friday, dispensed with the medieval practices and proclaimed the death of Jesus for our sins. The Anglicans, together with the continental Protestants, celebrated the Lord’s Supper – a practice that continues in Evangelical churches to this day. But as people lose touch with our justification by faith in the Gospel word of the finished work of Christ, so there is a turning back to medieval practices or the development of new ways to please God. For example the 17th century Jesuit three hour (from midday to 3pm) service was introduced into Anglican churches by the 19th Anglo-Catholic ritualist, Alexander Mackonochie.
16世纪改革者继续庆祝耶稣受难日，放弃了中世纪的习俗，并宣布耶稣为我们的罪而死。英国圣公会与欧洲的新教徒一起庆祝主的晚餐…这做法一直持续到今天的福音派教会。然而，在他们的福音讯息中，传讲基督已完成的工作却忘记了因信称义，因此有一种转向中世纪的
做法或发展出新的讨神喜悦的方式。例如，19世纪的英国国教的高教会派重礼仪式的亚历山大·麦科诺奇（Alexander Mackonochie）将17世纪的耶稣会修士三小时（从中午到下午3点）的崇拜引入了英国圣公会。
On the other hand, the irreligious use Good Friday to continue to trade or to pursue pleasure. Our Government is under great pressure to allow trading on every day of the year – including Good Friday. A society that has no time off from trading has only the poverty of materialism to hold it together. But most people gratefully use the public holiday to enjoy themselves. If you know nothing of the death of Jesus, then it’s understandable that you would use your free time to pursue whatever made you happy, be it the family barbeque or a fishing trip, a game of football or an opportunity to get into the garden.
另一方面，非信徒用耶稣受难日来继续交易或追求快乐。我国政府承受着巨大的压力，要求在一年中的每一天（包括耶稣受难日）进行交易。一个没有休息时间的商业社会只有唯物主义的贫穷才能将其团结在一起。但是，大多数人很高兴有公众假期来寻开心。如果您对耶稣的死一无所知，利用空闲时间做自己开心的事情是合理不过，无论是家庭烧烤，钓鱼之旅，足球比赛还是搞搞园艺。
Christians know that we don’t need a holiday to mark the day our salvation was won. There’s nothing wrong with trade or pleasure on any day of the year. Yet, if the society grants us a day in which to celebrate our Lord’s victorious death, we should use it to the full – use it and not lose it.
基督徒知道我们不需要假期来纪念我们得救的日子。一年中的任何一天交易或娱乐都没有错。但是，如果社会给予我们庆祝主光荣受死的日子，我们应该充分利用它…使用它而不是失去它。
Good Friday is the day when nobody can complain if we proclaim our Lord’s all conquering death. Family, presents, Santa and children may dominate Christmas Day, while chocolate and the bunny are taking over Easter day but Good Friday has only buns with the cross on them. This is the day to spend time remembering our Lord’s death, pondering with thankfulness its significance and implications for our lives. It’s the day to invite our friends and neighbours to hear what Jesus did when he died for sins. Most Australians don’t know why he died or what his death achieved. They think that Christ’s message is about being nice and kind and good. If they could only find out the wonderful news of sins forgiven, pardon and redemption, justification and
adoption! But how will they find out unless we who know the truth, love it and love them enough to tell them. And when better than the day set aside – by our community – to celebrate this death by calling it ‘Good’.
在耶稣受难日这天宣布我们的主征服了死亡，没人可以抱怨。圣诞节那天，家庭，礼物，圣诞老人和孩子可能占主导地位，而巧克力和兔子正在取代复活节，但只是耶稣受难日面包上才有十字架。今天是纪念我们的主之死，并带着感恩思考对我们生命的意义的美好时光。今天是邀请我们的朋友和邻居去聆听耶稣因罪而死的日子。大多数澳洲人都不知道衪为什么死或衪的死成就了什么。他们以为基督的信息是关于善良和作好人。真希望他们真正找到罪得赦免，饶恕，救赎，称义，成为神儿女的大好讯息！但是除非我们这些知道并热爱真理的，足够地爱他们以致我们与他们分享，他们将如何找到答案。当我们的小区把这日子分出来，称之为「好」来庆祝主的死，没有一天比这一酗更适合去分享。
Original article: https://phillipjensen.com/resources/whats-so-good-about-good-friday/
