top of page

Holy Week: Friday

Friday


We have arrived at what is probably the most famous day of Holy Week outside of Resurrection Sunday, Good Friday. Jesus had been betrayed in the late hours of Thursday night, he had been arrested and in the early morning hours of Friday, Jesus was dragged before three different trials. The Jewish leaders had finally gotten their hands on Jesus and were seeing their plan of killing Him come to fruition. You can find the story of Good Friday in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 18:28-19:42. Two other readings that are good for today are in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. These help you understand just how prophetic fulfilling the events of Good Friday were. Here is a breakdown of the day:


  1. Early Morning (Around 3:00–6:00 a.m.): Trials Before Jewish Leaders

    1. Jesus before Annas and Caiaphas (John 18:12–24)

    2. The Sanhedrin meets at daybreak to finalize the charge of blasphemy (Luke 22:66–71)

    3. Peter denies Jesus three times and weeps bitterly (Luke 22:54–62)


As expected, there was no fault found in Jesus, but the religious leaders had to rid themselves of Jesus. Peter, who was overly bold earlier in the Gospels saying, ‘Even if all these fall away, I will never’ couldn’t stand the heat and denied Jesus three times.

 

  1. Morning (Around 6:00–8:00 a.m.): Trials Before the Romans

    1. Jesus before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–38)

    2. Sent to Herod Antipas, then back to Pilate (Luke 23:6–12)

    3. Pilate, though finding no fault, yields to the crowd’s demand and sentences Jesus to death (John 19:1–16)

    4. Barabbas is released, Jesus is scourged and mocked by Roman soldiers (Mark 15:15–20)


Could you imagine just wanting your morning coffee and this mob of Jews showing up to have you judged over the life of one of them? That’s what Pilot was dealing with. On top of that Pilate had found no fault in Jesus. Trying to get Him released, Pilot offered a choice. Many who sang hosanna on Sunday were crying ‘Give us Barabbas’ on Friday.

 

  1. Mid-Morning (Around 8:00–9:00 a.m.): The Way of the Cross

    1. Jesus carries His cross toward Golgotha (Mark 15:21)

    2. Simon of Cyrene is forced to help (Luke 23:26)

    3. Women mourn, and Jesus tells them to weep for themselves (Luke 23:27–31)


Badly beaten and abused, made to carry the tool of His death, Jesus protested not. 

 

  1. Crucifixion (9:00 a.m.): “It was the third hour when they crucified him.” (Mark 15:25)

    1. Jesus is nailed to the cross between two criminals

    2. The soldiers gamble for His clothes (Psalm 22:18 fulfilled)

    3. The sign above His head reads: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”

    4. Jesus prays: “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)


The thing that always knocks my socks off about the crucifixion is Jesus pleading for the Father’s forgiveness for the people who are responsible. Is that an attribute that we have in our hearts?

 

  1. Mocking and Rejection (9:00–12:00 noon)

    1. Religious leaders and passersby mock Him

    2. One criminal joins in, the other repents. Jesus tells the repentant criminal: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

    3. Jesus entrusts His mother to John (John 19:26–27)


The Criminal on the cross who realizes that there was something different about Jesus is what I call the theology buster. All he said was ‘remember me’ and he is spending eternity in Heaven. 

 

  1. Darkness Over the Land (12:00–3:00 p.m.): “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land.” (Matthew 27:45)

    1. A cosmic sign of judgment, sorrow, and the gravity of sin

    2. Jesus cries out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)


We see the supernatural groaning of creation over the death of Jesus. Then Jesus says what on the surface is a strange statement about God forsaking Him, but when we understand that He was, in his agony, quoting Psalm 22 it helps us understand a little better. Even in His agony and pain he points to Himself as the Messiah because Psalm 22 contains remarkably specific descriptions of the crucifixion that happened 1000 years after it was written. Folks, Jesus is the only answer to our need for salvation.

 

  1. Jesus’ Death (Around 3:00 p.m.)

    1. Jesus declares:

      1. “It is finished!” (John 19:30)

      2. “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

    2. He breathes His last

    3. The veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom—symbolizing access to God through Christ’s sacrifice

    4. The earth shakes, rocks split, and graves open (Matthew 27:51–53)

    5. A Roman centurion says:

      1. “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)


The deed is done. Access to the Father has been granted through the blood of Jesus Christ. Even a gentile confessed that Jesus had to be the Son of God. 

 

  1. Burial Before Sundown (Before 6:00 p.m.)

    1. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus request Jesus’ body

    2. They wrap it in linen with spices and place it in a new tomb in a garden (John 19:38–42)

    3. The tomb is sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62–66)


Quite possibly one of my favorite parts about Good Friday is seeing Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, not being afraid to associate with Jesus’ followers. I have a feeling Nicodemus will be in Heaven with us. Nevertheless, Jesus' lifeless boy was laid in a borrowed tomb. They had to do it quickly because it was almost the Sabbath, and they didn’t want Jesus to decompose on the cross. Though, we know he wouldn’t have! 

 

As the song goes, Friday is good because Sunday is coming. Honestly, Friday is good because Jesus became our substitutionary atonement. He took the cross IN OUR PLACE. Isaiah 53:5 tells us that He was pierced for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed!


So, for us what should Good Friday move us to? Here are three things to think upon today:


  1. Grieve the Cost of Sin

    1. Recognize that our sins nailed Him there—not just Rome or the Sanhedrin, but it was to pay the price of the sin that separates us from God for once and for all.

  2. Marvel at the Love of Christ

    1. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

    2. He chose the cross for you and me. He could have called down 10,000 angels, but His love compelled Him to accept the nails, the lashes, and the mockery. Because God first loved us! 

  3. Rest in the Finished Work

    1. “It is finished.” 

    2. Nothing more needs to be done for your salvation but to trust in Christ. There is no additive needed than to place our faith in Jesus and follow Him.


The only person who was able to take our place, chose to take our place. Praise God for His abundant love, mercy, and grace. 


As we pray today, let us thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus. There is not enough time we could spend on our knees giving thanks to God for what He has done! Let us also pray for our loved ones who have not accepted the sacrifice of Jesus to come to know Him as we know Him and follow Him as we follow Him. 

bottom of page