Lent Day 38 – Good Friday

by Shaun Groves
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1 AM

Early Friday morning Jesus is betrayed with a kiss and arrested.

Garden of Gethsemane
Modern day Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was betrayed and arrested.

1:30-3 AM

Jesus is brought to Annas, the former Jewish High Priest and also the father-in-law of Caiaphas the current High Priest. Jesus is verbally and physically abused.

John 18:12-13 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin Court. When Jesus says He is the Messiah he’s beaten and mocked.

Matthew 26:67-68 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

3:00 – 5:00 AM

Jesus is held prisoner at Caiaphas’ palace

5:00 – 6:00 AM

The Jewish elders – including the High Priest, scribes and the whole Sanhedrin court – meet and decide to ask the Romans to execute Jesus.

Mark 15:1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

6:00 – 7:00 AM

Jesus is questioned by Pilate, the prefect or governor of Judea. He declares, “I find no guilt in this man.” And, when he learns that Jesus is from Galilee…

Luke 23:6-7 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Pilates palace
This arch is part of what remains of Pilate’s palace today. Some believe this is likely where the crowd stood and yelled, “Crucify him!”

7:00 – 7:30 AM

Jesus stands trial before Herod Antipas, self-proclaimed “King of the Jews” and the ruler over Galilee. When Jesus refuses to answer any questions, he is sent back to Pilate.

Luke 23:11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

7:30 – 8:30AM

Pilate tries to release Jesus, declaring that he’s done nothing punishable by death, but the Jewish leaders insist that he’s the leader of a rebellion against Rome. Pilate’s men mock and beat Jesus.

But the Jewish leaders aren’t satisfied with the punishment. They still insist that Jesus be crucified and insight the crowd to yell for the same. Pilate gives in and orders the execution of Jesus. (Some scholars believe any observant Jews would not have been in the city at this early hour during Passover. If so, the crowd is likely not Jewish.)

8:30 – 9:00 AM

Pilate’s royal guard take Jesus into the court (“Praetorium”) where they mock and torture him.

Matthew 27:27-31 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

praetorium
Flogging stone found in what is believed to have been the praetorium of Pilate in Jerusalem.

9:00 – 12:00 noon

Jesus is forced to carry his own cross to Golgotha – “The Place Of The Skull” – where he’s then crucified.

Matthew 27-35-37 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

Golgotha
Possible location of Golgotha. A skull-like face was carved into this hill by mining in ancient times. It lies outside the city gates as described in scripture, and is nearby a garden that contains a tomb. In fact, I took this picture from the garden. Today an Arab bus station operates from the base of the hill.

12:00 noon – 3:00 PM

Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Luke 23:43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

John 19:26-27 “Jesus said to his mother: ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple: ‘This is your mother.’

Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

John 19:28 “I thirst.”

Luke 23:46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Later That Day

Jesus is buried.

John 19:41-42 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Our Prayer

Thank you for the cross. Amen.