April 3rd, 2026 - Good Friday

MESSAGE ~ Rev. Thomas Walters

THE FIRST MOVEMENT: THE GARDEN AND THE ARREST

John 18:1–27

Jesus crossed the Kidron valley and entered a garden with his disciples — a place Judas knew well. The torches

and lanterns of an armed detachment cast long shadows as they came. “Whom are you looking for?” Jesus

asked. “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I am he.” At those words they stepped back and fell to the ground.

He asked again: “Whom are you looking for?” And again, “I am he.” “Let these people go.” He surrendered

himself so that not one would be lost. Peter drew his sword. Jesus said, “Put it away. Shall I not drink the cup

the Father has given me?”

In the high priest’s courtyard, as Jesus was questioned inside, Peter stood warming himself by a charcoal fire.

Three times they asked: “Are you not one of his disciples?” Three times he said: “I am not.” And

immediately, a rooster crowed.

THE SECOND MOVEMENT: THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE

John 18:28–19:16

They brought Jesus to Pilate. It was early morning. Pilate went out to them: “What charge do you bring

against this man?” Back and forth Pilate moved — between the crowds outside and Jesus inside — a man

trying to occupy a middle ground that does not exist.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. Jesus answered with a question of his own: “Do you ask this on

your own, or did others tell you about me?” And then, the declaration that would echo through every age: “My

kingdom is not from this world.”

Pilate found no case against him. He offered the crowd a choice — Barabbas or Jesus. They chose Barabbas.

The soldiers wove a crown of thorns, dressed Jesus in purple, and struck him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Pilate brought him out. “Here is the man,” he said. “Here is your king.” The crowds shouted: “Away with

him! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. The chief priests answered: “We have no king

but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to be crucified.

THE THIRD MOVEMENT: GOLGOTHA — IT IS FINISHED

John 19:17–42

Carrying the cross himself, Jesus went out to what is called The Place of the Skull — Golgotha. There they

crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, Jesus between them. Pilate had written a notice and

fastened it to the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many read it, for the place was near the city.

The chief priests protested. Pilate answered: “What I have written, I have written.”

Meanwhile, standing near the cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary

Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his

mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the

disciple took her into his own home.

After this, knowing that all was now finished, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was there. They

held a sponge full of wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the

wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Nicodemus came too, bringing spices

— a great weight of myrrh and aloes. They wrapped the body of Jesus with the spices in linen cloths, as is the

burial custom. In the garden where he was crucified was a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. There

they laid Jesus.

This 17th-century painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was created by Flemish artist Franz Francken sometime between 1620 and 1640.