The Critique

Good Friday is part of a series of commemorative events that make up what is known in Christian terms as Holy Week. It is a very significant day in the Christian calendar for it marks the death anniversary of Jesus, the Lord. It can be looked at as a day of mourning of sorts for it is the day that God died. The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche made a very bold assertion in one of his books. He had a madman run around the marketplace at noonday, carrying a lantern and shouting, “God is dead! God is dead!” When he was questioned by one of the passers-by as to what the matter was he replied in a grave tone, “God is dead! And we have killed him!” When I first came across this passage from Nietzsche I was immediately taken up by the imagery and the language he used. If you pause and think about the words of the madman you will begin to see the point he is making. Have we killed God? The Christians believe that God became a man, Jesus, and shared life with the rest of us but H...

Holy Week is a unique and grace-filled time of the year. This is a week that is exalted both in character and in significance. It commemorates and celebrates the central events of the Christian faith. These events encapsulate the core tenets of Christianity. This is no ordinary week. As its name suggests it is steeped in spiritual significance. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. This is a remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem a short time before his death. Jesus rode into town seated on a colt and the people came out in great numbers to welcome and honour him. They ‘spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”’(Mt 21:8-9) In those days it was common for kings to return to their kingdoms after long journeys or wars riding triumphantly on their horse. The people wo...