Good Friday: remembering His final hours

Good Friday...a time for Christians to focus on the Passion of Jesus Christ, or his suffering and death on the cross. Jesus' final hours on the cross lasted about six hours. These are the events as recorded in Scripture, including just before and immediately following the Crucifixion.

6 a.m.

Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate
(Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37)

Jesus Sent to Herod
(Luke 23:6-12)

7 a.m.

Jesus Returned to Pilate
(Luke 23:11)

Jesus is Sentenced to Death
(Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:23-24; John 19:16)

8 a.m.

Jesus is Led Away to Calvary
(Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

The Crucifixion

9 a.m. - "The Third Hour"

Jesus is Crucified on the Cross
Mark 15:25 - And it was the third hour[a] when they crucified him.
(The third hour in Jewish time would have been 9 a.m.)
Luke 23:34 - And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

The Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus' Clothing
(Mark 15:24)

10 a.m.

Jesus is Insulted and Mocked
Matthew 27:39-40 - And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Mark 15:31 - So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.
Luke 23:36-37 - The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
Luke 23:39 - One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

11 a.m.

Jesus and the Criminal
Luke 23:40-43 - But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus Speaks to Mary and John
John 19:26-27 - When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Noon - "The Sixth Hour"

Darkness Covers the Land
Mark 15:33 - And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

1 p.m.

Jesus Cries Out to the Father
Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus is Thirsty
John 19:28-29 - After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

2 p.m.

It is Finished
John 19:30a - When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!”
Luke 23:46 - Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

3 p.m. - "The Ninth Hour"

Events Following Jesus' Death

The Earthquake
Matthew 27:51-52 - And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

The Centurion - "Surely he was the Son of God!"
(Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:47)

The Soldiers Break the Thieves' Legs
(John 19:31-33)

The Soldier Pierces Jesus Side
(John 19:34)

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
(Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

Why is Good Friday referred to as good? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good. However, the result of Christ’s death for all of humanity is exuberant! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” First Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Today we remember and mourn our Savior's brutal crucifixion...and in three days, He shall rise again!

Related link: The Good Friday Show