Good Friday Why the Cross

About #Good #Friday "Why The Cross?" But if any honest Christian wants to know why He suffered death on the cross and not in some other way, we answer thus: in no other way was it expedient for us, indeed the Lord offered for our sakes the one death that was supremely good. He had come to bear the curse that lay on us; and how could He "become a curse," [Gal. 3:13] otherwise than by accepting the accursed death? And that death is the cross, for it is written, "Cursed is he that hangs on a tree." [Gal. 3:13] Again, the Lord’s death is the ransom of all, and by His death "the middle wall of partition" [Eph. 2:14] is broken down, and the calling of the nations is comes about. How could He have called us to Him, if He had not been crucified? For it is only on the cross that a man dies with His arms outstretched. Here again, we see the fitness of His death and of those outstretched arms: it was that He might draw His ancient people with the one and the Gentiles with the other, and join both together in Himself. Even so, He foretold the manner of His redeeming death. "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Myself." [John 12:32] Again the air is the sphere of the devil, the enemy of our race, who having fallen from heaven, endeavors with the other evil spirits who shared in his disobedience both to keep souls from the truth and to hinder the progress of those who are trying to follow it. The Apostle refers to this when he says: "According to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience." [Eph. 2:2] But the Lord came to overthrow the devil, to purify the air and to prepare "a way" for us up to heaven, as the apostle says, "through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." [Heb. 10:20]. This had to be done through death, and by what other kind of death could it be done, than by a death in the air, that is, on the cross? Here again, you see how right and natural it was that the Lord should suffer for us; for being thus "lifted up," He cleansed the air from all the evil influences of the enemy. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven;" [Luke 10:18] He says; and thus He re-opened the road to heaven, saying again, "Lift up your gates, O you princes, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors." [Psalm 24:7] For it was not the Word Himself Who needed an opening of the gates, He being Lord of all, nor was any of His works closed to their Maker. No, it was we that needed it, we whom He Himself carried up in His own body–that body which He first offered to death on behalf of all, and then made through it a path to heaven. Paul knew of [Him when] he said to the Corinthians, "I determined not to know anything among yon save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Wherefore, formerly [the disciples] proclaimed Jesus as the doer of certain things, and the teacher of certain things; but now when Peter confesses that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God, as He did not wish it to be proclaimed already that He was the Christ, in order that He might be proclaimed at a more suitable time, and that as crucified, He commands His disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ. And that this was His meaning, when He forbade proclamation to be made that He was the Christ, is in a measure established by the words, "From that time began Jesus to show unto His disciples how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders," and what is annexed; for then, at the fitting time, He proclaims, so to speak, to the disciples who knew that Jesus was Christ, the Son of the living God, the Fr. having revealed it to them, that instead of believing in Jesus Christ who had been crucified, they were to believe in Jesus Christ who was about to be crucified. What does 'k’edami si’ure' mean? The term k’edami si’ure refers to Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is called k’edami si’uri because fasting from grain and water is not allowed on the Sabbath, but on this day, the Lord was in the grave, and the apostles fasted, saying that they would not eat or drink until they saw the resurrection. It is also known as 'Lemlem Saturday' because k’ēt’ēma is blessed and distributed on this day. This has a symbolic and mystical meaning. Symbolically, in order to prove that the water that rained in Noah's time has dried up, Noah sent a dove out of the window. The first time, she was silent, but the second time she returned with k’ēt’ēma in her mouth, indicating that the water of the flood had dried up. This signifies that the water of sin has also dried up. (Genesis 8:6-11) The mystical meaning of the dove is associated with our Lady, the Virgin Mary, as she is seen holding a green leaf in her mouth, indicating that the virgin conceived and gave birth to God as a virgin. The dove also signifies that Christ, who was born from her, destroyed death through his Crusifiction, saving us from slavery to the devil. It is also called Holy Saturday because Gos, who is Holy, rested from all his work on this day after creating all creatures. On this day, he destroyed Sheol with his soul, and left it empty. This day is different from other days because it is the day on which we inherited eternal peace for our souls. Ceremonies performed in the church on this day include: Reading of the songs of Solomon because there is hope for resurrection. Before reaching other days, prayers of incense and prayer of absolution are offered, Gebre Salame (He made peace with the cross) is sung because he saved the souls in hell and gave rest (peace) to mankind after he was crucified on the cross. The cross was not a symbol of peace before the Lord was crucified on the cross, but later it became a symbol of peace. Day of fasting (አክፍሎት): we are called to fast Saturday all day until Litergy ends of Sunday so we can participate in the blessings of the Apostles who fasted until they see Him reserected. When the Lord was teaching, the Pharisees and John's disciples fasted. They asked him why his disciples were not fasting, and he replied that the bridegroom should not fast with them because of the vows, but the time will come when the bridegroom will take them from them. In addition, sharing is emphasized on this day. If the priests bring the blessings of the resurrection to them, they will share it with the poor. May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Please follow our Telegram group every day and share it with your friends: https://t.me/orthodoxQnAs