Holy Week GuideSample

Day 6: Good Friday

As morning began, Jesus was handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate offered to release a prisoner, expecting the crowd to choose Jesus, but they demanded Barabbas, a convicted murderer, instead. The same people who praised Jesus days earlier now called for His crucifixion.To satisfy the crowd, Pilate ordered Jesus to be flogged and executed. He was severely whipped, painfully mocked, and intensely beaten and then made to carry His own cross to the hill He would die on. At Golgotha, Jesus was put on display, insulted and then His body was nailed to a cross. At noon, darkness came over the land, symbolizing God's judgment on sin. Jesus took His last breath and the temple curtain was torn in two, demonstrating the cancellation of sin and the bridge between mankind and God.

Then, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped Him in cloth and placed Him in an empty tomb. Then He rolled a stone in front of the entrance. The day began with chaos and ended with calm, leaving friends and family mourning but hopeful that God's promise would be fulfilled and death would be defeated. This monumental moment in time would forever change the world!

Reflection:

Today as you reflect, ask yourself this question…

How do I feel the weight of the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for me when He was brutally beaten and hung on a cross?

Allow yourself time to reflect and thank God that He loved you so much that He would take on your sin and die such a brutal death for you.