On Good Friday, we remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. We encourage you to meditate on these four scriptures, and to listen to each verse of the hymn after each reading. Jennifer has recorded the hymn “Were You There?” She has also made a short video explaining the history and significance of this great song.
May Good Friday bring us to deep reflection and worship of the God who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all.
Isaiah 53:3-7
He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.
Verse One
Matthew 27:35-44
And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
Verse Two
Matthew 27:45-54
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Verse Three
1 Peter 2:24-25
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Verse Four
Prayer of confession and repentance:
We grieve the sin and darkness in our fallen world, and we grieve the sin within our own hearts. May the Lord give us grace to turn from sin and live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Prayer of thanksgiving:
We thank the Father for His amazing grace. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all. May the Lord give us hearts that delight in the precious gift of Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for our sins.
Prayer of salvation:
We ask the Lord to bring His saving grace to those who do not know Him. May the Lord open the eyes and hearts of people all over the world this weekend, to rescue them from death and make them alive in Christ. May He also give us boldness to lovingly share His gospel with others.
Prayer of hope:
We see in the darkness of Christ’s death the great light of His resurrection. We are, therefore, a people of hope. May the Lord sustain us with the hope of His promises, and may He make us shine as lights in a world that is desperate for hope.
