Good Friday Service

(This script is by Audrey Veal who presented it at our Good Friday Service. I have included reasonable facsimiles from Youtube for the songs that were used to illustrate the story...)



A cry pierces the brooding darkness. “It is finished!” He breathes his last. Jesus is dead. Spurred on by the approaching Sabbath his followers remove the body and carry him to a borrowed tomb. The disciples and some women watch as Jesus is laid on the stone shelf – hard and cold as death itself. Jesus’ mother turns away as the stone that seals the tomb is rolled into place. It is too final. No more good mornings, just this final good bye. Jesus is gone. As the sun dips lower in the sky the mourners filter away.



An era has ended. Jesus is dead. We as human beings have brutally murdered God’s son! How did we get here? How could we have fallen so far?

Let’s return to the birthplace of sin and of death.

God created Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden: a paradise on earth. He provided everything they needed: a safe place to live, abundant food, a relationship of complete trust with each other and a perfect relationship with himself. God’s only expectation was for us to respond to him with trust and love.

Real love involves choice. So God gave Adam and Eve the choice to demonstrate their love and trust by obeying him by not eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He warned them that if they ate it they would die. In love God gave them freedom to enjoy everything except for this one tree. Remember, without choice there is no love.

Satan came and planted doubt in their minds. Can God really be trusted? Is he really worthy of undivided love? Eat from the forbidden tree and see for yourselves what God is truly like.
They ate, and death came. Physical death was not immediate. Instead, their pure trust and love for each other died and they clothed themselves with leaves to cover their shame. Their absolute trust and love of God died, for now they feared him and hid from him. They even lost their relationship with the earth, as they would now battle against thorns and briers the rest of their earthly days. Their sin infected everything that God had declared as good.

Adam and Eve had betrayed God, they certainly deserved death but instead God gave them a promise. One day he would send a savior who would set all things right.



Unfortunately, the dead, sin-scarred hearts of Adam and Eve didn’t die with them but were passed down to the next generation. Spurred by jealousy their first born son brutally murders his brother. And this same dead-heart gene is passed down to each succeeding generation.

Jealousy, hatred and envy mark our world. Lust for power and control reign. Battles rage and wars continue. Betrayal, abandonment, conditional love and lack of trust envelop us like a cold, grey fog. Daily we hear of another car bomb in Baghdad. North Korea presses for more power and control as it postures with nuclear weapons. Pickton is accused of murdering numerous prostitutes – if convicted he will be the worst serial killer in Canadian history. Children are bullied at our local schools. We walk past street hucksters pretending they are not there. We yell at our children. We withhold love from our mates. If we are honest with ourselves we have to admit that we each have inherited a heart that is sin-scarred and dead.

God used the Old Testament sacrificial system as a daily reminder of our fallen place. Endless sacrifices for endless sins. Day and night the brazen altar belched the black smoke of burning flesh; a continual reminder of our sin-filled hearts. We are trapped with no hope of escape. How desperately we needed God to send that special man who would set all things right.

Like those who offered endless sacrifices; good intentions, strong will or powerful religious convictions cannot free us from sin’s allure. For we don’t need greater willpower – we need a new heart. We have a need, God promises to provide, “I will cleanse you from all your sins and I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” God promised to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Through the coming savior he will deal with the punishment we deserve and give us the new heart that we need.

Isaiah paints a picture of what life is like. He describes us like the living dead, like people wandering in a land of deep darkness. But the savior will come like a great light illuminating our lives with hope.

Years pass. One generation succeeds another, and another as we wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Then one ordinary day God steps into human history. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and Joseph and promises that Mary will miraculously give birth to God’s son. He will be given the name Jesus for he will save the people from their sins. Within the year the Savior is born.

In those days a typical young Jewish man learns his family trade, marries and raises a family. But at 30 years of age Jesus embarks on a different mission. On a Sabbath he stands in the synagogue and reads from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”



For the next 3 years Jesus fulfills this prophecy. He befriends the outcasts, touches the lepers and heals those without hope. Day after day he teaches them and shows them what real spiritual love is like. An excitement begins to spread throughout the land; this is the Savior that God promised at the beginning of time.

