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Welcome—Scott Gillum Prayer— Gia Roberts

Song of Worship— Heather Dotson Good Friday Events Reading

Stations of the Cross (Readers specified on the page they read)

Video Communion

Prayer for One Another

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Matthew 26:36-41 (NKJV)

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here

while I go and pray over there.”

37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of

Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sor-rowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as

You will.”

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not

watch with Me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Lord Jesus, as I reflect upon Your experience in Gethsemane, I am once again astounded by Your utter humanness. You are not God-in-flesh-well-sort-of, but truly God in human flesh. You are Emmanuel, God with us. You are also

God with me. You understand me. You stand with me in hard times. You encourage me when I wrestle with the Father’s will. And You intercede for me. How I thank You, Lord, for who You are, for what You have done,

and for what You are doing in my life today. Amen

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Mark 14:43-46 (NKJV)

43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great

multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal,

saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.

O Lord, You being all knowing, know as much as I hate to admit it, to myself and to You, there is a bit of Judas in me. Forgive for the times I have pledged my love for You, only to reject you in the way I live. Help me to see where my

commitment to You is mixed, where my heart is divided against itself. Living out of my soul rather than my spirit, where You have lit. Set me free to be wholly submitted to you, even when I don’t understand You,

even when I’m afraid that following You is too risky. Amen.

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Luke 22: 66-71 (NKJV)

66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into

their council, saying,

67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe.

68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer

Me or let Me go. [a]

69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.”

71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need?

For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”

O Lord, the Jewish officials didn’t understand what it meant for You to be Messiah, and they condemned You as a criminal worthy of death. Your own followers didn’t understand what it meant for You to be Messiah, so they scattered and hid in Your

hour of crisis. Help me not to be like these! Help me to understand what it means when I confess you to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed of God. And may this confession lead me to a life of true discipleship. Your kingdom come,

Lord, and Your will be done, in earth as in heaven. And let this happen in my life, even today! Amen.

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Matthew 26:69-75 (NKJV)

69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Gali-

lee.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there,

“This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them,

for your speech betrays you.”

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three

times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Forgive me, Lord, when I let fear get in the way of my relationship with You. Forgive me for all the times I’ve fallen short in my discipleship because I’ve been afraid. Forgive me for failing to trust You when You’ve

proven Yourself to be so utterly worthy of trust. Help me, Lord, not to be like Peter in this story. When hard times come, help me to trust You more. When my adrenaline starts to pound, clouding my mind and suffocating my heart,

help me to receive Your peace. When I’m tempted to deny You, either in words or deeds, or by failing to speak or act, help me to trust and obey. May I live my whole life in honor of You! Amen.

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Mark 15:1-5, 15 (NKJV)

1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole

council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.

4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”

5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released

Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

Dear Lord, You know how easy it is for me to be like Pilate. I don’t like to take responsibility for my failures. I find rationalization to be so natural. I can fool myself into thinking I haven’t really done wrong.

So forgive me, Lord, when I follow the way of Pilate. Help me to acknowledge my sins, both to myself and to You, rather than wallowing in my pointless excuses and defenses. By Your Spirit, guide me to see clearly where I have missed

Your mark, so that I might confess truly and fully. Help me to experience the forgiveness You offer in Christ, and to live in the freedom of the cleansing You alone provide. Amen.

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John 19:1-3 (NKJV)

1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.

3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they

struck Him with their hands.

Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard it is to read of the abuse You suffered even prior to Your crucifixion.

I can’t even begin to imagine what You felt, not only physically, but especially in Your soul. What can I say in response but “Thank you” for walking the path of suffering and shame for my sake. You took the abuse that I

deserved, and gave me Your glory in return. Help me, Lord, to honor You as my King in all that I do. May my words and deeds reflect your sovereignty and celebrate Your glory. Amen.

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John 19:6,15-17 (NKJV)

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify

Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him,

for I find no fault in Him.”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify

your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus and led Him away.

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew,

Golgotha,

Dear Lord, You chose the cross. Yes, the Jewish leaders accused You. And, yes, Pilate sentenced You. And, indeed, Roman soldiers led You to Golgotha. But in a very real sense they were simply working out what God

ad willed and You had freely and painfully chosen. How I thank You for this costly choice! Because You took up the cross, I can take up life in all of its fullness.

Because You were led to die, I can be led into the eternal life. Because You bore my sin, I can enjoy Your forgiveness. How good You are to me, my Lord, my Savior! Amen.

