Dear Christian, were you mourning on Good Friday and feasting on Easter?
Posted: Way Of The Redeemer (Blogger / WhatsApp), 5 April 2026.
I was also following the tradition for a long time—remembering the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday, eating simple foods, wearing regular clothes—then at Easter shifting into celebration mode: new clothes, a feast, and wishing everyone a Happy Easter!
What changed in three days? Did Christ go back into the grave only to come out again? I saw a temple ritual on the news, where a deity every year is moved from one location to another and brought back with a celebration. Then I felt a resemblance: I was just following a ritual. Nothing really changed; we had only set some days for mourning and some days for celebration.
Other religions often emphasize rituals and penance on specific dates: some roll on the floor, some circle a rock or a deity, stay hungry on set days and feast later, some wear specific clothes and colors. In some Christian cultures, carrying a cross—or even whipping themselves or being nailed to a cross in imitation—copies patterns where penance and suffering are treated as the way to reach God. Rituals create a religion, but that is not the heart of Christ’s message. That is not the gospel Jesus gave.
I realized we should never be in mourning: every day is a day to remember and understand the crucifixion, and to celebrate the resurrection even more.
John 6 says a great deal about the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice—who he is, and how life comes through him.
John 6:51 (KJV)
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:47 (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
We are saved not by our own actions, but by believing in Jesus. And please correct me if I am wrong—I do not see any verse in the New Testament that calls for mourning in that ritual sense. This is what Paul asks us to do: rejoice always in the Lord.
Philippians 4:4–7 (KJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
References (Scripture)
All links use KJV on Bible Gateway.
John 6
Philippians 4
Philippians 4:4–7 (rejoice; prayer; peace of God)
KJV is public domain; see also CrossWire / Sword resources.
