Good Friday

Washed our feet

Friday of the crucifixion—commonly referred to as Good Friday—was the day Jesus was tried, sentenced, crucified, and died. It is one of the most significant and solemn days in Christian history. Here's a detailed breakdown of what occurred:

1. Jesus' Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Early Morning) :

• Mark 14:53-65, Matthew 26:57-68, Luke 22:66-71, John 18:12-24: After Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was taken to the high priest Caiaphas’ house for an initial trial before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council).
• The chief priests and elders sought false testimony against Jesus in order to bring Him to trial for blasphemy.
• Peter’s Denial: While Jesus is being questioned, Peter is outside in the courtyard. He denies knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted. After the third denial, the rooster crows, and Peter remembers Jesus’ words, leading him to weep bitterly (Luke 22:61-62).

2. Jesus' Trial Before Pilate (Morning) :

• Mark 15:1-5, Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 23:1-5, John 18:28-38: Since the Sanhedrin did not have the authority to execute Jesus, they bring Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, for sentencing. They accuse Jesus of claiming to be the King of the Jews, a charge that could be seen as insurrection against Roman rule.
• Pilate questions Jesus, asking Him if He is the King of the Jews, to which Jesus replies, "You say so." Pilate finds no fault in Jesus, but the crowd demands His crucifixion.
• Pilate offers to release a prisoner for the Passover festival, and the crowd chooses to release Barabbas, a notorious criminal, instead of Jesus. Pilate, seeking to appease the crowd, washes his hands, symbolizing his desire to be innocent of Jesus' blood, and condemns Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:24).

3. Jesus is Scourged and Mocked (Morning) :

• Mark 15:15-19, Matthew 27:26-30, John 19:1-3: Before Jesus is handed over for crucifixion, He is scourged (whipped), which was a brutal Roman punishment. He is also mocked by the Roman soldiers. They place a crown of thorns on His head, robe Him in a purple garment, and mock Him, calling Him "King of the Jews."
• The physical suffering Jesus endures begins here and continues throughout His crucifixion.

4. The Journey to Golgotha (The Place of the Skull) :

• Mark 15:20-22, Matthew 27:31-32, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:16-17: Jesus is forced to carry His cross to the place of crucifixion, called Golgotha or Calvary. Because of the severe beating He endured, He was too weak to carry the cross by Himself. A man named Simon of Cyrene is compelled by the soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross for Him (Mark 15:21).
• Along the way, Jesus encounters a group of women who mourn and wail for Him. Jesus, in response, tells them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children (Luke 23:28).

5. Jesus is Crucified (Around 9:00 AM) :

• Mark 15:22-26, Matthew 27:33-37, Luke 23:33-38, John 19:17-24: Jesus is nailed to the cross at Golgotha, where He is crucified between two criminals. The crucifixion begins around 9:00 AM (the third hour according to Jewish time).
• Above His head, a sign reads "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" (John 19:19). The crowd mocks Him, and the religious leaders taunt Him, saying, "If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matthew 27:40).
• Jesus is offered wine mixed with gall, but He refuses to drink it (Matthew 27:34).
• During His crucifixion, Jesus speaks several words:
  • "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
  • "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (to the criminal beside Him, Luke 23:43).
  • "Woman, here is your son" (to Mary, His mother, and John, His disciple, John 19:26-27).

6. The Darkness (Noon to 3:00 PM) :

• Mark 15:33-34, Matthew 27:45-46, Luke 23:44-45: From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the land is covered in darkness. This supernatural event signifies the weight of Jesus’ suffering and His identification with the sin of the world.
• At around 3:00 PM, Jesus cries out loudly, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). This cry reflects Jesus’ anguish as He experiences the separation from God that comes with bearing the sins of humanity.

7. Jesus Dies (Around 3:00 PM) :

• Mark 15:37, Matthew 27:50, Luke 23:46, John 19:30: After crying out loudly, Jesus gives up His spirit and dies. "It is finished" (John 19:30) signifies that Jesus has completed the work of redemption.
• At the moment of His death, the veil of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that the way to God is now open for all people.
• There is also a great earthquake (Matthew 27:51-53), and the centurion and those with him proclaim, “Surely He was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

8. Jesus' Body is Taken Down from the Cross (Late Afternoon) :

• Mark 15:40-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:31-37: Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and placed in a new tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to the decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50-51). Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus in secret (John 3), helps with the burial.
• The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, watch from a distance (Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47).

9. The Guard at the Tomb (Evening) :

• Matthew 27:62-66: The religious leaders go to Pilate and request that the tomb be sealed and a guard be placed, fearing that Jesus’ disciples might steal the body and claim He had risen from the dead. Pilate grants their request, and a Roman guard is stationed at the tomb to ensure that Jesus’ body remains there.

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Summary of Friday's Events :

• Jesus is tried, first before the Sanhedrin, then before Pilate, and finally Herod (in some accounts), before being condemned to death.
• Jesus is scourged, mocked, and forced to carry His cross to Golgotha.
• He is crucified around 9:00 AM and dies around 3:00 PM after enduring six hours of agony.
• Darkness falls from noon to 3:00 PM, signifying the weight of Jesus' suffering.
• Jesus dies with a final cry, "It is finished".
• His body is taken down and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and the tomb is sealed by a Roman guard.

The events of Good Friday are a culmination of Jesus’ mission on earth: His suffering, death, and burial provide the foundation for the hope of His resurrection on Sunday morning. Through His death, Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world, offering redemption to all who believe in Him.