Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Good Friday?

Understanding How Jehovah’s Witnesses View Good Friday

Introduction: A Time of Reflection

isn’t there something special about springtime? It just feels hopeful! For Christians all over the world, this season leading up to Easter is a time filled with deep meaning. Our hearts turn toward remembering the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ made for every single one of us, and the amazing hope His resurrection brings into our lives.¹ It’s a time for quiet thought, for prayer, and for special gatherings at church. Many beautiful traditions focus on the events of Holy Week, and Good Friday really stands out as a day set apart to remember the suffering and death Jesus went through for us.³

As we think about these powerful events, maybe you’ve wondered about how different folks express their faith during this time. Perhaps you have neighbors, or even family members who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and you’ve thought, “Do they observe Good Friday like many other churches do?” That’s a perfectly natural question! It comes from a good place – a place of wanting to understand others who love God. So, let’s explore this together with open hearts and minds, appreciating that people show their devotion to Christ in different ways.

So, Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Join in Celebrating Good Friday?

Alright, let’s get right to the heart of your question, and answer it gently. The answer is no, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Good Friday.¹² You won’t find them holding special services or taking part in the traditional ways many other Christian churches observe this particular day.

That might seem a little surprising, especially when you know how much they respect Jesus Christ and firmly believe that His sacrifice is the very key to salvation.¹² But their decision not to observe Good Friday isn’t just random. It comes directly from how they understand the Bible’s instructions and their view of early Christian history. To really understand where they’re coming from, it helps to look at their reasons with an open heart and a spirit of kindness.

Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Observe Good Friday or Easter Sunday?

The reasons Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to celebrate Good Friday are tied right in with why they don’t celebrate Easter Sunday either. Their view rests on two main ideas they get from reading the Bible: Firstly, they believe that these celebrations have pagan origins, which conflicts with their commitment to worship in a way that aligns with biblical teachings. Additionally, Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the importance of commemorating Jesus’ death through the observance of the Memorial, rather than partaking in holidays that they view as misaligned with Christian values. This perspective is similar to their stance on other holidays, such as their views on Jehovah’s Witnesses and Halloween beliefs, which they also reject due to their associations with non-Christian traditions.

No Clear Command in the Bible:

Jehovah’s Witnesses put a strong emphasis on the fact that the Bible gives only one specific instruction for an annual remembrance for Christians: remembering Jesus’ death. They point straight to what Jesus said during the Last Supper, written down in Luke 22:19-20. He shared bread and wine with His apostles and told them, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”12 They understand this command to be specifically about remembering His death, not about celebrating His birth (Christmas) or His resurrection (Easter) each year.¹² Since they don’t find a similar command in the Bible to hold a yearly Easter or Good Friday celebration, they choose not to.¹²

Concerns About Non-Christian Roots:

They also teach that many traditions people connect with Easter – things like Easter eggs, bunnies, and sunrise services – didn’t start with the Bible. They believe these customs actually have roots in ancient pagan practices, especially fertility traditions from long before Christianity.¹² They feel that bringing practices from non-Christian worship into their own worship wouldn’t please God.¹² They look to Bible principles that encourage believers to keep themselves separate from things considered spiritually “unclean” (based on 2 Corinthians 6:17) and to give God their “exclusive devotion” (based on Exodus 20:5), avoiding mixing true worship with things from other religions.¹²

It’s so important to understand, that this doesn’t mean Jehovah’s Witnesses doubt that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Not at all! They firmly believe Jesus was resurrected, and they see His resurrection as absolutely essential to Christian faith and salvation.¹² Their objection is specifically to the holidays of Easter and Good Friday as celebrations. They view these holidays – with their names, their timing linked to the Easter season, and their customs – as not being commanded in the Bible and as being mixed with non-Christian origins.¹² Since Good Friday is traditionally and liturgically tied so closely to the Easter celebration, the reasons they have for not observing Easter also apply to Good Friday as part of that same holiday package.² While they deeply value remembering Jesus’ death, they do it through their own special observance, the Memorial, which they intentionally keep separate from the Easter timing followed by other denominations.¹⁷

If They Don’t Observe Good Friday, How Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Remember Jesus’ Sacrifice?

