Text: Matthew 27:1-61, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-7
Today is the sixth day of the portion of the church calendar commonly known as Holy Week.
In the coming days, we will slow our pace, walking through the events that took place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Rather than offer personal, written responses to each day’s Scripture reading, we’ve asked our friend, Pastor Russ Ramsey, to provide a real-time summary of the week’s events. Our prayer is that this more descriptive approach will usher you into the narrative and allow space for you to fully engage the beauty and ache of Holy Week.
Take this week slowly and reverently. It is a somber time, but let us never forget: Sunday is coming.
___
Good Friday, the Friday of Holy Week, puts to us this question once again: Who do you say Jesus is?
Late Thursday night in Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested—betrayed by one of His own disciples and abandoned by His others. The Chief Priests and the Sanhedrin called for secret trials in the dead of night, and the verdict was handed down that Jesus would be crucified (Mark 14:53-65). This was an official order the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, would have to give. And reluctantly, on Friday morning, he did (Mark 15:1-15).
After a severe beating, Jesus was nailed to a cross where He would remain for six hours until dead (Matthew 27:27-44).
He was crucified between two thieves. As He hung there, weak, bloody, and exposed, people from the crowd taunted and mocked Him—scoffing that if He really was the Son of God, then why didn’t He come down from the Cross (Matthew 27:40)? They could not begin to fathom the irony of their logic. That cross was the reason the Son of God had come, and His place as our atoning sacrifice was one only He could occupy. It was Jesus’ presence on the cross, not His ability to come down from it, that would prove His divinity. They knew not what they did.
One of the thieves started in with contemptuous words of his own, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself. Save us!” But the gravity of the scene settled on the other thief as he watched Jesus take the brutality of His captors to God in the form of a prayer for mercy. The thief also watched Jesus give His own grieving mother to His treasured friend. Seeing the grace by which Jesus received this death, the second thief broke into sobs, saying to Him, “Forgive me. I am here for the wrongs I have done, but You have done nothing. Please, remember me when You pass from this place into Your waiting kingdom” (Luke 23:39-43, my paraphrase).
At around 3:00pm, Jesus died (Luke 23:44-46).
Never before or since has more been lost and gained at the same time as at Jesus’ crucifixion. The world gained the atoning sacrifice of Christ. But for many of those present, their hearts broke because the One they believed to be the Savior of the world was dying at the hands of Rome. They couldn’t stop it, and they didn’t yet realize—He was dying for them. Many had put their hope in Jesus, and though He had told them earlier that He would suffer many things and rise three days later (Mark 8:31), how could they possibly have known this was what He meant?
The reactions of the condemned men crucified on either side of Jesus and those gathered at the foot of the cross tell the story of every man and woman when it comes to what we make of Christ’s crucifixion. The cross of Jesus confronts us all with the question of the true identity of Jesus Christ. Times of desperation can harden us or soften us, but the question of Easter never goes away: Who do you say that Jesus is?
written by Russ Ramsey
adapted from Behold the King of Glory
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79 thoughts on "Holy Week in Real Time: Good Friday"
You have that peace dear, (don’t let that mocking voice get to you anymore, rebuke it) just look inside of you and you’ll find that you are Special! May the Holy Spirit be your guide. Shalom.
Im trying…
I often hear my own thoughts or prompts mocking me so many times per day: youre nothing, you’re not good enough. Jesus was mocked so I didn’t have to be mocked any more like this. The chastisement for my peace was upon Him. Where is my peace? I want it.
The God who created this universe knows how many hairs are on your head, yes your very own head. He knows your very thoughts, he hears every single one of your prayers, he died for your sins. Don’t listen or believe the lies, Jesus would never tell you you’re not good enough. The bible is filed with countless promises from Jesus, reading the word is a renewing of the mind. Jesus said this life wouldn’t be easy, but he would never leave you nor forsake you (Jeremiah 29:11). Read your bible dally, listen to worship music and fellowship with other believers, these things can really help. You are so loved, Jodi!
