Opening Scripture
Isaiah 53:1–6 (ESV)
[1] Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
[2] For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
[3] He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. (ESV)
A Prayer for good Friday
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 (NIV)
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46 (NIV)
“It is finished.” John 19:30 (NIV)
Dear Lord Jesus, for years I struggled calling the day of your crucifixion “good.” How presumptuous on our part. That there had to be a day when you—the eternally glorious Son of God, would be made sin for us, is not good at all. But at the same time, that you would freely and gladly give yourself for us on the cross, is never-to-be surpassed goodness—quintessential goodness.
Oh, the wonder of it all. From the cross, and from your heart, came these two impassioned cries. “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34) and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). The first required the second. The second secured the first. Together, they humble our hearts and fuel our worship.
And then there’s the third cry. “It is finished.” Nothing is left undone, concerning our salvation and for the transformation of our world. Once and for all—perfectly and fully, we have been reconciled to God. You became sin for us, that in you, we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21)—the Just for the unjust, the Beautiful One for the broken ones, the Lamb of God for the rebels from God.
Lord Jesus, a millions years into our life in the new heaven and new earth, we will still be stunned with awe, worship, and gratitude for the greatness of your sacrifice and love for us. Because you were fully forsaken, we are forever forgiven. Because you exhausted God’s judgment against our numberless sins, we now live by the gift of your perfect righteousness. Bow our heads in humility and raise our hands in praise. Jesus, we pray this in your gracious and glorious name. Amen
Scripture Reading
Jesus is Crucified- Luke 22:33-43 (ESV)
[33] And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [34] And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. [35] And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” [36] The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine [37] and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” [38] There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
[39] One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” [43] And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Meditation
In his prayer Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, Jesus fulfills his own teaching about loving one’s enemies (see Luke 6:35) and highlights the fact that his death was providing the very basis upon which those who crucified him could be forgiven (see Isa. 53:12). Jesus thus provides an example for all believers who would follow him (see Acts 7:60; 1 Pet. 2:21–24). “They know not what they do” does not absolve either the Jews or the Romans of their responsibility in Jesus’ death, but it shows that they did not fully understand the horrible evil that they were doing in crucifying the “Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14) who was both the true Messiah and the Son of God.
Prayer
Confession & awareness of our own part in Jesus' crucifixion- The hymn How Deep the Father's Love says “It was my sin that held him there...”
Confession of our tendencies to complain like the first thief
Praise for Jesus' great forgiveness, even toward those who crucified him
Prayer for a heart of forgiveness
Prayer for the humble yearning of the second thief
Prayer of gratitude for Jesus' willingness to sacrifice himself for us
Scripture Reading
The Death of Jesus- Luke 23:44-49 (ESV)
[44] It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, [45] while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. [47] Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” [48] And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. [49] And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Meditation
This takes places from noon until 3:00 p.m. (cf. Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33). Often a sign of an eschatological event taking place, darkness represents lament (Amos 8:9–10) and divine judgment (Ex. 10:21–23). Here it is both literal (the sun’s light failed) and figurative (cf. Acts 2:20), probably signifying that Jesus was bearing God’s wrath for his people (cf. Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph. 1:15), and also expressive of God’s displeasure and judgment upon humanity for crucifying his Son. The darkness was not caused by a solar eclipse . The curtain of the temple led from the Holy Place into the Most Holy Place and it was torn from top to bottom.
Prayer
Praise for Jesus tearing down the barrier between us and God
Prayer for a recognition of who Jesus is and what he has done for us.
Prayer to receive Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf
Prayer to quiet our hearts in sober reflection until Easter morning
Scripture Reading
The Burial of Jesus-Luke 23:50-56 (ESV)
[50] Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, [51] who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. [52] This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. [53] Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. [54] It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. [55] The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. [56] Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
Benediction
May you find in the cross a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven.
And may the blessing of God go with you,
Now and forevermore. Amen.
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