LAHORE: Good Friday, which marks the day when Jesus Christ, according to the Bible, was crucified, was observed in the churches across the provincial capital.

Unlike the celebratory Palm Sunday services, Good Friday services are solemn, marking Christ’s last seven sayings and footsteps towards the cross.

“Good Friday is observed to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We get together at around noon in remembrance of the time Jesus was crucified. We recite the Bible verses that depict his journey to the cross and ponder on the sacrifice, as we believe that Christ died for our salvation and through his crucifixion, we received eternal life in the hereafter,” said Lydia Lawrence, a student of Forman Christian College, at the Good Friday service held at the International Christian Fellowship Church.

Nearly a thousand people in one of the largest congregations in the city gathered at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection on The Mall at noon. There was a heavy police deployment at the entrance to the church and several volunteers stood by the gates for security.

Bishop Jamil recited the first kalima or saying of Christ and explained it. He said Christ had always taught by example. “We, too, must learn to forgive those who hurt us or persecute us,” the bishop told his congregation.

Trinity Gospel Church, one of the smaller churches in the Kot Lakhpat area, had 500 people. In his sermon on the fifth kalima, Reverend Joseph C Lal said in those last moments on the cross, Christ’s suffering had reached its pitch.

Pastor Irshad John, who led the services at St Andrews Church, said Jesus, too, had used passages from the Holy Scripture in times of suffering.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2017