But not everyone is glad for the growth of Jesus popularity. Repeatedly Jesus has run-ins with the religious leaders. He doesn’t meet their expectations or follow their man-made traditions. He hangs out with sinners – he actually lets a prostitute anoint him with perfume and wipe his feet with her tears. He even forgave sins, something only God has a right to do. The very presence of Jesus threatens their position of religious leadership. Repeatedly they attempt to trap him in some sin or controversy, but each time they fail.

Animosity continues to grow. Secret meetings are held. How to deal with Jesus? How to be rid of him and not lose public face? Religious leaders begin planning and plotting. As jealousy grows, hatred takes root and festers in their hearts. The high priest grows impatient. He is tired of the endless meetings. There is really only one solution. Is no one willing to give it voice? He rises and states. “We should do what is best. Kill this one called Jesus.” The leaders look to one another; “He must die, but how without inciting a riot among the people?” Within days Judas supplies an answer. He offers to betray Jesus into their hands. “On Passover Jesus will go to the garden to pray, arrest him there. The one I offer a kiss to is Jesus.” The deal is struck. Passover is just days away.

These are the religious leaders. They know the Scriptures. They keep the law faultlessly. These are the ones called to shepherd God’s people. These are supposed to be God’s men. Yet they don’t recognize Jesus as the Savior, they view him as a threat. Religious activities or appointed position is no guarantee of a pure heart. Don’t judge them too quickly. By nature we are no different. What happened in your heart the last time you felt threatened?

Passover, Jerusalem is bursting with pilgrims. The most important holy day has arrived. Followers have traveled great distances to celebrate and offer a perfect lamb as a sacrifice for sin. Yet when Jesus and his disciples pass through the city gates their mood is somber. The opposition against Jesus is thick. The scent of his impending death seems to be everywhere. As they wander through the streets people turn and stare. Some point. Some look away. As they pass a family they hear a young boy ask, "Isn’t that the one called Jesus? Do the leaders really want him dead?”

Accompanied by lengthening shadows Jesus and his disciples climb the steps to the upper room reserved for their Passover meal. Lamps are lit, the men recline around the table, and bowls of food are brought in. This is a night to celebrate. But hearts are heavy - the men are quiet; each trying to suppress the words Jesus spoke on their journey here. “In Jerusalem, I will be betrayed to the religious leaders. They will condemn me to death and will turn me over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the 3rd day I will be raised to life!”

Jesus leads these men, his trusted friends in the Passover meal. As they are eating Jesus takes bread, gives thanks and breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body broken for you.” Then he takes the cup saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Judas slips out to notify the religious leaders. After singing a hymn, Jesus and his friends walk to the garden and pray.



Approaching torches illuminate the mob of angry men. Jesus rises and waits with his disciples. Judas steps forward and places a kiss of betrayal on his cheek. Heavily armed guards step forward to arrest Jesus. He turns to the priests and religious leaders; “Everyday 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 soldiers step forward and grab Jesus. A scuffle breaks out; Peter draws his sword and slices off an ear. Jesus cries out, “It is enough!” Jesus is bound and beaten and dragged away. His disciples disappear into the darkness of the night.

Jesus is marched to the Jewish ruling council, which has secretly gathered this night. They hold a mock trial with false witnesses but none can agree. Moved by frustration the high priest blurts out the question that burns in each one’s heart, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the living God?” Jesus is not intimidated by the corrupted power and the evil that permeates the room. He stares the high priest in the eyes and answers, “Yes, I am.” Color drains from the priest’s face. “Blasphemy!” he shouts as he tears his clothes. “Do we need any more evidence? He is worthy of death!” The religious leaders rise up in agreement. They spit in Jesus’ face and strike him with fists.

Rome has forbid Jews from enacting the death penalty. Dawn comes and Jesus is dragged before the Roman Governor. Pilate knows Jesus is here on trumped up charges. He knows the religious leaders are here out of jealousy over Jesus’ popularity. The gathered crowd shouts, “Crucify him! Crucify him! Let his blood be on us and his children!” It’s hard to believe that just a week ago we were crying out in praise to Jesus as he entered the city. Now we cry out for his death. How fickle are our stony hearts.

