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Good Friday Timeline 12:00 AM 2:00 AM
Jesus is sent to Annas, then Caiphas
4:00 AM
Jesus is with the soldiers and in prison
6:00 AM
Jesus is before Caiphas a second time
7:00 AM
Jesus is before Pilate and sent to Herod
8:00 AM
Jesus returns to Pilate and is scourged
9:00 AM
Jesus is crowned with thorns and condemned to death
10:00AM
Jesus is stripped of his garments and carries his cross
12:00–3:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 2
Jesus is arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus is on the cross Jesus dies on the cross, soldiers pierce his side with a spear Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb We do not know exactly what time Jesus died. This is an approximate schedule assuming that Jesus was crucified around noon, as indicated in the Gospel of John.
Introduction
Good Friday, also referred to as “Holy Friday”
“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows,
or “Black Friday,” has been an important day
acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs
for Christians back to the early days of church
on him and looked the other way. He was despised,
history. Coinciding with Jewish Passover, it is
and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he
the commemoration of Jesus’ crucifixion—the
carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.”
day he laid his life down as the perfect Passover
— Isaiah 53:3-4 NLT
Lamb, defeating once-for-all the power of sin and death. It is “good” because Jesus purchased our freedom from sin on this day. But it also marks the greatest tragedy of all time—the only truly innocent man was mocked and murdered for us:
Together, the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John detail the seven recorded sayings that Jesus uttered from the cross before he died. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were the consummate act of love towards God and the world. In the same way, we pray that his “Words from the Cross” will compel you to respond in love towards God and others.
FOLLOW THE PROMPTS ON THE VIDEO TO WORK THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING SECTIONS OF THIS PRAYER GUIDE.
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FAT HER , F ORGIV E THE M
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“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:33-34 NLT
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE We are often just as blind to our sin as those who crucified Jesus. Ask God to make you aware of your sinful actions, words, and attitudes (idolatry, anger, pride, lust, greed, etc). Ask for his forgiveness. Jesus showed mercy to those who crucified him. He asked the Father to forgive those who “don’t know what they are doing.” Whom do you need to forgive just as he has forgiven you? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ FOR FURTHER REFLECTION You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:6-8 NLT 5
WI TH ME I N PAR A D I S E
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“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE When the criminal beside Jesus confessed his sin and acknowledged Jesus as Lord, Jesus assured him of his salvation. Do you know the comfort of Jesus’ assurance? Or are there areas of doubt that steal the comfort Jesus offers? Pray that God would remove these doubts. Jesus promises the criminal that he will be with him. If you are a Christian, you too have the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Pray that God would make his presence known to you in specific
One of the criminals hanging beside
areas of your life (work, marriage, parenting, discipling, etc).
him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah,
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are you? Prove it by saving yourself—
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and us, too, while you’re at it!” But
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the other criminal protested, “Don’t
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you fear God even when you have been
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sentenced to die? We deserve to die for
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our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION … God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” — Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
— Luke 23:39-43 NLT 7
HE R E IS YOUR M OT HE R
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“Dear woman, here is your son […] Here is your mother.”
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE
Standing near the cross were Jesus’
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mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary
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Jesus redefined family relationships as those people bound by faith in him rather than by bloodlines. What specific ways has the Church—the family of God—met your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs? Thank God for his provision through the Church. When given the charge to care for Mary as his own mother, John responded in obedience and love. What spiritual family has God entrusted to your care? Pray for them, and pray for faith to trust that God will provide what you need to care for them. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
(the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother stand-
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
ing there beside the disciple he loved,
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything
he said to her, “Dear woman, here is
they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the
your son.” And he said to this disciple,
money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each
“Here is your mother.” And from then
day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with
on this disciple took her into his home.
great joy and generosity.
— John 19:25-27 NLT
— Acts 2:44-46 NLT 9
M Y GO D, M Y GO D
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“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” — Mark 15:33-34 NLT
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE God used Jesus’ lowest point of isolation and rejection to bring about OUR inclusion and acceptance. Isaiah 53 reminds us that it was our sins that brought his rejection. Take a moment to think about the specific sins Jesus carried for you. Thank him for reconciling you to God. Those who have not turned to Jesus are separated from God. Think of a person or people group who have not turned to him, then pray for their salvation. For someone you know personally, pray for wisdom in leading them toward Jesus. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ FOR FURTHER REFLECTION And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 NLT 11
I A M T HIRS TY
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“I am thirsty.”
