FROM GETHSEMANE TO GOLGOTHA
A GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
Words and Music by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown
© 2005, 2006 ThankYou Music, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to you, we turn to you
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for you, we long for you
‘Cause when we see you we find strength to face the day
In your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have your way among us, we welcome you here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to you, we turn to You
In Your kingdom broken lives are made new, you make us new
‘Cause when we see you we find strength to face the day
In your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Opening Prayer
O God of infinite love and power, we gather together on this Good Friday to reflect on the passion of the Christ. We are utterly humbled in the presence of such love and mercy. Open our hearts this day to the goodness of Good Friday, and fill us with your love and powerful Spirit of Holiness. Remove from us all sin. Offer us anew this Life in Christ that makes all things new. Amen.
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up – John 12:27-36
READER 1:
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Instrumental Music for Contemplation
[I suggest using instruments such as cellos or oboes to match the ambience of the evening]
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus – John 18:1
READER 1:
. . . Jesus . . . went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
Go To Dark Gethsemane (verse 1)
Words by James Montgomery (1825); Music: Richard Redhead
Go to dark Gethsemane, you who feel the tempter’s pow’r;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see; Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away; Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
Judas, Who Betrayed Him – John 18:2–11
READER 2:
Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas – John 18:12–14
READER 1:
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father–in–law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus – John 18:15–18
READER 2:
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
Go To Dark Gethsemane (verse 2)
Follow to the judgment hall; View the Lord of life arraigned;
O the worm-wood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; Learn of Him to bear the cross.
The High Priest Questions Jesus – John 18:19–24
READER 1:
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Again – John 18:25–27
READER 2:
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Before Pilate – John 18:28–32
READER 1:
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
My Kingdom Is Not of This World – John 18:33–40
READER 2:
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified – John 19:1–11
READER 1:
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified – John 19:12–16
READER 2:
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
Go To Dark Gethsemane (verse 3)
Calv’ry’s mournful mountain climb there adoring at His feet,
Mark the miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete:
"It is finished!" Hear the cry; Learn of Jesus Christ to die.
The Crucifixion – John 19:16b–22
READER 1:
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
Jesus Is Crucified – John 19:23–27
READER 2:
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by 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 nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
The Death of Jesus – John 19:28–30
READER 1:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
No Other Fount
Words and Music by Tommee Profitt, David Moffitt, Travis Cottrell
© 2018 Timechangemusic, Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing, Capitol CMG Genesis
Nothing can for sin atone hope is found in You alone
Sin and death are overcome only by Your precious blood
Nothing good that I have done no praise of mine could be enough
All my striving ends in vain my righteousness found in Your name
Only Your blood has the power there is no other, no other fount I know
Jesus, Your love made a way, no other fount I know can save!
For my pardon this I see the Lamb of God my victory
Hell defeated by Your love, it is finished, You have won!
Only Your blood has the power there is no other, no other fount I know
Jesus, Your love made a way, no other fount I know can save!
Oh, precious is the flow, oh, it washes white as snow
No other fount I know, nothing but Your blood, nothing but Your blood
Only Your blood has the power there is no other, no other fount I know
Jesus, Your love made a way, no other fount I know can save
Now by this I'll reach my home, held secure before Your throne
This is all my hope and peace, the Son of God poured out for me
Nothing But the Blood
Words and Music by Robert Lowry (1876)
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]
Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]
This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]
Jesus' Side Is Pierced – John 19:31–37
READER 2:
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So 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. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Jesus Is Buried – John 19:38–42
READER 1:
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy–five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Words and Music by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Michael Bleecker
© 2013 Getty Music Songs, McKinney Music Inc., Love Your Enemies Publishing, Bleecker Publishing
Come behold the wondrous mystery in the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven’s praises robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness now the Light of Life has come
Look to Christ, Who condescended took on flesh to ransom us
Come behold the wondrous mystery He the perfect Son of Man
In His living, in His suffering never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam come to save the hell–bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment of the law; in Him we stand
Come behold the wondrous mystery Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption see the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory grace unmeasured, love untold
[*I did not include verse 4 here. For Good Friday, it is appropriate to end this song with verse 3]
Benediction
Jesus, we wait here by your tomb carrying our grief; the grief of the betrayer, the grief of the denier, the grief of the crucifiers. We carry the grief of the lost, the heartbroken, the bereft. Upon you was laid the grief of us all. It is finished. God of endings, God of darkness, God of the tomb, God of dark days and great loss, be with us now as we wait with Jesus. – by Carole Penner