This service was created as a part of a Lent series though it could be used alone. For the rest of the series go to "Having the Identity of a Servant: Series Homepage".
This week began with the joyful sounds of “Hosanna!” but now the crowds cry “crucify.” Jesus was the ultimate servant, giving his life for the sake of the world. While the price to follow Christ might not be as high for us today, Christ made it clear that following him will cost each of us something. As Christ said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9: 23-24).
A Note on the Dramatic Reading of Scripture: The scripture reading is designed as a reader's theater and becomes the message for this Good Friday service. It is divided into six scenes. The following readers are needed:
| Narrator | Jesus | Chief Priest |
| Pharisees/Jewish Leaders | Servant Women | Official |
| People around the Fire | Relative | Pilate |
| Crowd | Soldiers |
It is possible for a person to read multiple parts. Ideally all readers would not be on stage but would read from somewhere else in the room.
This service also requires six candle bearers (CB) who light candles, read, and snuff out the candles toward the end of the service.
Opening Song: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” (st. 1-3) Montgomery
Call to Worship
All Candle bearers: Today we are called to come and bear witness—
CB 1: Bear witness to Christ the humble servant who gave himself for us.
[Sets down lit candle or lights one at this time.]
CB 2: Bear witness to the betrayal and rejection of friends.
[Sets down lit candle or lights one at this time.]
CB 3: Bear witness to the fickle nature of crowds who can be stirred up
[Sets down lit candle or lights one at this time.]
CB 4: Bear witness to the atrocities born by an innocent man.
[Sets down lit candle or lights one at this time.]
CB 5: Bear witness to the love of Christ.
[Sets down lit candle or lights one at this time.]
Congregation:
Today we are called to come and bear witness,
to God made flesh,
the servant who suffered, so we may be free.
[6th Candle bearer sets down a larger white Christ candle or lights it.]
—Joyce Borger, Reformed Worship, © 2024 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike. Used by permission.
Greeting
The God who calls us here, greets us saying:
“Grace and peace to you
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for our sins
to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
—Galatians 1:3–5
Opening Response: “Were You There” African American spiritual
Call to Confession with Prayer
In Christian worship there is a folding together of time —the past and future meeting together in the present moment. This is particularly evident on days like Good Friday when we bring the past into the present, asking “were you there?”, while holding onto the promise of the future resurrection. So today, you are asked to bear witness to the events of Good Friday as we read of it from the gospel of John. Today, you are being asked to examine yourself, your heart, and ask yourself where are you in the narrative? Who in the Good Friday drama is reflecting your heart and mind? What is the Spirit saying to you as you enter into this Good Friday drama?
The answer to the question of “were you there?” is “yes.” But where were you?
Let us pray.
Holy Spirit,
as we enter into the Good Friday story
reveal to us our own heart
so we may recognize ourselves
and where we stand in this story even today.
Convict us of our fickleness, lukewarmness,
and our honed ability for betrayal.
Confront us with Christ’s torturous death
and the role we played in it through
all the things we do that we shouldn’t,
and the times we have refused to follow your example,
as a humble servant to all people,
regardless of the cost.
Nourish in us a growing desire to emulate
the Christ we meet on this Good Friday,
a Christ who did not shy away from his calling,
a Christ who spoke truth to power,
a Christ who despite his own pain still noticed the suffering of others,
a Christ willing to die so that we might live,
Christ—the suffering servant.
Amen.
—Joyce Borger, Reformed Worship, © 2024 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike. Used by permission.
Scripture Reading in Six Scenes: John 18:1-19:30 (NIRV)
[At the conclusion of each scene a candle bearer reads the same lines as they did at the beginning of the service, their candle is snuffed out, followed by a short time of silence before a congregational hymn.]
Scene One
Narrator: Listen to the Word of the Lord from the book we love and ask yourself: Where are you in the story? Who are you in the story? When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it. Judas knew the place. He was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Jesus had often met in that place with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden. He was guiding a group of soldiers and some officials. The chief priests and the Pharisees had sent them. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So [Jesus] went out to them.
Jesus: Who do you want?
Chief Priests and Pharisees: Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus: I am he.
Narrator: Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, was standing there with them. When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back. Then they fell to the ground.
Jesus: Who do you want?
Chief Priests and Pharisees: Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus: I told you I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.
Narrator: This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would come true. He had said, “I have not lost anyone God has given me.” Simon Peter had a sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.
Jesus: Put your sword away! Shouldn’t I drink the cup of suffering the Father has given me?
Narrator: Then the group of soldiers, their commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They tied him up and brought him first to Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
[Pause]
CB 1: Today we are called to come and bear witness—bear witness to Christ the humble servant who gave himself for us.
[Silence while candle 1 is snuffed out.]
Sung Reflection: “What Wondrous Love” (st. 1–2) S. Mead’s A General Selection
Scene Two
Narrator: Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. The high priest knew the other disciple. So that disciple went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter had to wait outside by the door. The other disciple came back. He was the one the high priest knew. He spoke to the servant woman who was on duty there. Then he brought Peter in.
Servant Woman: You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?
Peter: I am not.
Narrator: It was cold. The slaves and officials stood around a fire. They had made it to keep warm. Peter was also standing with them. He was warming himself. Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus. He asked him about his disciples and his teaching.
Jesus: I have spoken openly to the world, I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I didn’t say anything in secret. Why question me? Ask the people who heard me. They certainly know what I said.
Narrator: When Jesus said that, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face.
