Good Friday…
From the Last Supper to His burial, Jesus’ last day is filled with the greatest of events. If we lay everything out as they occured, we will be able to quickly explore what all took place that first Good Friday.
First watch (from 6pm to 9pm Thursday night)
During this time we see Jesus enjoying the “Last Supper” with His disciples. Judas leaves early to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities, and the Holy Sacrament is laid out by Jesus for the disciples to continue when He is gone. They finish up with singing and dancing.
Second watch (9pm to midnight) and Third watch (midnight to 3am Friday morning)
After the supper, Jesus leads the disciples to the Mount of Olives so that they can rest and pray. It is here that Jesus tells them that they will run away before the night is over. He also predicts Peter’s denial. He then begins His prayer on the Mount.
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow — to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me.”
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with Me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:36-41 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.36-41.HCSB
He continues this pattern for the remainder of the watch.
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.
After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.
Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.”
Matthew 26:42-46 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.42-46.HCSB
Jesus spent most of the night in prayer. Even in the end of His time on earth, He sought His Father’s will. We must be willing to seek God’s will at all times and in any trial.
Last watch (3am to 6am Friday morning)
Jesus had spent about six hours discussing His death with His disciples and praying for God’s will to be accomplished. Now was the time for His betrayal to take place.
While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.
His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him! ” So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi! ” and kissed Him.
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come? ” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.
Matthew 26:47-50 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.47-50.HCSB
Judas had arrived with a mob and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Even in this moment, Jesus refers to Judas as, “friend.” Sometimes those that are closest to us are going to be the ones that hurt us the most. Like Jesus, we must always seek God’s grace and forgiveness in these situations. There is no mention of Jesus ever condemning Judas for his betrayal. Judas will suffer from guilt of what he had done though.
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us? ” they said. “See to it yourself! ” So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
Matthew 27:3-5 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.27.3-5.HCSB
Judas let the guilt and remorse grow beyond his control. His reaction is an unfortunate one that many people make even today. Instead of seeking forgiveness, Judas carries his guilt himself and let’s it take control. Judas hangs himself at the end.
It’s a sad ending that could have went very differently. Let’s look at Peter.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about! ”
When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene! ”
And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man! ”
After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”
Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man! ”
Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:69-75 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.26.69-75.HCSB
While Jesus was standing before the Sanhedrin, Peter was trying to get as close as possible to hear what was going on. It was then that he is recognized by a variety of people and he denies knowing Jesus. Three times he says that he does not know Jesus. Then the rooster crows and he remembers Jesus telling him that he would do this very thing.
Like Judas, Peter had betrayed Jesus. His betrayal may not seem as bad as Judas’, but even denial of Jesus is a horrible thing for any of His followers (even today).
“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.10.32-33.HCSB
Peter probably also remembered Jesus’ words here. Peter would react to his betrayal in a different way than Judas. We see that Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Instead of keeping all the grief inside, he let it out. He would also later find forgiveness.
When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.
John 21:15-17 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/jhn.21.15-17.HCSB
Peter turned back to Christ and was commissioned with a new task.
Whenever you find yourself on a position of denial, remember Peter.
The first hour (6am) to the third hour (9am)
It is during this time that Jesus is paraded back and forth between the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Pilate. One false accusation after another would be made until Pilate makes an attempt to appeal to the crowd. He offers them the choice between freeing Jesus or a murderous rebel named Barabbas.
The crowd chooses Barabbas. We can be like the crowd sometimes. We often choose worldly and sinful rebellion over Jesus. And yet, just like with Barabbas, Jesus silently stands in our place for judgement.
The third hour (9am) to the ninth hour (3pm)
For six long hours! Jesus is beaten, scourged, and crucified! He is stripped, hung between two thieves, and mocked the entire time. During the whole ordeal Jesus continues to pray for the forgiveness of those that are around Him!
One of the thieves joins in the mocking, while the other begs for forgiveness.
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us! ”
But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom! ”
And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/luk.23.39-43.HCSB
In any situation, at any time, you can seek after Jesus and He will be faithful for forgive you!
About half way through the crucifixion things began to change all around everyone. For three hours, the sky was grey and the environment was different than ever before.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah! ”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him! ”
Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.
Matthew 27:45-50 HCSB
At three in the afternoon, Jesus died! And He did it for you and me.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
John 3:16-18 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/jhn.3.16-18.HCSB
From the ninth hour (3pm) to the beginning of the Sabbath (6pm Friday night)
After His death, Jesus was removed from the cross. Now the race was on for His followers that were there to get Him buried before the Sabbath. A Pharisee named Joseph from Aramathea was able to claim the body and gave his new tomb to Jesus.
We will go over some of the other events at the Cross and some of the other lessons from Good Friday tomorrow. As for now, reflect on His sacrifice and what it truly means for all of us.
Happy Good Friday!