I do, all of those things and more, but it feels like Im reaching nowhere.
I believe, Jesus! Help my unbelief! He is our source of strength and faith- praise God we don’t have to muster it all up on our own.
We don’t….? But dosent He provide us with a free will to beleive or not? So Im trying to exercise will and its fighting with itself.
I have been there before. There have been seasons of my life when I have felt exactly that. He says seek me and you will find me. Don’t give up. There’s a song called “Never Alone” by Barlow Girl. This song has been so comforting to me when I feel like that. “I needed you today, but you didn’t show….But I’ll hold tight to what I know…You’re here. And I’m never alone.” Praying a prayer for you to be refreshed and feel his presence with you.
Renewal of the mind by reading the bible and leading the Christian life is first and foremost key, which is what you are already doing; however there’s a secondary active part that we all must do–with these thoughts, you must ask God to reveal and heal you from your past associations in behavior and thoughts. This is usually stemming from our childhood, the beliefs we subconsciously received from our environment (the world), our own flesh (personality), and it can be exacerbated by satan’s lies. So it can be any of these things or combination thereof. We have the peace via holy spirit from Jesus, it comes from knowing the truth about ourselves in Him; however, its not automatic as we all like it to be, there’s effort on our part to understand ourselves and our own history then switch our false beliefs with the truth of Jesus/bible, then we start to feel peace. We heal under the active guidance of God/holy spirit first, and then our own efforts—two step approach is the renewal of the mind.
Thank you Dr. Avery
Jodi, I would recommend you read, Lies Women Believe, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It will help!
Jodi, I suggest finding scriptures to refute the lies you are believing. Write them down on index cards, say them out loud. When Satan starts in with the lies simply read or recite the Truth out loud.
Romans 8:32 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
There are so many others that you could use. Remember the Truth will set you free. I will be preying for you.
What a beautiful and moving reminder of His beautiful sacrifice. I never thought of the 2 theives as representing our choice, but it’s just so. Thank you for this heartfelt meditation.
My friend recently returned from Israel. She shared an insight that I will meditate on today. Their guide shared that when the curtain of the Holy of Holies was ripped in two the local understanding differs from what seems the common interpretation here. When a person there has a child die, often they will tear their clothing as if the grief is so great it must be released. The curtain separating the Holy of Holies was as a garment for God that tore in the depth of His grief. He grieved deeply the death of His Son.
Oh God, your very heart on the cross! The aggony of what was required for your own justice to be satisfied! Your one and only Son sacrificed for me. What wondrous love is this, oh my soul!!
Thanks for sharing this, Sarah_Joy.
How close would I have been to Jesus? Passing by, glimpsing at the event (one of the anonymous crowd)? At a safe distance (the chief priests, scribes, elders), not wanting to be associated? Beside Him (the thief), wanting Him to just meet my urgent need? At His feet (the centurion and soldiers), just doing my job, nothing more, nothing less?
How close would I have been?
How close am I to Jesus today?
An observer? Head knowledgeable but not heart knowledgeable? Using Jesus as a genie in a bottle to grant my wishes? Doing the Christian thing but not too much?
Forgive me, Lord!
You did nothing wrong. You are innocent. I am guilty. I deserve punishment. Forgive me! You really are God’s Son!
That fact makes all the difference.
That fact draws me oh so close.
That fact sets me free.
That fact lifts me up.
It’s a good Friday.
Churchmouse, your words are always so encouraging and get me right in the heart. Thank you for taking the time to write in these community posts! Hugs to you friend!
Love this…
Good Friday. My flesh rebels from that “good”. I don’t like to see pain and suffering. I don’t like to see humiliation. And to imagine this Jesus, whom I love, subjected to that. And to know that he was thinking of me.
He did it for me.
My flesh longs for it to not be so. Couldn’t I have been the one who was ‘good’ enough not to need Jesus’ sacrifice?
