Reflection for Good Friday 2026: 'Man's Search for Meaning' n 'Silence'. By Phil Chan

Dear Andrew,

Good morning. Below is my reflection for this year’s Good Friday 2026. Wishing you and your family a Good Friday. 

Best Regards. God Bless You.

Phil.

"Man’s Search for Meaning" and "Silence":

As the traditional Good Friday and Easter approach, we are reminded of the horrific sufferings and death of Jesus. This Lent season reminds us of two bestsellers and powerful classics: Viktor Frankl’s (reprinted 2014) bestseller, "Man’s Search for Meaning" (1959) and "Silence" (1969) by Shusaku Endo (translated to English by William Johnston, 1925-2010). Viktor Frankl was a well-known lecturer at Harvard and Stanford while Shusaku was a graduate from University of Keio, Tokyo (n1949) and University of Lyon, France (1953). Shusaku won many outstanding Japanese literary awards.

The two books in mention.

Both books paint a vivid picture about human suffering. Viktor shows us the meaning of life in suffering in a Nazi death camp while Shusaku shows us a different type of suffering which will be discussed below.

“Silence" is a Japanese novel about a Jesuit priest named Sebastiao Rodriguez who made a missionary trip to Japan to find his mentor in order to rescue him from persecution by the Japanese ruling class. When he got there, he discovered that peasants were “tortured” so as to break their Christian faith. Eventually Sebastiao was dragged by the ruling class to the crossroads for his soul. They put the artist image of Jesus Christ, the Messiah before him and told him to step on it and denounce his faith. 

Sebastiao was told that the torturing of the peasants would stop if he stepped on the image. However, the torturing would persist should he fail to follow their instruction.  For Sebastiao, it was a dilemma. To step on the “picture” of God felt like he was betraying the Messiah. But to refuse, he also felt like he was betraying love and compassion for the Japanese peasants. At that moment, the Silence of God book reached its climax.  Sebastiao finally heard Christ, the Messiah speak. “It was to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world.  Step on me.  I carry the cross for this very reason.  To bear the weight of your shame.”

‘O Sacred Head Now Wounded’ - Fernando Ortega. YouTube Video by Scott Bacher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgkVTtT-0xg

The above episode is similar to Viktor’s 2017 classic, “Man’s Search for Meaning” where prisoners in holocaust camps were mistreated by the Nazis. God seemed to be silent and hidden as the inmates underwent torture and sufferings. It is so aptly described by Isaiah, Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. Isaiah 45:15.

Indeed, the Messiah did not come to condemn us; He came to be condemned for us. In the Gospels, He did not once ask to be worshipped. He did not come for accolades, crowns or recognition. He came to be crushed so that we could live. He came to show us the path of suffering which leads to freedom. 

The book convicts me because of this truth: Too many of us Christians, worship dogma, preachers, spiritual methods or even the religious book itself. But Christ never once commanded the worship. People worshipped Him but what He asked was far harder.  

Follow me. Walk my path. Carry my cross. Enter the darkness. And in so doing, you will find life. Because salvation is not found in avoiding pain. It is found in pressing through it i.e. taking up our own crosses. In enduring shame, the loss and the breaking, one will discover that one has been transformed. We will also discover that the kingdom of God is always within us.  In Luke 17:21, Jesus said “… nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is, ‘because of the kingdom of God is within you.’”

Jesus Paid it All - Fernando Ortega - Lyrics. YouTube Video by: Strange Lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5DyeCx8H4U

Sebastiao thought that stepping on the image was betrayal but in reality, it was the profoundest act of following Jesus.  Christ is not fragile and the Messiah does not need us to protect Him. Christ came to be crushed under the weight of the world's sin yet pronouncing, “I will set you free”.  

This is the mission of Christ, the Messiah - to set us free. Free from dogma. Free from tyranny. Free from the victim mindset. Free from our own chains. Through the Bible, He shows us The Way i.e. not by escaping suffering, but by being transformed. This is not just theology. It is the most powerful truth one can live by.  St. Paul said in Romans 12:2 … “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Book Summary:

Both "Man's Search for Meaning" and "Silence" reflect on human suffering. It shows suffering as a place of testing, hidden grace, and deeper spiritual insight. In "Silence", Sebastian's renunciation highlights the tension between faith, compassion, and sacrifice. The book argues that Christ is present in suffering, and that true discipleship means following Him through pain, shame, and transformation. Christian faith is not about avoiding suffering but enduring it with Jesus the Messiah. Salvation is found not in pride or outward religion but in self-denial, compassion, and trust in God's hidden presence.

Three Days | Easter Hymn | Easter Song of Resurrection | Choir w/Lyrics | Sunday 7pm Choir. YouTube Video by: 7pm Choir. Catholic n Christian Choral 

Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQVog92kLH8

Finally, there is Hope in suffering. Jesus said Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1) 

Good News at Jesus’ Tomb:

1) The Mysterious Napkin for Jesus’ face.

John 20:6-7 

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Do we fold our napkins in a restaurant to signal to the waiter that we are returning to the table after we excuse ourselves for a while? Perhaps through the folded napkin, Jesus’s return was made known.

2) Mary called Jesus the Gardener, at the tomb.

John 20:14-16 

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" 

Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him." 

Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). 

Interestingly, in the Garden of Eden, God’s first instruction to Adam is to be a gardener., to work and take care of the garden (Genesis 2:15). However, Adam failed. In contrast, Jesus, the second Adam, came to restore man’s fallen state.

3) Jesus has resurrected and we too will have eternal life.

This is not surprising. As the Messiah is sinless, his body did not decay. In fact, Jesus has resurrected. Contrarily, we humans are sinners and subject to bodily decay after death. 

Romans 3:23 … “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We thank God we have the hope of resurrection … to be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.

Comments are always welcome.

Author: Dr. Phil Chan.

'Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded' (Hymn 271) - Hymnology (Official Video) YouTube Video by: Hymns of Grace.

Dr. Phil Chan

Given the short time Phil wrote this article, it is a miracle! Just shows his dedication and spirit. Again, thanks so much my dear friend.

Images: 

From YouTube: 'Good Friday Hymns' - Rosemary Siemens for picture of the Cross.