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Mark 15:21 (NKJV)

21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by,

to bear His cross.

Dear Lord, the powerful example of Simon reminds me that I am also to take up the cross and follow You. You have called me to die to myself so that I might live in You. I confess that sometimes I resist this call, even though I know that in dying to myself I find true life in You. So help me, Lord, to carry my cross,

to give my life away so that I might receive the abundant life of Your kingdom. I could not do this were it not for the fundamental fact that You took my place on the cross.

Through You, I am forgiven and invited into the fullness of life. In Your death, I am raised to new life. All thanks and praise be to You, Lord Jesus, for bearing my sin on the cross, so that I might bear the cross into eternal life, both now and forever. Amen.

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Luke 23:27-31 (NKJV)

27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.

28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Je-rusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves

and for your children.

29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore,

and breasts which never nursed!’

30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

31 For if they do these things in the green wood,

what will be done in the dry?”

Gracious God, to whatever extent there are remnants of anti-Semitism in me, please forgive me and cleanse my mind and heart.

Help me not to blame others for the death of Jesus, but to see my own sin as sending Him to the cross. Even more, help me to grasp the mystery of Your grace, to see in the death of Jesus that which gives me life.

May my weeping over the suffering of Jesus, and my sorrow over my own sin, turn to joy when I recognize the majesty of Your loving-kindness and mercy. Amen.

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Luke 23:33-34 (NKJV)

33 And when they had come to the place called Calva-ry, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on

the right hand and the other on the left.

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Gracious Lord, how can I ever thank You for dying on the cross for me? Your death has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to my blessing. Yet I confess that I can sometimes take Your death for granted,

forgetting what You did for me and neglecting its significance. Forgive me, Lord. And even when I can’t go to the actual place of Your crucifixion today, may the reality of Your sacrifice press itself upon my mind and flood my heart. All praise to You, merciful Lord, for Your cross! Amen.

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Luke 23:39-43 (NKJV)

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ,

save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under

the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when

You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Dear Lord, how I thank and praise You for Your mercy. You give us, not what we deserve, but infinitely better. Thank You for hearing my cries, and for responding to me much as You did to the thief

who sought Your help. Thank You for remembering even me, and for the promise I have of Paradise beyond this life. There’s much I don’t understand about the afterlife, but what I know is that I will be with You,

seeing You face to face. And in Your presence there will be fullness of joy. That’s more than enough for me! Amen.

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John 19:25-27 (NKJV)

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,

and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by,

He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour

that disciple took her to his own home.

When I think of Your mother, Lord, I remember that You weren’t just the Son of God bearing the sins of the world. You were also the son of Mary, the boy whom she loved. Mary gives us a touching reminder of Your humanity,

Lord. Because You were truly human, because You truly suffered, You did indeed bear the sins of the world, and mine as will. All praise be to you, Lord Jesus! Amen.

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Luke 23:44-46 (NKJV)

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the tem-

ple was torn in two.

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”

Having said this, He breathed His last.

Merciful Lord, thank You for being The Righteous One. Thank You for Your perfect life and Your sacrificial death. Thank You for taking my sin upon Yourself, and giving me Your righteousness in return.

Like the centurion, I look upon Your cross today with wonder. But I’m not only struck by Your legal innocence. I’m astounded by Your willingness to suffer and die for me, the Righteous One for the unrighteous.

All praise be to You, glorious, gracious, giving Lord! Amen.

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Matthew 27:57-60 (NKJV)

57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also

become a disciple of Jesus.

58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.

59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a

clean linen cloth,

60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of

the tomb, and departed.

Lord Jesus, today we remember the fact that Your death wasn’t some charade. Rather, You really died. Thus, You experienced the ultimate penalty for our sin . . . for my sin.

I’ll never be able to understand fully the wonder of Your death. But I can grasp the fact that Your real death opened up the door for me to experience real life. Faced with such a merciful mystery, I cry:

“Amazing love! How can it be, that my God, should die for me?” To you be all the praise and glory! Amen!

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Because... One day affected all eternity

The wounds of one brought healing for many The worst acts of hate became the greatest

expression of love

At the cross, we can... Exchange our sin for His righteousness Lay down our burden for His freedom

Come broken and leave restored God has a way of rescuing us from ourselves

and turning things around

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“He is Risen” 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His

disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. (Matthew 28:5-8, NKJV)

Tell the Good News...