Good Friday 2025 (2)

1 Opening – Welcome (Ed B)

2 SONG - Reckless Love - Jake

3 Video -  Who is this Man?

4 Prophecy of the Suffering Servant - Isaiah 53:3-7 -

From the NIrV

3 People looked down on him. They didn’t accept him. He knew all about pain and suffering. He was like someone people turn their faces away from. We looked down on him. We didn’t have any respect for him.

4 He suffered the things we should have suffered. He took on himself the pain that should have been ours. But we thought God was punishing him. We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer. 5 But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us. 6 All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us.

7 He was treated badly and made to suffer. But he didn’t open his mouth. He was led away like a lamb to be killed. Sheep are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth.

5 Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - John 18:1-11

Setting: Jesus’ submission to God’s will even as He is arrested.

Key Emphasis: His calm resolve and divine authority displayed when the soldiers fall back.

18 When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it.

2 Judas knew the place. He was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Jesus had often met in that place with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden. He was guiding a group of soldiers and some officials. The chief priests and the Pharisees had sent them. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went out and asked them, “Who do you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, was standing there with them. 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back. Then they fell to the ground.

7 He asked them again, “Who do you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would come true. He had said, “I have not lost anyone God has given me.” (John 6:39)

10 Simon Peter had a sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shouldn’t I drink the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

6 The Trial Before Pilate - John 18:28-40

Theme: Injustice and rejection.

Key Interaction: Pilate’s questioning and the crowd’s cry for Barabbas.

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made “unclean.” They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace. 29 Pilate came out to them. He asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “He has committed crimes,” they replied. “If he hadn’t, we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves. Judge him by your own law.”

“But we don’t have the right to put anyone to death,” they complained. 32 This happened so that what Jesus said about how he was going to die would come true.

33 Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He ordered Jesus to be brought to him. Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea?” Jesus asked. “Or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not from this world. If it were, those who serve me would fight. They would try to keep the Jewish leaders from arresting me. My kingdom is from another place.”

37 “So you are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate replied. Then Pilate went out again to the Jews gathered there. He said, “I find no basis for any charge against him. 39 But you have a practice at Passover time. At that time, you ask me to set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to set ‘the king of the Jews’ free?”

40 They shouted back, “No! Not him! Give us Barabbas!” Barabbas had taken part in an armed struggle against the country’s rulers.

7 Jesus Mocked and Crowned with Thorns - John 19:1-3

Scene: The soldiers mock Jesus, placing a crown of thorns on His head and dressing Him in a robe.

Reflection: A painful symbol of His kingship, misunderstood by those who taunted Him.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. 2 The soldiers twisted thorns together to make a crown. They put it on Jesus’ head. Then they put a purple robe on him. 3 They went up to him again and again. They kept saying, “We honor you, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

8 The Journey to Golgotha - Luke 23:26-34

Scene: Jesus walking the path to Calvary.

Notable Elements: Simon of Cyrene’s assistance and Jesus’ forgiveness of His accusers.

26 As the soldiers led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 The time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the women who can’t have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or nursed babies!’ 30 It is written,

“ ‘The people will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” They’ll say to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ (Hosea 10:8)

31 People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?”

32 Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law. 33 The soldiers brought them to the place called the Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.

9 SONG - How Deep The Father’s Love - Jake

10 The Crucifixion - Mark 15:25-39

Pivotal Moments: The hours of darkness, Jesus’ final words, and the centurion’s declaration.

25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 They wrote out the charge against him. It read,

The King of the Jews.

27-28 They crucified with him two rebels against Rome. One was on his right and one was on his left. 29 Those who passed by shouted at Jesus and made fun of him. They shook their heads and said, “So you are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days? 30 Then come down from the cross! Save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law made fun of 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! When we see that, we will believe.” Those who were being crucified with Jesus also made fun of him.

Jesus Dies

33 At noon, darkness covered the whole land. It lasted three hours. 34 At three o’clock in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” (Psalm 22:1)

35 Some of those standing nearby heard Jesus cry out. They said, “Listen! He’s calling for Elijah.”

36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with wine vinegar. He put it on a stick. He offered it to Jesus to drink. “Leave him alone,” he said. “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

37 With a loud cry, Jesus took his last breath.

38 The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 A Roman commander was standing there in front of Jesus. He saw how Jesus died. Then he said, “This man was surely the Son of God!”

11 SONG – Jesus Paid it All - Jake

12 The Burial of Jesus - John 19:31-42 - Jake

Focus: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus’ care for Jesus’ body.

Closing Thought: The love and reverence shown in His burial.

31 It was Preparation Day. The next day would be a special Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath day. So they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the other man. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus’ side. Right away, blood and water flowed out. 35 The man who saw it has been a witness about it. And what he has said is true. He knows that he tells the truth. He is a witness so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened in order that Scripture would come true. It says, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20) 37 Scripture also says, “They will look to the one they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10)

Jesus Is Buried

38 Later Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus. But he followed Jesus secretly because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. After Pilate gave him permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 Nicodemus went with Joseph. He was the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought some mixed spices that weighed about 75 pounds. 40 The two men took Jesus’ body. They wrapped it in strips of linen cloth, along with the spices. That was the way the Jews buried people. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden. A new tomb was there. No one had ever been put in it before. 42 That day was the Jewish Preparation Day, and the tomb was nearby. So they placed Jesus there.

13 COMMUNION – Closing quietly - Ed