Hi, lovely young friends!

Good Friday, followed by Easter Sunday, is observed in spring every year in order to commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Since Good Friday and Easter are around the corner, let’s know more about these significant observances and how we can inculcate the virtue of forgiveness as practised by Jesus Christ. 

Do you know that Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his own disciples which led to his arrest, eventually followed by his crucifixion? Read on…

As per the New Testament, Jesus was condemned of blasphemy as he claimed himself to be the Son of God and king of the Jews. Jesus’ claims had angered the Jewish religious leaders, so they took him to the Romans. The Roman leader, Pontius Pilate, sentenced Jesus Christ to crucifixion, which was the highest form of criminal punishment at the time. Unfortunately, Judas, a disciple of Jesus, had him arrested by the Roman soldiers. For this, Judas received 30 pieces of silver from the Romans. Jesus was then publicly beaten, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry a heavy wooden cross through the streets amid a jeering crowd. Finally, he was nailed to the cross by his wrists and feet, where he hung until he died, later that day. 

Every year, that day is observed as Good Friday to honour Jesus for his suffering and sacrifice. This day symbolises the victory of good over evil because it is believed that Christ died for the sake of humanity. He bore the sacrifice on behalf of the rest of humankind. He is considered the bridge between God and mortals. Three days later, Christ was resurrected from the dead. That day is celebrated as Easter Sunday. Jesus forgave everyone, including Judas.

Therefore, Good Friday is a time for reflection, self-introspection, forgiveness and gratitude. You could reflect upon the following:

1. Have you hurt others with your actions/words? Have you been stubborn and made it difficult for your parents/teachers? Have you made fun of your grandparents for being slow? Have you been rude to your helper at home? If your answer to all these questions is ‘yes,’ you should immediately apologise to that person and not try to repeat it in future.
2. There might have been instances when you didn’t step forward to help others even though you could have easily done it. It’s time to change that. Little things count — helping an elderly person cross the road, lending a pen/pencil to a classmate, helping your mother in the kitchen, etc. 
3. Have you been able to forgive people around you? Are you still not talking to your friend because he/she said something hurtful or made fun of you? Are you fighting with your sibling too often and saying mean things to him/her? Let it go. Forgive and forget. It’ll put the burden off your chest and make you feel good, trust me. If Jesus could forgive everyone who made him suffer so much, there’s no reason why we can’t forgive.
4.  Gratitude is like a flower that spreads joy. No matter how small a thing someone does for you, be grateful. Express how you appreciate the fact that he/she has done something for you. It could be for something as simple as lending you an eraser or giving you a chocolate. Tell your parents/teachers how much they mean to you and how without their support, you’d be lost. It’ll brighten their day.
5. Be kind to animals around you. You don’t have to buy a fancy breed of dog to express your love for the animal. Be kind to any stray dog/cat but be careful as animals tend to bite/scratch when they feel scared around humans. You can be kind from afar too. Make sure nobody pelts stones at them or disturbs them.

Once you reflect upon these things and take steps to resolve these, you’ll realise how much better you feel. Forgiveness is not an easy virtue to inculcate. But with a little practice and patience, you can do it. Also remember how Jesus forgave Judas for his betrayal.