Even though Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t take part in Good Friday services, remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is incredibly important to them. They fulfill this through a very special and deeply respectful annual event they call the Memorial of Christ’s Death.¹⁷ You might also hear them refer to it using Bible terms like the Lord’s Evening Meal or the Last Supper.¹⁸

For Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Memorial isn’t just another meeting – it’s considered the most important and sacred event of their entire year.¹⁷ They believe it’s the only celebration that Jesus specifically told his followers to observe regularly.¹⁷

They see this yearly gathering as the direct way to follow Jesus’ instruction given on the night before He died: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).¹⁴ The whole focus of the Memorial is to think deeply about the meaning and value of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and to express heartfelt gratitude for it.¹⁷ It’s a time filled with reverence and appreciation for God’s amazing love.

What Happens During the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Memorial of Christ’s Death?

The Memorial of Christ’s Death is observed very carefully, following the pattern they understand from the Bible.

Timing and How They Figure Out the Date:

The Memorial happens just once each year.¹⁷ It’s held after the sun goes down on the specific date that matches Nisan 14 on the ancient Jewish lunisolar calendar.¹⁸ This is really important to them because it was on Nisan 14, the day of the Jewish Passover, that Jesus started this special meal with his apostles right before his death.¹⁷

To figure out the date for Nisan 14 each year, Jehovah’s Witnesses try to use the method they believe was used way back in the first century.¹⁸ This involves finding the start of the month of Nisan (which is Nisan 1). They calculate this based on when the new crescent moon is first seen at sunset in Jerusalem around the time of the spring equinox (which happens about March 21).²⁸ Nisan 14 then begins 13 days after Nisan 1, starting at sunset.²⁷ Because this method depends on actually seeing the crescent moon near the equinox, and not just on the mathematical calculations used in the modern Jewish calendar, the date for the Memorial observed by Jehovah’s Witnesses might sometimes be a day or two different from the date of Passover celebrated by Jewish people today.²⁸ This specific way of calculating shows their commitment to restoring what they see as the original practice, separate from later Jewish or mainstream Christian calendar ways.

The Observance Itself:

The Memorial meeting usually includes these parts:

• A talk (like a sermon) is given that explains the deep meaning of Jesus’ death as a ransom sacrifice. It highlights God’s incredible love and the wonderful hope this sacrifice gives to all of us.¹⁷
• Two special items are used: unleavened bread and plain red wine.¹⁷ The bread, made without yeast or anything extra, represents Jesus’ perfect, sin-free body that He offered up.¹⁸ The red wine stands for His blood that was shed, which they believe confirmed the “new covenant” between God and a special group of Christians and makes forgiveness of sins possible.¹⁸
• These items, the bread and wine, are passed respectfully among everyone who is there. But something unique about the Memorial is that only a very small number of people actually eat the bread and drink the wine.¹⁸
• The ones who do partake are those whom Jehovah’s Witnesses believe are part of the “anointed” group—a limited number of 144,000 people (based on how they understand Revelation 7:4 and 14:1-3) who have the hope of going to heaven to rule with Christ.¹⁸
• The vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses attending the Memorial see themselves as part of the “great crowd” mentioned in Revelation 7:9. Their hope is to live forever on a beautiful paradise Earth.¹⁸ Since they don’t consider themselves part of that “new covenant” or the “anointed” group, they attend as respectful observers. They show their deep appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice but don’t partake of the bread and wine.¹⁸ This practice of only a few partaking directly reflects their unique understanding of Bible prophecy and the different futures they believe God has planned for faithful Christians.

The feeling during the Memorial is very serious, dignified, and full of deep respect. The focus is entirely on remembering and being thankful for the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.¹⁷ In the days leading up to Nisan 14, Witnesses are often encouraged to read specific parts of the Bible that talk about the last days of Jesus’ life on earth, His suffering, and His death, helping prepare their hearts even more for this special observance.¹⁷

How is the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Memorial Different from Holy Communion or the Eucharist?

While both the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Memorial and the Holy Communion (or Eucharist) that many other Christian churches celebrate involve bread and wine and help us remember Jesus, there are some important differences in how often they happen, how they’re done, and the understanding behind them. Knowing these differences can help us appreciate the unique way Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial based on their beliefs.

