Good Friday
Reading John 19: 17-22
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So, they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol′gotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then 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.”
PRAYER
Lord God
for the courage of Jesus
for the unselfishness of Jesus
for the sacrifice of Jesus
we give you thanks.
Without his death on the cross
we would still be in limbo,
unaware as to how to proceed,
uncertain of the way ahead.
unsure if God really is a God of love.
But the cross - that symbol of hate and shame -
Jesus transformed into a symbol of hope and love.
For just as Pilate failed to capture the totality of Jesus
so the cross failed to silence God’s love
for his son and his people.
And we live in the shadow of that cross.
We have plumbed the depths of hate and cruelty this week,
but we have also ascended the heights of sacrificial living and extravagant love.
Lord God thank you for Good Friday for although it is here, we know Easter is coming.
Thanks be to God.
Amen
Hymn: There is a green hill
There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains he had to bear;
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
BENEDICTION
And now may the blessing of almighty God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be with you and remain with you
And all those whom you love
Today and for evermore
Amen
This is the last of the daily Services during Holy week, thank you for being with us. Join us again, same place, for the Easter Day Service on Sunday