GOOD FRIDAY
THE TRIAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
Mt. 26:59-66 Mk. 14:55-64 Lk. 22:66-71 (NRSV)
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. Many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up saying, ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.” ’ But even on this point their testimony did not agree.
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But he was silent and did not answer.
Then the high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ All of them asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God?’
He said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ Then they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!’
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death.
THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE
Mt. 27:1-14 Mk. 15:1-5 Lk. 23:1-5 Jn. 18:28-38 (NRSV)
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.’ After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then they took Jesus to Pilate’s headquarters. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.
So Pilate went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this man?’ They answered, ‘If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.’ The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death.’
They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’
THE MOCKING AND THE SCOURGING
Mt. 27:15-31 Mk. 15:6-20 Lk. 23:5-25 Jn. 18:38-19:3 (NRSV)
After he had said this, Pilate went out to the Jews again and told them, ‘I find no case against him.’ Then the chief priests accused Jesus of many things. Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
But the chief priests and the crowds were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted.
Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’
Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again. ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah, the man you call the King of the Jews?’
They shouted back, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’
A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’
But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ ‘I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
THE SENTENCE
Mt. 27:19, 24-26 Mk. 15:15 Lk. 23:23-25 Jn. 19:4-16 (NRSV)
Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’
Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.’
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’ Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, ‘Here is your King!’ They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ They kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
THE WAY TO CALVARY
Mt. 27:31-34 Mk. 15:20-23 Lk. 23:26-34 Jn. 19:16-18 (NRSV)
After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
And carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
And when they came to Golgotha, they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.
They crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left, with Jesus between them.
Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’
JESUS ON THE CROSS
Mt. 27:35-50 Mk. 15:24-37 Lk. 23:34-46 Jn. 19:19-30 (NRSV)
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’ And that is what the soldiers did. Then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’
Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’
Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ And the people stood by, watching.
In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the Messiah, the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, “I am God’s Son.” ’
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
Meanwhile, standing near 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 beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
(Here all stand)
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.’
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(Sit for silent prayer)
Tune : MEDIA VITA (PART II)
Most holy Lord and God,
Holy, almighty God,
Holy and most merciful Saviour.
Our eternal God;
Grant that we may never
Lose the comforts from your death:
Have mercy, O Lord.
Moravian Liturgy 1772,
anon. alt.
THE WATCHERS BY THE CROSS
Mt. 27:51-56 Mk. 15:38-41 Lk. 23:47-49 Jn. 19:31-37 (NRSV)
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified; the centurion praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent. Truly this man was God’s Son!’
And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.
THE BURIAL
Mt. 27:57-61 Mk. 15:42-47 Lk. 23:50-56 Jn. 19:38-42 (NRSV)
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews. A respected member of the council, a good and righteous man who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, Joseph had not agreed to their plan and action. He went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.
So he came and removed the body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. Joseph then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.