This little table highlights some key differences:

As you can see from the table, how often it happens is a big difference. The Memorial is a once-a-year event on a specific calculated date, while Communion is usually part of the regular worship rhythm in other churches.⁴ Maybe the most noticeable difference is who partakes. While most Christian groups invite all baptized members who are in good standing to receive Communion, Jehovah’s Witnesses limit partaking to that small group they identify as the “anointed” who have a heavenly calling.¹⁸ Also, the theological understanding is quite different. Jehovah’s Witnesses see the bread and wine strictly as symbols representing Christ’s body and blood; they don’t believe the bread and wine actually change into His body and blood (transubstantiation), or that Christ is physically present alongside them (consubstantiation), or that the items themselves give special grace.¹⁸ For them, it’s purely an act of remembering and obeying Christ’s command.

What Did the Early Church Fathers Teach About Remembering Jesus’ Death Each Year?

Looking back at the first few centuries of Christianity gives us some wonderful perspective on how remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection grew over time. It definitely started right from the beginning, although the exact ways and times were things people discussed and figured out as they went along.⁶

Those early Christian writers, who we often call the Church Fathers, consistently talked about how incredibly important Christ’s death on the cross was for our redemption and for bringing us back into relationship with God.³² They didn’t see the yearly remembrance as just looking back at history; they saw it as a way for believers to spiritually connect with the saving power of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.⁴ It seems that at the very beginning, remembering the Last Supper, Jesus’ death, and His resurrection might have been observed closer together, maybe even in one longer observance, before Easter Sunday became the distinct day focused on celebrating the resurrection.⁶

A really interesting part of early Church history related to this is something called the Quartodeciman Controversy. This discussion went on roughly from the 2nd to the 4th centuries.³⁵ The name “Quartodeciman” comes from the Latin word for “fourteenth,” and the whole debate was about the right date for the yearly Paschal celebration (which related to both Passover and Easter).

The Quartodecimans:

These Christians were mostly in the Roman area of Asia Minor (which is modern-day Turkey). They strongly believed in celebrating the Pascha, remembering Christ’s death, on the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan. This was the date of the Passover sacrifice, and they observed it on this exact date, no matter what day of the week it was.³⁵ They said this practice came directly from the Apostles John and Philip, who had taught in their area.³⁸ Important leaders who defended this view included Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna (who learned directly from John) and later, Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus.³⁵

The Majority View (Mainly in Rome and the West):

Most other churches, especially in Rome and the western parts of the Empire, felt the main event to remember each year was the resurrection. Since Jesus rose on the first day of the week (Sunday), they believed the Paschal celebration should always end on a Sunday after the 14th of Nisan.³⁵ They believed their practice came from the traditions of the Apostles Peter and Paul.³⁵ Bishops Anicetus and Victor of Rome were key figures supporting the Sunday observance.³⁶

This disagreement wasn’t just a friendly chat. It led to church meetings (called synods), letters going back and forth between regions, and even Bishop Victor of Rome trying to excommunicate the churches in Asia Minor because they stuck to the Nisan 14 date! Thankfully, other bishops like Irenaeus of Lyons spoke up and urged for peace.³⁵ Sometimes, people accused the Quartodecimans of “Judaizing” (acting too much like Jewish tradition) because their practice was tied directly to the Jewish calendar for Passover.³⁵ This shows the complex situation as the growing Christian with more and more non-Jewish members, was figuring out its relationship with its Jewish roots during that time.⁴⁰

Eventually, the issue was mostly settled at the big First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.³⁶ The Council decided that all churches should celebrate Easter (Pascha) on the same day—a Sunday. They set up a way to calculate it based on the spring equinox and the full moon, which basically made the practice favored by Rome and the West the standard.²⁵ After this council decision, the Quartodeciman practice of observing on Nisan 14 slowly faded away.³⁵

While Jehovah’s Witnesses arrive at their Nisan 14 observance through a different path – rejecting Easter altogether and focusing only on the command to remember Christ’s death 12 – this early church history is still interesting. It shows us that the question of when to remember Christ’s death and resurrection, and the special meaning of the Nisan 14 date, was something Christians sincerely debated and had different views on from very early times. It shows that the Sunday Easter tradition, while very old, wasn’t the only practice right from the start became the standard through a council decision.

How Can Christians Approach These Differences in Belief with Understanding?