And in those thoughts I see the lies my flesh would like me to believe. The lie that says “I’m not THAT bad”. But the truth is that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus is the only way to have life. And not even life just muscled through but ABUNDANT life! And so, I humble myself and kneel in awe and adoration at the foot of the cross and the Jesus who would do this, who would make the ultimate sacrifice for me, while I was yet a sinner.
Thank you, my Jesus for loving me!
The Lord did not endure that pain so that we would all continue living in chains. Be free. Galatians 5:1
I love this!
Amen!! I need this reminder daily.
Me tooo
Tears. “He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by GOD (emphasis mine)… BUT, He was pierced because of OUR transgressions, crushed because of OUR iniquities; punishment for our peace was ON HIM, and we are healed by His wounds…He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep before her shearers, He did not open His mouth.” Humbled this morning as I walk through the hard reality of Jesus’ death. And knowing He did it willingly and lovingly because of my sin and separation, not because of His.
“The reactions of the condemned men crucified on either side of Jesus and those gathered at the foot of the cross tell the story of every man and woman when it comes to what we make of Christ’s crucifixion”
Talk about a moment when your heart and eyes just open up; this hit me hard. Good Friday brings us (all people) face to face with the whole message of our faith and Christianity. We either respond like the high priests (vengeful, hypocritical and never seeing their wrongs) Matthew 27:41-43, crowds (remorseful and deeply affected) Luke23:48 , thief 1 (scoffing and full of ridicule) Luke 23:39, thief 2 (ashamed and repentant) Luke 23:40 or the soldiers (immediately regretful) Mark 15:39.
I always find Good Friday difficult and emotional; but the one thing I love about today that it gives me the opportunity to put my faith into perspective as walk forward to the cross, kneel under it, confess my sins, reaffirm my faith and walk away with my brethren.
We can be either of these people at any one time of our Christian lives but it is about how we follow through from today. Today is a truly sad and heart wrenching day but the glory of Sunday is just around the corner. Without today, we have no resurrection Sunday.
Have a blessed Easter weekend ladies
“Never before or since has more been lost and gained at the same time as at Jesus’ crucifixion.”
I absolutely love this quote! It is finished. Thank you Lord
http://www.in-due-time.com
What a life we live, what a God we have. What a promise to hold fast to. It’s h fathomable the depth of grace and I’m so unbelievably thankfully we were chosen and held and SAVED!
It is finished! Thank you Jesus. What a Savior. So thankful.
When this Friday comes around, I always feel sadness in me because this represents the fork on the road: do we say YES to Jesus or not. And the story of the thieve on the cross next to Jesus who realizes who he is and asks for his forgiveness and to be remembered in His kingdom always makes me cry. In Him I see the humbleness of those of us who are broken and beaten down by life or the decisions we make. Those of us who have had felt His grace when we are down and instead of turning to stone, we lay down in that cross and say “I have nothing Jesus, all I have are these empty hands and a broken heart, and they are yours– use them for your Glory because I cannot go on without you.”
Sunday is coming, but I will not look past Good Friday. For without Friday we do not have Sunday. Reminds me of our own trials we go through. We want to get to Sunday and just skip Friday, but we have to go through Friday before we can get to Sunday. We have to walk through Good Friday in order for there to be any significance for Sunday. God wants our hearts to be transformed and renewed through the experience of Friday’s sufferings. It’s very challenging, but embrace the Good Friday sufferings for this is when Christ is ever so close to you, lifting you up and carrying you through it all!
Jesus, words can never do justice what you suffered on that Good Friday. We read about it, we see reenactments of it, I’ve even visited the Mt. of Skulls, but I will truly never know the pain and suffering you bore for my sins on that day. May I never overlook Good Friday and just think about Sunday. May I embrace Friday knowing that you suffered greatly for all of us. Our savior has come to save and you did just that for every single soul.
Amen! Beautifully said.
So true…thank you for sharing!