Pilate doesn’t want a riot, not with Caesar breathing down his neck. So he goes against his gut and gives the Jews what they call for. Even Pilate, a Roman governor cannot escape the power of a sin-seared heart. He knew what was right. He wanted to do what was right. But not when it comes to risking his own skin. All of us will sink to any depth for self-preservation.
At the command of Pilate, Roman guards lead Jesus out to be flogged. Thorns are twisted into a crown and thrust into his scalp. They drape him in a purple robe and strike and mock him. Jesus is stripped and lashed to the flogging post. Bruised and bleeding he stiffens in anticipation of the whip. The bone studded leather strips bite through his flesh – again and again. It seems as if it will never end. Blood splatters on his assailants. Blood drips to the pavement and gathers in red pools. We brutalize God’s son. This is the punishment that we deserve because of our sin filled hearts.

Jesus along with 2 thieves are led like animals to the slaughter. Slowly, laboriously the 3 condemned men make their way through the crowded narrow streets. Straining they lug their crosses through the city gates and stumble toward the crucifixion hill.

The crowd follows to the crucifixion site like people trailing behind the end of a parade. Guards move forward and restrain the crowd. Upon reaching Golgotha, Jesus is pushed backwards onto the crossbeam, his shoulders pressed against the wood. The legionnaire places the point of a heavy, iron spike on Jesus’ wrist and with forceful blows, drives it through Jesus’ wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action. The crossbeam with Jesus nailed to it is lifted into place on the upright beam. The left foot is now pressed backwards against the right, and a nail is driven through the arch of each. Jesus is now crucified.



In small groups, interspersed among the gathering crowd, the disciples watch.

Time passes. The sun rises higher in the sky and its relentless heat beats down on the crucified men. The people who pass by hurl insults at Jesus, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” The religious leaders sneer at him, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ – the Chosen One.” Even the soldiers come up and mock him saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

As Jesus suffers on the cross we sneer, hurl insults and mock. Dead hearts always strike at the powerless. It makes us feel greater and more powerful. Jesus is so unlike us. Instead of crying to God for revenge he prays, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”

Jesus’ arms fatigue, and great waves of cramps sweep over his muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps Jesus is unable to push himself upward to breathe. He fights to raise himself and gasps a short breath.

One by one the disciples drift to the foot of the cross as they keep their silent vigil. How they long for the horror to end. How they wish today had never come. In the smallest corner of their hearts they hope beyond hope that perhaps God will intervene – and Jesus will be spared.

It is now noon. A gasp of fear ripples through the crowd. All eyes dart to the heavens. Darkness has fallen and its only midday. For 3 long hours the sun ceases to shine.

A cry pierces the darkness. “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Jesus has become sin in our place. For the first time in eternity Jesus is cut off from His Father. The pain of the flogging and crucifixion pales in comparison. Now His suffering truly begins. Jesus is suffering these unimaginable horrors as his Father lays on him the punishment we all deserve.

Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps. Jesus struggles for each breath. John is there beside Mary, Jesus’ mother. John’s strong arms encase her like a shield against he gore of the cross. Yet Mary’s eyes are riveted on her son. For now there are no tears – there is only numbness mingled with agony.

Jesus can feel the chill of death as his life ebbs away. He knows the time is near, and in a tortured voice declares, “It is finished!”

Jesus is dead, the show is over, and the crowd disperses. Those who are left now begin to grieve. He is gone – Jesus is dead. Slowly the sun begins its descent in the western horizon. Joseph of Arimathea returns with permission to remove the body. Gently but with haste they remove the lifeless body and lay him on the burial cloth. Mary presses forward and kneels beside the broken body of her son. With tenderness she covers him with the cloth, her hand caresses his bruised and bloodied cheek, her tears begin to fall.

Mary is not the only one who grieves the loss of a son this day. God as his Father grieves for his innocent son who has been brutally murdered. God has every right to annihilate us all. We have murdered his beloved son, our Savior.

1 Peter 1:19-20 reads, God “paid with Christ’s sacred blood . . . Jesus died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. This was no afterthought … God always knew he was going to do this for you.” The only way God could give us new hearts of flesh and enable us to escape this hopeless, torturous state was for his son suffer and die in our place. God used our most heinous act against him and his son to give us true life for eternity.



A hand rests on Mary’s shoulder, “Mary, come away. Let them take him to the tomb. We need to be done before sunset and the Sabbath begins.” John lifts Mary to her feet and follows the makeshift burial procession to the tomb. The disciples lay Jesus’ body on the cold, stone ledge and leave. The huge stone is rolled into place. The tomb is sealed.

An era has ended — but in 3 days a new one will begin.