good friday devotional

This is the sixth in our series of Holy Week devotionals.


Today we are looking at the final day of Jesus’s life before His death, burial and resurrection. This is the day often referred to as Good Friday. I struggle with that name sometimes. I know that ultimately this day is very good for us as believers. Jesus’s death led to His ultimate defeat over the grave and our salvation from sin. There is no doubt about that being not just good, but miraculously great! However, when we look at what Jesus went through to make that happen, good is not the word that comes to mind. Horrific gets a little closer, disturbing even. Let’s let Scripture share what He went through today.


“So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.” John 18:12-13


“Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.” Mark 14:55


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


“Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.” Matthew 27:1-2


“But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’ And he said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they kept shouting all the more, saying, ‘Crucify Him!’” Matthew 27:20-23


“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.” Matthew 27:27-31


“Then they brought Him to the pace Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.” Mark 15:22


“And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The inscription of the charge against Him read, ‘THE KING OF THE JEWS.’” Mark 15:24-26


“And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him, He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’’ The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.” Matthew 27:39-44


“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Matthew 27:46


“And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.” Mark 15:37


He chose to go through all of this for you and for me because “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8