The part that bothers me most about this weeks real time Events of Jesus’ life, is the fact that Jesus himself said he would be in the tomb three days and three nights. When lent season first started I questioned my father(earthly) since we celebrate Good Friday and then Easter only two days later. Along the path of history, we have seemingly messed up the timing of events of Holy Week. My dad found this link http://thewayofthemessiah.org/tsp.html and shared it with me. I hope this helps everyone understand better as well. It’s a bit confusing but the part with the timeline is actually most helpful. God bless and PRAISE the Son of God, Christ Jesus for He Is Risen!
Rachel, I too have always wondered about this. I kept saying, well, by the timeline most pastors and teachers give, it’s only 48 hours. Thanks for clearing this up. I’m going to show it to my pastor and see what he thinks too.
I agree; I have been bothered with the 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb, but I am not sure that timeline works. If there is a non-sabbath Friday, I would think the women would have been able to prepare spices and bring them to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body that day. My thought and others have Jesus crucified on Thursday and then put the two sabbaths together- Sabbeth of unleavened bread -Friday, then the Saturday Sabbeth. Here is another timeline to consider- look at the 2nd one. https://carm.org/how-long-was-jesus-dead-tomb
LeslieAnnOlson, the website has the correct readings. I was so confused!
LeslieAnnOlson, mine was the same way on the app. The website has the correct readings.and I was
Indeed the email is showing Matthew 27 but the text on my app is Matthew 28
My scripture is not aligned for Good Friday. Can someone verify the passage please verify the passage
Text: Matthew 27:1-61, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-7
Text: Matthew 27:1-61, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-7
MATTHEW 27
As I reflect on Good Friday passages this year, the thing that has stood out to me is that Jesus gave up His spirit willingly. From the moment of His arrest, it seemed like others were in control of His destiny; but He willingly went with the mob, He willingly let them toss Him back and forth between the Sanhedrin and Pilate and Herod, He willingly took the beating and the mockery, and He willingly allowed them to nail Him to the cross. He could have bowed out at any given moment, but He didn’t because He knew this had to happen. The only thing Jesus wouldn’t let them do was kill Him – He drew the line and said, “no, I willingly give up my life. That’s the only way this thing is actually going to work.” It wasn’t the crucifixion that killed Jesus, it was because of His great love for us that He gave Himself up for us. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
I love this! So true- thanks for sharing!
I find that so often in times of trouble, that I am like those witnessing the crucifixion. I mock, I doubt, I say “why aren’t you doing something?”. God is always working. It never seems to be in a way that makes sense to my human perspective, but He is always working. It usually becomes clear in hindsight. I think it’s easy to forget how much like the crowd we really are.
“I am Judas’ kiss, but You loved me anyway!”
(Sidewalk Prophets “You Love Me Anyway”)
Overwhelmed this Good Friday morning with the script of the day. Tossed about in the wee hours Lord, and sentenced to death. A marked man for the world, beaten and bruised beyond imagination you stood, accepting pain, accepting painful words and accusations, focused on the task. Step by step your worn and tired feet carried our death sentence over your shoulder the only relief from a passing observer. Hammer throw after hammer throw receiving the nails that would penetrate skin and bone to hold your battered body high on wood. Soldiers casting lots, passerbys shouting comments, priests and teachers mocking you as you hung in grave pain. Your own mother in grief below as she witnesses a scene no mother could bare when light of noon left and darkness crept over Calvary, leaving many to question their actions. Alone, forsaken and thirsty you hung above excruciating minute after excruciating minute like a women in childbirth, your pain would bring forth new life as you’d commit your Spirit and breath your last breath on that Friday leaving the world in agonizing realization of what had occurred at the sound of the earth quaking and great rocks splitting. Naysayers destroyed by the gruesome reality that they’d crucified the Savior, their Savior, my Savior, your Savior. I can only envision the gravity of the pain in those moments, the sound of mass weeping and desperation as those around realized Lord. I can only close my eyes and imagine Mary’s face as she recalled Simeon word’s over her, that a sword would pierce her soul, now understanding the meaning, as she wiped her son’s face, pushing His hair from His eyes and cradling the lifeless body she once held as a sweet babe. The pain beyond words as salty tears must have flooded around her. Lord, my heart aches this Good Friday morning as I recall your day. My heart hurts for what you endured and I want to sit in it. I know Sunday is coming and I know you overcame but Lord, for these moments I grieve, I grieve because of the great loss, I grieve because of my part, I grieve because of the indescribable pain, I grieve as one who lost hope in those days because Lord you love me, you loved them, you accepted with such grace my punishment, the world’s punishment and there are no amount of tears I can shed that will wash your blood from me, Lord. Only you can do that, only your blood can nullify my sin Lord, so I will stand at the cross weeping today, weeping because I am so grateful for your walk up that hill Lord, so thankful for your incredible mercy over me, over the world. I pray, Lord, that the world be filled today with awareness of you of your sacrifice.