Official: Is this any way to answer the high priest?
Jesus: Have I said something wrong? If I have, then tell everyone what it was. But if I spoke the truth, why did you hit me?
Narrator: Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas, the high priest. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself by the fire.
People around the fire: You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?
Peter: I am not.
Narrator: One of the high priest’s slaves was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off.
Relative: Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?
Peter: You did not.
Narrator: At that exact moment a rooster began to crow.
[Pause]
CB 2: Today we are called to come and bear witness—bear witness to the betrayal and rejection of friends.
[Silence while candle 2 is snuffed out.]
Sung Reflection: “Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended” (st. 1–3) Heermann
Scene Three
Narrator: Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made “unclean.” They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace but Pilate came out to them.
Pilate: What charges are you bringing against this man?
Jewish Leaders: He has committed crimes. If he hadn’t, we would not have handed him over to you.
Pilate: Take him yourselves. Judge him by your own law.
Jewish Leaders: But we don’t have the right to put anyone to death.
Narrator: This happened so that what Jesus said about how he was going to die would come true. Then Pilate went back inside the palace and ordered Jesus to be brought to him.
Pilate: Are you the king of the Jews?
Jesus: Is that your own idea? Or did others talk to you about me?
Pilate: Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?
Jesus: My kingdom is not from this world. If it were, those who serve me would fight. They would try to keep the Jewish leaders from arresting me. My kingdom is from another place.
Pilate: So you are a king, then!
Jesus: You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.
Pilate: What is truth?
Narrator: Then Pilate went out again to the Jews gathered there.
Pilate: I find no basis for any charge against him. But you have a practice at Passover time. At that time, you ask me to set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to set ‘the king of the Jews’ free?
Crowd: No! Not him! Give us Barabbas!
Narrator: Barabbas had taken part in an armed struggle against the country’s rulers.Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers twisted thorns together to make a crown. They put it on Jesus’ head. Then they put a purple robe on him. They went up to him again and again. They kept saying,
Soldiers: We honor you, king of the Jews!
Narrator: And they slapped him in the face. Once more Pilate came out.
Pilate: Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.
Narrator: Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate: Here is the man!
Crowd: Crucify him! Crucify him!
Pilate: You take him and crucify him. I myself find no basis for a charge against him.
Chief Priest: We have a law. That law says he must die. He claimed to be the Son of God.
Narrator: When Pilate heard that, he was even more afraid. He went back inside the palace [with Jesus following.]
Pilate: Where do you come from?
Narrator: But Jesus did not answer him.
Pilate: Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you understand? I have the power to set you free or to nail you to a cross.
Jesus: You were given power from heaven. If you weren’t, you would have no power over me. So the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.
Narrator: From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jewish leaders kept shouting.
Chief Priests and Pharisees: If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is against Caesar!
Narrator: When Pilate heard that, he brought Jesus out. Pilate sat down on the judge’s seat. It was at a place called the Stone Walkway. In the Aramaic language it was called Gabbatha. It was about noon on Preparation Day in Passover Week.
Pilate: Here is your king.
Crowd: Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!
Pilate: Should I crucify your king?
Chief Priests and Pharisees: We have no king but Caesar.
Narrator: Finally, Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be nailed to a cross.
[Pause]
CL 3: Today we are called to come and bear witness—bear witness to the fickle nature of crowds who can be stirred up.
[Silence while candle 3 is snuffed out.]
Sung Reflection: “My Song is Love Unknown” Crossman
Scene Four
Narrator: So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. He had to carry his own cross. He went out to a place called the Skull. In the Aramaic language it was called Golgotha. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. Two other men were crucified with him. One was on each side of him. Jesus was in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared. It was fastened to the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read the sign. That’s because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And the sign was written in the Aramaic, Latin and Greek languages. The chief priests of the Jews argued with Pilate.
Jewish Leaders: Do not write “The King of the Jews.” Write that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.
Pilate: I have written what I have written.
Narrator: When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes. They divided them into four parts. Each soldier got one part. All that was left was Jesus’ long, inner robe. It did not have any seams. It was made out of one piece of cloth from top to bottom.
Soldiers: Let’s not tear it. Let’s cast lots to see who will get it.
Narrator: This happened so that Scripture would come true. It says,
“They divided up my clothes among them.
They cast lots for what I was wearing.”
So that is what the soldiers did.
[Pause]
CL 4: Today we are called to come and bear witness—bear witness to the atrocities born by an innocent man.
[Silence while candle 4 is snuffed out.]
Sung Reflection: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” Latin
Scene Five
Narrator: Jesus’ mother stood near his cross. So did his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother there. He also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby.
Jesus: “Dear woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.” From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.
[Pause]
CL 5: Today we are called to come and bear witness—bear witness to the love of Christ.
[Silence while candle 5 is snuffed out.]
Sung Reflection: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Watts
Scene Six
Narrator: Later, Jesus knew that everything had now been finished. He also knew that what Scripture said must come true. So he said:
Jesus: I am thirsty.
Narrator: A jar of wine vinegar was there. So they soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on the stem of a hyssop plant. Then they lifted it up to Jesus’ lips. After Jesus drank he said,
Jesus: It is finished.
Narrator: Then he bowed his head and died.
[Pause]
CL 6: Today we are called to come and bear witness—to God made flesh, the servant who suffered, so we may be free.
Today we are called to bear witness to this story in our daily lives.
[Silence while the Christ candle is removed from the sanctuary. After which the congregation may depart in silence.]
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