Good Friday at home

Hello friend! 


Social distance doesn't mean we have to be absent. Our great desire is to bring meaning to this season through the Easter story. We hope this small interactive opportunity does just that as you engage at home. 


On your own or with your family we encourage you to turn off any distractions and walk through this self-guided time of reflection and worship. 


Below you will find a welcome video and a some songs to set the tone. 


Use the material here to take a 2,000 year leap into the past to experience a narrative that is as true today as it was then and allow yourself to experience the grace and truth of Jesus. 


Please, take your time, answer any questions from kids, and be in a prayerful, sensitive mindset. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and encourage you. 



Materials Needed

Gather the following items from the bag you received.

If you did not receive a bag, try to find similar items around your house before you begin. 

  • Communion packs
  • A silver coin
  • Length of cord (representing a whip)
  • Sprig of rose stem (representing crown of thorns)
  • Nails
  • Cloth (representing the temple veil)
  • Small section of sponge

Welcome & Worship

LOADING PLAYER…

The Last Supper

Before you begin

If music helps you set the tone, we recommend streaming some instrumental worship music in the background as you go through this Good Friday experience. There is a great album you can stream free on YouTube right here. 



Element

Communion packs


Introduction

The Last Supper was actually a Passover meal that Jesus celebrated with his closest friends. Ever since God spared his people from the plagues, the nation of Israel had been celebrating this special meal, rich in symbolism. In Egypt, God told them to spread the blood of a lamb over the doorpost of their home and the Death Angel would "pass over" their home and not harm them. Because Jesus shed his blood on the cross to spare us from eternal death, we as Christians take communion, which is a variation of the Passover, to remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made to save us. 


Action

Take Communion together while reading these verses, and then take a few minutes to thank Jesus for the sacrifice he made for us. 


While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth; I will not drunk again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:26-30

The Garden & Betrayal

Element

A silver coin


Introduction

Jesus knew that he would soon be facing a time of betrayal by one of his closest friends, Judas, who turned Jesus over to be arrested for money; 30 pieces of silver. Because of this and the time of intense suffering, humiliation, and loneliness, Jesus knew he was facing, he turned to his Father in heaven in prayer. When we are facing things in our life that are scary or painful, we too should go to the Father with our need and he promised that he would be right there beside us, giving us strength and comfort.


Action

Read these verses and think about what was going through Jesus’ mind and what he was feeling as he prayed that night in the garden.


Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”...Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 

Matthew 26:36-39


Action

While reading these verses, take turns holding the coin and think about a time when someone has betrayed you and what that felt like. 


While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward and, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Matthew 26:47-50


Action

Ask or think about: Have you ever felt betrayed? People, even our friends and family can sometimes let us down, but Jesus said that he would never leave us and never forsake us and that can give us peace in the middle of suffering.

The Trial & Suffering

Elements

length of cord (representing a whip) and a sprig of rose stem (representing the crown of thorns)


Introduction

After Jesus was arrested, he was brought before several courts. He was tried and convicted in a sham trial and then went through as much pain and humiliation as a person could take. And even though he was all-powerful, as God in human form, Jesus humbled himself and obediently endured it, because of his great love for us. In Isaiah 53 it says that he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, yet he did not open his mouth to defend himself.


Action

While reading these verses, tie a knot on the end of the cord to represent a whip. Pass around the thorny stem and carefully touch the thorns to see how sharp they are.


But Pilate had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They striped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then thy led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:26-31


Despite the soldiers mocking him, Jesus really was a king (thought they didn’t know it); not an earthly king, but the King of all Kings and Lord of all lords. He wants to be the king (boss or ruler) of every part of our lives.


Action

Take time to reflect on Jesus’ obedience, despite how difficult it was. Ask or think about areas of your life that you need to turn over to Jesus in obedience. Pray that God will give you the strength to do so.

The Crucifixion

Elements

Nails, Cloth (representing the temple veil), small section of sponge


Introduction

After his arrest, Jesus was crucified. This was a very horrific, painful way to execute someone. Nails were driven into Jesus’ hands and feet into a wooden cross, which was then stood up so that he was hanging on it; left to die.


Action

Read the verses below. Pass around the sponge and smell it. Would you want this to drink, especially if you were really thirsty?


They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up this clothes by casting lots....Two thieves were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

Matthew 27:32-38


The reason Jesus had to die was because of our sin. When we do something wrong, we are really sinning against God and as Jesus hung on the cross, it was as if he was carrying the weight of all the sins of the world (including our own) on his shoulders.


Action

On a piece of paper or Post-It note, write down something you’ve done wrong in the last few weeks and nail it to a piece of wood. If you don’t have wood, carefully pierce the paper with the nail.


While it was a horrible experience for Jesus, it really was an extra good day for us because not only did Jesus take the punishment for our sins, but he also made a way for us to fellowship with God. In the Old Testament, ordinary people couldn’t go into the presence of God; there was a heavy curtain separating us from God, but when Jesus died on the Cross, that curtain in the temple was torn in half.


Action

Take the cloth and rip it in half. Aren’t you thankful that you can now talk to God anytime, anywhere and he is right there listening and speaking to us?



Take some time to worship our Savior, Jesus.

Thank him for saving us, forgiving us, and making a way for us to come to our Father in Heaven!

The Story Isn't Over!

Please join us on Sunday morning for our Easter service!

We will be live at live.lemontcc.org at 10am.