Amen!!
Thank you for these beautiful thoughts, B!
Beautiful and painful meditations. Thank you for sharing, B!
I re-read this story and I just cried.. Can you imagine being a princess is killed and tortured as if you were a pauper and for no fault of your own?! And because you love people that may not even love you back after what you’ve done for them?! BROOO. Jesus is a boss because I don’t know how I’d be able to deal. That part about His divinity being shown through the remaining on the cross has really struck a chord with me – I’ve never seen it deeper than Him knowing that that was Jesus fulfilling his purpose, the display and magnitude of God’s love and our redemption etc.. No, Jesus was SOO powerful whilst being human He could ENDURE death on a cross. Oh, and He rose again because death couldn’t trump his super-awesome power.. Every year this story continues to show the unquantifiable depths and amazingness of God’s love. Jesus thank you for ‘finishing it’. The constant battle between our Spirit and flesh and getting into an unending cycle of right and wrong. I am now free. So grateful for God’s unfailing love, grace and mercy.
It’s really easy for this message to not sink in fully. We already KNOW what happened a few days later. But for the disciples…for those women…for everyone there in real time…even if they ‘knew’ what was going to happen, they couldn’t fully fathom it. Imagine living through this in real time.
Christ is dead.
You have to live out the rest of the day, and tomorrow, and a little bit of Sunday knowing that he is gone. Sure you want to have perfect faith – but I highly doubt anyone was completely calm and just waiting excitedly for the resurrection. It must have been really depressing.
Thank you Emily…I share in your thoughts…truly it must had been depressing..though Jesus Words rang through their hearts…their eyes sank in depth of visual realization…I soberly am Thankful that we have the whole story…awaiting His Glorious Return. Truly to all Happy Easter.
Sitting at my window, waiting for the local church to walk by with the Cross, as they have done over the years around this time, I realise I have gotten their message wrong, or just not right…I always thought it was to reminder to us of what was GIVEN and GOTTEN for us by Jesus on the Cross….although, I guess that, in part, is true, I see now what they have been doing is walking us through ‘in real time’ , Friday, ‘that day’, that ‘It is finished’ day….
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grieves to bear…on that Cross, on His back, He took the stripes, for my shame, on His head, he wore the crown of thorns, for my sins, His side’s pierced for my wanderings, nails through His hands, His feet, for my disobedience…’See from his head, his hands, His feet..( my sorrow) ..and..(His) flow mingled down…Did ere such LOVE and sorrow meet….(His blood covering my sin and shame. )
I can’t fathom, and to my dying day, I will struggle to do so, BUT God, oh But God, this I know without a doubt, in this broken and yet understanding heart is that, this day, this ‘real time’ day, this Good Friday, was walked through, was sacrificially , taking my sin and shame, my wanderings, my disobedience, my attitude, my negativity, …all of the above and more, was walked through, bearing my sin and shame…for me, for us, for ALL, that the depth, breadth, height, width of God’s LOVE for us all may be known…
I know…
I understand…I, with all that I am, a thankful and grateful heart…say..
