On this Good Friday we want you to have this liturgy so that you can walk through and enter into the story of Good Friday again. We have tried to let the Bible speak for itself by giving you as much of God’s word as possible.
As you move through it why not talk with others or, if you are on your own, message someone from your City Group or DNA Group to share something that really struck you.
As you do this remember that we are still the church, whom Christ died for, even when we can’t gather together as the church as we normally would.
Scene 1: Garden of Gethsemane
Just after Jesus had shared the passover with his disciples he took Peter, James and John into the garden of Gethsemane with him to pray. Jesus prayed alone as all three disciples fell asleep.
“And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
“And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them,”Sleep and take your rest later on. See the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see my betrayed is at hand.” (Matthew 26 vs 39, 43-46)
Scene 2: Peter disowns Jesus
From the garden, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas the high priest who heard the charges brought against him. Outside Peter sat in the courtyard listening on.
“And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know this man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a cure on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man”. And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26 vs 69-75)
SONG: Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy (Sojourn): A call to come to Jesus in repentance, weak and sinful, knowing that he saves us and meets us in our need.
CCLI Song # 7090498
Brooks Ritter | Joseph Hart
© Words: Public Domain
Music: 2012 Sojourn Community Church
Scene 3: Jesus before Pilate
From the high priest with verdicts set, Jesus was hurried to Pilate’s headquarters. The Jews refused to enter the headquarters so that they would not be defiled. They still wanted to be clean so that they could celebrate the Passover meal.
“So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusations do you bring against this man? They answered him, “If this man was not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourself and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfil the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my Kingdom is not of this world.
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a King?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world -- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.” But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.” (John 18 vs 29-40)
SONG: Suffering Servant (The Modern Post): A song which paints a vivid picture of what Jesus went through leading up to, and on the cross, and reminds us of the victory he accomplished there.
CCLI Song # 7004665
Dustin Kensrue
© 2013 Dead Bird Theology (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
It's All About Jesus Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
We Are Younger We Are Faster Music (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)
CONFESSION READING
Below are some words to guide your thoughts, take a few moments over each to prayerfully consider when you have principally done something similar to Judas, Peter and the crowds.
Oh, Holy One, we confess that like Judas we have betrayed you and each other.
While greeting you with a kiss, Lord, like Judas we secretly chase after other idols to bring us salvation.
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We confess that like Peter we have denied you and each other.
While declaring that we will always be faithful, in fear we are more worried about the opinions of man than of God.
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We confess that like the crowd we praise you when life is easy and judge you when life is hard.
While declaring you to be our King, Lord, in our self-righteousness we rebel against you and would have joined in the cries, “Crucify him, crucify him!”.
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Perhaps an aspect of the story so far has struck you.
Peter’s adamance that he would follow Jesus to death really stands out to me, but his quickness to distance himself when trouble comes really strikes a cord. I know myself that the verdict of others can have such a significant pull on my life.
Take a moment and consider why the voice of others so often drowns out our desire to be faithful to God.
SONG: Jesus Paid it All (Kings Kaleidoscope): A hymn that centres on the price Jesus paid to save us from our sin and the new life we are raised to in Christ.
© Words: Public Domain
Scene 4: A Crown of Thorns for the King of the Jews
“Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews” and struck him with their hands…
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him.” (John 19 vs 1-2, 5-6)
Scene 5: Jesus’ Death on the Cross
“So they took Jesus, and he went out bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”...
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, you mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture) “I thirst”. A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” and he bowed his head and gave up his breath.” (John 19 vs 16-19, 25-30)
MESSAGE
Are there areas of your life where you still consider yourself unclean even though Jesus has cleansed you?
The curtain torn is just one physical sign of the spiritual reality Jesus delivered on the cross. There is no limit to our access to God. Let’s take that truth and respond through the next two songs.
SONG: There is a Fountain: A song with graphic imagery that reminds us of the lengths Jesus went to save us from our sin, the blood that was shed on our behalf.
CCLI Song # 27707
Edwin Othello Excell | Lowell Mason | William Cowper
© Words: Public Domain
Music: Public Domain
SONG: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus: A song that reflects on the cleansing and purification from sins we can know because of the blood Jesus shed on our behalf.
CCLI Song # 21332
Robert Lowry
© Words: Public Domain
Music: Public Domain