Many things happened after Jesus died on the cross. An earthquake took place, rocks split, and the Veil in the Jerusalem Temple tore in two.
Jesus descended into the holding place of the dead, to release those imprisoned by death. Jesus' descent into hell as Triumphant King proclaimed His Victory over sin, death and the devil.
Satan realized that he had been outwitted by the Son of God Who had allowed Himself to be broken and crucified in order to destroy satan's kingdom.
Tombs broke open, and the saints inside were resurrected. They left their graves, and went into Jerusalem, where many people saw them. Jesus opened the way to Heaven for humanity.
Ever been praised? He was praised. Ever been insulted and called names? He was insulted and told that He drove out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of devils (Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 12, verse 24). Ever been taken for granted? He was taken for granted. Ever been lied about? He was lied about.
Ever been beaten? He was beaten to near unconsciousness. Ever been assaulted? He was assaulted and stripped naked. Ever been threatened? He was threatened and nearly thrown over a cliff for telling the truth - that He is the Son of God. Ever been spat at or looked down upon? He was spat at, and laughed at while He hung dying.
Ever been ill and in danger of death? He was nailed to a cross and died the death of crucifixion. Ever been tortured? He was tortured, and had thorns ground into His scalp while those around Him laughed at His suffering. Ever been imprisoned and interrogated? He was imprisoned and interrogated. Born illegitimate and unaccepted by the family whose blood you bear? He was born of a Virgin who became pregnant out of final wedlock.
Ever been poor? He was from such a poor family that He was born in a holding place for animals. Ever had your reputation or feelings sacrificed? His Life was sacrificed - for us. He is the Incomparable, the Magnificent, the Beloved Jesus Christ. Easter is coming - why not celebrate the Greatest Life ever lived - the Message, Life and Love of the Son of God.
YOU WERE CREATED OUT OF LOVE. From all eternity God had you in mind. His heavenly eternity will not be complete without you. He made you to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
Know well that there is only one you. There never has been another you, there is no other you, and there will never be another you.
You are unique, irreplaceable, personally cherished by Jesus Christ. The Savior has tender love for you.
Remember that you are priest, prophet and king. Every person, man, woman and child is made in the Image and Likeness of Almighty God.
Our baptism calls us to be priest - to bring the message of eternal salvation to others.
We are called to be prophet - to witness to others of the good news of God and His Kingdom, and that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God.
We are called to be king - we are royal descendants - EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US - members of the family of God.
Hold fast to this knowledge, brave soul. Life may seem to be confusing, harsh, unjust. However, in the end God will prevail.
Turn to Him in all your needs, and remember in every circumstance - especially the most difficult - that JESUS CHRIST HAS TENDER LOVE FOR YOU AND WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.
Today we relive the events of Good Friday. In this service we remember and honor Jesus Christ the Son of God Who came to earth to save all humanity from sin. We can never thank the Lord enough for all He has done for us. Let us remember Him with honor and dignity in this worship service.
WELCOME
We pray for all in the world. We remember those who have gone before and those who suffer now. We pray for God's Grace to bless our world. We thank God for all His Help to us.
GOOD FRIDAY READING
The reading of the Passion of Jesus Christ. During these readings we remember the events which took place in the last hours of Jesus' Life on earth.
Let us never forget the price Our Saviour paid for us: so deep is His Love.
READINGS:
THE LAST SUPPER
St Luke Chapter 22, verses 14 to 16
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
St Luke Chapter 22, verses 19 to 20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
THE BETRAYAL
St John, Chapter 13, verses 21 to 30
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
THE DENIAL
St Mark, Chapter 14, verses 27 to 31
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
THE AGONY St Mark, Chapter 14, verses 32 to 46 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him.
THE TRIAL
St Luke, Chapter 22, verses 52 to 53
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
THE VERDICT
St Matthew, Chapter 27, verses 15 to 26
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
THE CROSS St Mark, Chapter 15, verses 21 to 39
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.[28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,30 come down from the cross and save yourself!”31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
THE TOMB
St John, Chapter 19, verses 38 to 42
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
SILENCE
Spend some time in silence. Let us remember all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Let us pray for all.
COMMUNION
Receive communion. If you cannot attend a service, receive Jesus in your heart. If this is your first time to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you wish to receive Him as your personal Saviour, you can do so at the following link:
We remember that the tragedy and sorrow of Good Friday is not the end. This sad day leads towards the glorious Easter Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ Who triumphed over our real enemies - satan, illness, death and the long estrangement from our Father God.
Let us go forward in peace and silence to serve others as our Savior taught us. Let us help others with Christly love, friendship and kindness. .
Go in peace from this blessed service to love and serve the LORD. Spend as much time in prayer this sacred night as you wish. During this time let us pray for all affected by the coronavirus.
During Lent Christians celebrate the Stations of the Cross in devout commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the first Good Friday.
Today we pray the Way of the Cross for all.
PRAYERS;
On the day Jesus was crucified, let us remember all who have ever lived, who live, and all who will ever live until the Last Day. Let us pray for those most in need of our Savior's mercy.
To the melody of the ancient Stabat Mater hymn, let us pray or sing:
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Though he knew that Christ was blameless
Pilate in a deed most shameless
To the cross him did condemn
Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross
With contempt the rabble varmints
Robed the King in royal garments
To deride his royalty
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
Weakened by the brutal flaying
Yet the wicked rule obeying
Jesus fell beneath the cross
Fourth station: Jesus meets his mother, Mary
When he met his holy Mother
Who had served him as no other
Eyes at eyes in silence gazed
Fifth Station: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross
Seeing Jesus in his meekness
Tremble from exhausted weakness
Simon helped him bear his cross
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
The image of his holy face
Never after was erased
From Veronica’s soothing cloth
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
For the second time he stumbled
Flattened by the cross he crumbled
Yet he rose despite the pain
Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
Mothers of Jerusalem
Wept until he counselled them:
Save your weeping for your own
Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
Once again he tripped and fell
Still amid the taunts of hell
Rose and bore the cross again
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
Lily of all purity
How they shamed thy dignity
When they tore thy garments off
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Hideous nails through hands and feet
Still the Lamb refused to bleat
As his mother‘s heart was pierced
Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
When she stayed close by his side
For the time until he died
She sustained him by her love
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross
When they took him down they laid him
In her arms a cradle made him
For her Son, the King of kings
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the sepulchre
