Good Friday: Salvation Through The Cross

Today, Christians across Nigeria and around the world commemorate Good Friday—one of the most sacred and significant days in the Christian liturgical calendar. This holy day marks the end of the Lenten observances and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who bore the full weight of humanity’s sins on the cross at Calvary. For believers, Good Friday is not only a moment of profound reflection but also a call to renewed devotion and a reaffirmation of the promise of salvation made possible through Christ’s redemptive sacrifice.

Declared a public holiday by the federal government, Good Friday is a cornerstone of Holy Week and offers a powerful opportunity to reconnect with the foundational truths of the Christian faith. It concludes the 40-day Lenten period, which is characterised by fasting, prayer, penitence, almsgiving, and other acts of spiritual discipline.

It is an inward journey, inviting believers to confront the reality of sin and embrace the unfathomable love of a Saviour who paid the ultimate price for humanity’s redemption.

At the heart of this sacred day is the cross—an enduring symbol of suffering, and yet more profoundly, of victory. Jesus Christ, though innocent and without blemish, willingly endured a brutal death so that all might live. This supreme act of self-sacrifice forms the very foundation of Christian belief in salvation.

In Christian theology, salvation is not earned through good deeds or religious rituals, but is instead a gift—freely given through Christ’s atoning death. Good Friday thus serves as a solemn reminder of that divine exchange: sin was defeated, the veil of separation was torn, and the gates of eternal life flung open to all who believe.

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Good Friday is also a day of intense spiritual activity. Across Nigeria, churches hold special services focused on the Passion of Christ—the narrative of His suffering and crucifixion. These services are characterised by Scripture readings, sombre hymns, and quiet reflection, enabling the faithful to spiritually partake in Christ’s anguish and His boundless love.

Fasting, a central observance on Good Friday, is far more than a religious formality. It is a discipline that draws the believer’s attention away from the physical and towards the spiritual. Through fasting, Christians seek to share in Christ’s suffering, cultivate humility, renew their dependence on God, and intercede for personal, communal, and national transformation.

Similarly, confession and repentance lie at the heart of Good Friday observances. In many churches, altars are overwhelmed with prayers of contrition and pleas for divine mercy. For those burdened by guilt, regret, or spiritual dryness, Good Friday extends a timeless invitation: Come to the cross, and be made whole.

In a nation where systemic failure and poor leadership have contributed to widespread suffering, the sacrificial leadership of Christ offers enduring lessons for those entrusted with public office—both at national and subnational levels. Jesus redefined leadership not as the exercise of power, but as service. On the eve of His death, He knelt to wash the feet of His disciples, modelling the principle that true leadership is rooted in humility and sacrifice.

Christ exemplified selfless love—a love that places the needs of others above personal gain. This message is particularly relevant to some of today’s religious and political leaders who live in excess while their followers endure economic and social hardship. Leadership, when shaped by love and empathy, transforms lives. Great leaders are those who are prepared to sacrifice for the welfare of the people they lead.

Moreover, Christ demonstrated humility even in His divine authority. True power, as He showed, lies not in dominance but in humility. Such leadership inspires loyalty, fosters trust, and brings about genuine transformation—qualities that are often absent in autocratic styles of governance.

Christ also possessed a visionary spirit—He looked beyond His immediate suffering to the glory of resurrection and the fulfilment of divine purpose. Visionary leadership, sadly lacking in many of Nigeria’s past and present leaders, is essential for national progress. Such leaders inspire others, offering hope in the face of adversity.

On a personal level, Nigerian Christians, many of whom navigate daily realities marked by hardship, insecurity, and moral decline, they can draw strength from Christ’s perseverance in the midst of affliction. The message of the cross is a beacon of hope, healing, and transformation. It affirms that, no matter how dark the night, the light of redemption remains within reach for all who trust Christ.

As the Nigerian Christian community marks Good Friday, may this be a moment of renewed commitment to Christ, a deepening of spiritual practices, and a fresh embrace of the salvation secured through His sacred blood.

For Nigeria’s leaders, Christ’s selfless sacrifice remains a timeless template for public service—one that calls for humility, love, and a willingness to put the needs of the people first.

Finally, for His followers, He showed them that their salvation is through carrying their own crosses—there is no other way—and He showed them how to carry them: with love and endurance.