Sober Vs Somber—The Mood of Good Friday

by Jon Buck

sober: adj. - serious, sensible, and solemn
somber: adj. - dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy; grave

Our church is going to be celebrating Good Friday this evening, and it’s one of my favorite services. This day is, in fact, the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of His people.

Good Friday is a tradition of the church stretching back well into the middle ages, and is filled with a number of very interesting traditions. The earliest and most common traditions are associated with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox activity during what is commonly called ‘Holy Week’—the week leading up to Easter.

In these traditions, Good Friday is generally celebrated with wearing black, and participating in various services and activities that are linked to the suffering of Christ on the cross. In fact, one of the traditions is called ‘Acts of Reparation to Christ’ which include prayers that are designed to ‘repair the sins’ against Jesus.

All of these traditions are undertaken in a very somber mood. There is a darkness and gloom—a gravity that pervades all these events.

Some Protestant churches, while not adopting the specifics of the Catholic and Eastern traditions, have adopted the somber mood that they have created around this day.

Our desire is to refuse this type of service. We want to be sober, but NOT somber! There should be a sense of solemnity as we consider what Christ had done for us. We ought to be reminded, in a very serious and reverential way, about the glories of Calvary and the sufferings of our Lord.

However, Good Friday is and should be a day filled with sober joy for God’s people! What better day to rejoice in God and all that He has done for us, than on the day when we are reminded about the greatest demonstration of His love for us—the cross of His Son.

So, if you’ve grown up in a somber tradition, consider the words of Christ Himself to the thief on the cross. “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” There was no somberness when, at the close of His sufferings, Christ entered heaven with the thief. In fact, quite the opposite. And the same is true of you, on this day, if you know Him and trust Him for your salvation!