THANK YOU JESUS, …THANK YOU, …THANK YOU..
When I survey the wonderous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died….when I look upon that cross, Lord God, May I fall to my knees ..every time..
Thank you Jesus…Thank you…
Sunday is coming…
Hugs and love…xxxx
Thanks for the subtle pointer to so many beautiful songs that speak to Christ´s all-important work on the cross. I just found a Spotify playlist with a lot of them all in one place… Celebrate Easter by Jonathan Tarlton in case anyone´s interested! Whatever the method, may our homes be filled with the sound of truth and thankfulness today brings us to understand all the more deeply.
that has always been my favorite saying Friday is here but Sunday is coming. Jesus HAD to go to the cross but I know he overcame it! what joy it brings me to know the end of the story before I even read the worse part! it’s like watching the end of the sadest movie and knowing the good guy wins!
I am the kind of person that would rather just skip the violent, sad, scary part of a story and get to the good part. This week has made me realize that I do that with the crucifixion. When I got up this morning I was really dreading having to read about what Jesus went to. I wanted to just skip ahead to the good part. But, I made myself read it slowly and deliberately. It was just as bad as I thought it would be – Jesus died for me. He went through this horrendous ordeal for me and because of me. My sins put Him there. “The cross was the reason the Son of God had come, and His place as our atoning sacrifice was one only He could occupy. It was Jesus’ presence on the cross, not His ability to come down from it, that would prove His divinity.” There is a heaviness to today that I’ve never felt before mostly because I’ve tried not to think about what was going on today. I realize now that that’s the exact opposite of what I need to do. Today should be a solemn day. It should be a day of sadness and grief.
I am so glad that I know how the story ends, but for today, I pray that God will remind me that it is vital that I never gloss over or skip what Jesus did on Good Friday. Without Friday there would be no Sunday – no Easter – no point.
I pray your day is blessed as we spend it together remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Amen Kathy….we have to go through Friday to get to Sunday….
The psalms says …Tears may flow in the night….throughout this past week and especially today (Good Friday) , but the Joy of the Lord, comes in the morning….Sunday is coming…Amen….
Love and hugs as we solemnly walk through this day sister, reminded that it was for the total and absolute love of us, that Jesus walked His wAlk…xxxt
So, so true.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the cross. “Thank you” seems small compared to what you endured in my behalf. Today, I am reminded why. It was for me. I gained everything that day. I now give you my everything.
Wrong readings :-(
The ones on the SRT website seem to be correct: Matthew 27:1-61 and Isaiah 52:13-53:7.
Thank you. The ones that came up for me on the website seem to be for Sunday. I’m looking forward to reading those, but it’s not quite time.
Thank you Jesus for bearing my sins on the cross!
Yes the website has different text for today
It looks like it could be?!?
Me to!!! Doesn’t seem to relate to the discussion at all
Yeah me too
is the reading for today suppose to be for Sunday??
I was wondering the same thing…
From SRT website: Matt 27:1-61, Isa 52:13-53:7
I’m on the website and it has the readings of the resurrection. Thanks for posting these references!
Thanks!
Thank you :)
I’m actually quite thankful for the error because it caused me to pick up my actual Bible, not just rely on the phone. Completely changed the experience!!!
Me too! So good :-)
I STILL use my actual Bible. Many times in Bible Study Class at church I’m the ONLY one in the class with an actual Bible in book form. Even my husband reads from his iPad. Yes, for me, it totally changes the experience. (nothing against electronics :)) I love books. And print. And fonts. Loving SRT. My teen daughter confessed to me she tried to figure out how to use the SRT app and just couldn’t. So this morning we sat together and read through the Good Friday scripture. So glad she’s interested. Thank you SRT.
Same here!Thankful today for the error as well!