It’s only natural to notice when fellow believers practice their faith in ways that are different from our own. Seeing Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to observe Good Friday, while holding their own special Memorial observance, might make us pause and wonder. But isn’t it wonderful that even with different practices, the person at the center is still Jesus Christ, and the core belief is in the saving power of His sacrifice?.¹² This diversity in worship highlights the richness of faith within the Christian community. Moreover, understanding how Jehovah’s Witnesses spend weekends, engaging in outreach and community service, showcases their commitment to sharing their beliefs with others. Ultimately, these differences remind us that faith can be expressed in various ways while still pointing to the same foundational truths.

When we encounter these differences, having a spirit of respect and a genuine desire to understand, rather than to judge, can make such a positive difference. It helps to remember that Jehovah’s Witnesses truly believe their way is the one that follows the Bible’s instructions and early Christian practice most closely.¹³ While other Christians might have different understandings about holiday origins, Bible commands, and the role of tradition, just recognizing the sincerity behind the JW stance—their deep desire to please God according to their understanding—is so important.¹³ And Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves say they respect the right of others to decide these things for themselves and don’t interfere with how others celebrate.¹² Understanding the motivations behind their beliefs can foster a more open dialogue. For instance, why Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid New Year’s celebrations is rooted in their commitment to avoid traditions they perceive as rooted in paganism or practices that don’t align with their interpretation of the Bible. By appreciating these perspectives, we can engage in more meaningful conversations about faith and personal convictions.

Here are a few thoughts on how we can build understanding and keep fellowship strong even when views differ:

• Focus on What We Share: Let’s put the spotlight on the beliefs we hold in common, especially our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the vital importance of His death that saves us.¹²
• Listen to Understand: Let’s try to really grasp why they believe what they do. Asking respectful questions about their reasons, instead of just pointing out the difference, can open doors.¹⁹
• Avoid Making Assumptions: Let’s not jump to conclusions and think that not celebrating certain holidays means a lack of faith or disrespect for Jesus. Their reasons are specific and come from how they read the Bible.¹⁴
• Remember Early Church Examples: Think back to those early disagreements, like the one between Polycarp and Anicetus about the date for the Paschal celebration. Even though they disagreed, those leaders initially chose to keep peace and fellowship between them.³⁸

In the end, how we interact should always be guided by our love for God and our love for our neighbors.⁴³ Understanding the “why” behind different practices, even if we don’t agree with them, helps us build more gracious and respectful relationships within the wider family of faith.

What’s the Most Important Thing for Christian Readers to Understand About This Topic?

So, bringing it all together, what’s the clearest, most important thing to understand about Jehovah’s Witnesses and Good Friday? It’s actually quite straightforward: Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Good Friday, and they also do not celebrate Easter Sunday, as holidays.

Here are the key things to keep in mind:

• Their reasons come directly from how they understand the Bible. They choose to avoid celebrations they believe started with pagan practices or that the Bible doesn’t specifically command Christians to observe.¹²
• They place tremendous value on Jesus’ sacrifice. They follow the command to “keep doing this in remembrance of me” by holding their solemn Memorial of Christ’s Death once a year on the date that corresponds to the biblical Nisan 14.¹⁷
• Their approach to Good Friday and Easter isn’t isolated; it’s part of a consistent way they look at many other holidays and celebrations, based on the same Bible principles.¹³
• The main difference between their practice and mainstream Christianity isn’t about whether to remember Christ’s death about how and when to do it. This difference comes from different ways of interpreting scripture, history, and the importance of tradition.⁶

Understanding these points doesn’t mean you have to agree it does help build respect. It allows Christians from different backgrounds to see the sincerity behind different practices and to connect based on the core beliefs we share, rather than getting stuck on the differences in how we observe things.

Conclusion: United in Hope

as we think about the different ways believers remember the incredibly important events of Christ’s death and resurrection, let’s find our unity in the amazing hope that comes from His sacrifice. Whether someone observes Good Friday, Easter, or the Memorial, the focus for sincere Christians is always on the incredible love God showed us through His Son, Jesus Christ. May our growing understanding of different perspectives deepen our appreciation for the richness of faith. And may it always inspire us to treat each other with grace, humility, and love – because those are the true signs of people who follow Him.