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE Jesus invited people to come to him for life-giving water. Yet in this moment he became thirsty so we would never have to. Ask God to fulfill his promise to make “rivers of living water” flow in you and satisfy your deepest longings as only he can. Consider the ways you
Jesus knew that his mission was now
seek to satisfy your thirst without God. Repent and thank God for
finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said,
his grace.
“I am thirsty.” — John 19:28 NLT
Do you know anyone who is trapped in an endless cycle of “thirst” for things that can never satisfy? Take time to pray for them. Pray that they would turn to Jesus to be filled with everlasting life and joy. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ FOR FURTHER REFLECTION Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” — John 4:13-14 NLT 13
IT I S F IN ISHE D
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“It is finished!”
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE
A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so
We often seek to enact justice on others by punishing them for their
they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a
wrongs rather than trusting God’s justice and modeling his mercy.
hyssop branch, and held it up to his
Ask God’s Spirit to consume you with peace and to take away any
lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said,
remaining bitterness as you love those who have wronged you.
“It is finished!”
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Jesus’ work was fully and finally accomplished for us on the cross. He loved us to the end. Ask God for faith to believe that what Jesus did is enough to restore you. Ask for faith to rest in his accomplished work.
__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ FOR FURTHER REFLECTION He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. — Hebrews 7:26-27 NLT
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I NTO YO UR HAN D S
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“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
GUIDED PRAYER & RESPONSE Jesus’ life was an outpouring of response to God. All that he received in his human existence, he offered back in gratitude, worship, and trust. Offer a prayer of surrender to God. Specify by name the areas of your heart and life that you want to release to God in worship. As you consider how your life can be lived as an offering to God, where can your worship become an act of service to others? Pray that God would give you the clarity and the courage to act in service
By this time it was about noon, and
towards others as you entrust yourself to the Father’s hands.
darkness fell across the whole land
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until three o’clock. The light from
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the sun was gone. And suddenly, the
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curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple
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was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. — Luke 23:44-46 NLT
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. — 2 Timothy 2:10 NLT
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DISCUSSION STARTERS for Parents Good Friday is a great opportunity to teach your children about Jesus and help them understand their personal need for a Savior. We encourage you to allow your children to join you in “Words from the Cross.” Even if they don’t fully grasp the gravity of the day, their experience can be a catalyst for discussion later. Here are some discussion starters you may find helpful: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The criminal next to Jesus is scared because he is about to die, but he knows that Jesus has power over both death and the sin that leads to death! Because the criminal trusts Jesus with his life, Jesus comforts him saying something like, “You will be with me! You can be sure of that!” Jesus promises us the same thing if we trust in him. And if we are scared, we can ask him to reassure us that he is with us. When do you get scared? How could you ask Jesus to comfort you? “Dear woman, here is your son […] Here is your mother.”
Sometimes we don’t know our sin and have to be
Because God loves us, he always provides us with
taught. Can you tell me about any of your sins?
what he knows we need! Mary needs a son to care
Maybe a time you were unloving or disobeyed?
for her, and Jesus provides his friend and disciple,
Even a little sin separates us from God because he is
John, to be that for her. Can you think of a time God
sinless. But Jesus loves us so much that he asks his
provided what you needed through another person?
father to forgive us, even when we don’t know how
John got to be the special helper to meet the need
we have sinned. Can you think of some ways we can
Mary had. Can you think of anyone you, or our
show Jesus we are thankful for his love?
family, get to be the special helper for?
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“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
“It is finished.”
Do you ever feel alone? Jesus did when he died for
Jesus suffers the consequence for our sins and
our sins. Sin separates us from God, and he felt that
gives us eternal life with him even though we don’t
separation. When we trust Jesus and our sins are
deserve it. That’s called “grace” and why we call
forgiven, God actually lives inside of us. What do
our church Grace Church. Jesus calls us to forgive
you think about that? The Spirit of God, called the
others too, even when they don’t deserve it. Is there
Holy Spirit, goes with us everywhere, and he shows
anyone you are mad at or hurt by that you need to
us how to live the way God wants us to. He even
forgive?
comforts us when we feel alone. When do you feel alone? Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit teaching
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands.”
you or comforting you?
Jesus trusted and obeyed his Father with all of his life, even to his last breath! When do you find it
“I am thirsty.”
hard to obey? We usually disobey when we think
Being thirsty reminds us we need water. Did you
we know what is best for us rather than trusting the
know that humans can only live a few days without
authorities God has given to love and teach us. Ask
water to drink? But we need Jesus even more than
God to help you trust him and to trust those he has
we need water, because he gives us life even after we
given to care for you.
die. He even calls himself “living water.” When have you been really thirsty? How can we be “thirsty” like that for Jesus and the “living water?”
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