A Good Friday Meditation

This is the core of the meditation I used on Good Friday

Step	Reference	Comment
Prayer	Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.	Jesus ~You know what you have to do. Nevertheless you would rather not. What is important to You is not yourself, your likes and dislikes, but your Fathers. So you pray, asking your Father if this is really necessary. “Do I have to accept this challenge?” Now understanding that this is the only way, you accept Gods way willingly. You realise that this is the only way I can be saved. You will submit to this for me.
Betrayal	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. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.	The betrayer arrives with a friendly greeting. He hands you over to the leaders of your people. They arrest you and you submit to their power. Your ordeal has started. Although you know that I too will betray you, you do this for me.
Sanhedrin	The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, He has spoken blasphemy! What do you think? He is worthy of death, they answered.	The 71 members of the ruling council interrogate you. They are determined to find evidence they can use to put you to death. Its difficult for them, but they do find the evidence they need – with your help! The evidence is good but the conviction is false. The truth cannot be blasphemy. They have decided -all of them. You do not protest, or attempt to argue your case. I use your name in inappropriate ways, and am guilty as charged I am in your thoughts as you prepare to die for me.
Peter	About an hour later another asserted, Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean. Peter replied, Man, I don't know what you're talking about! Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed.	Your closest friend is so scared of what's happening that he even denies that he knows of you! When he realizes what he's done, the reality of it is almost too much for him. For you, for now, you face the future all alone. Even though I have denied you on many occasions and in many different ways, and you know that I too would leave you alone, to go on for me
Guards	The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, Prophesy! Who hit you? And they said many other insulting things to him.	The guards are just bullies, they're not allowed to do anything really harmful, a few cuts & bruises is the worst you'll get here, but it's the humiliation that really hurts. You keep quiet. I think you could answer their question, but that is not the way it has to be. Many times I have avoided lesser mockery than you now suffer, when I could have defended your name Despite this you suffer in silence for me.
Pilate	Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.	The puppet governor has no real power – he's caught between Rome and the Jews. What does he really understand? You give him a glimpse of something, but he doesn't see it, he's too preoccupied with his political problems. How often have I missed a glimpse of your kingdom because I'm so focussed on my own problems? In your kingdom you are preparing a place for me.
Crowd	Pilate said to the crowd “As you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” With one voice they cried out, Away with this man! They kept shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him!	The crowd is fickle, you didn't give them what they wanted, never mind that there was something better to be had. They couldn't or wouldn't see that. No doubt their leaders have helped them come to that conclusion. Sometimes I allow myself to be manipulated, and find myself with those screaming for your blood! You can see through it all – to salvation for me.
Simon	A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.	After the beatings and with the weight of the cross you stumble and fall. Any one would, but you are NOT anyone. The soldiers don't care, they just grab the nearest person and press him into service. A short time of welcome relief. How can God show weakness and frailty? Its a mystery that I am not prepared to probe, and an example that I am unwilling to follow. Even in your weakness you show no self pity, just your love for me.
Women	A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.	What can they do? They can't do anything. That's not your reaction, you see things that they have no idea of. You try to warn them, but does it get through? The people following you and painfully aware of the loss they will suffer. I too am pre-occupied with my own sufferings You know that you are going through these sufferings for me.
Crucifixion	When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals— one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.	The sentence is carried out. An innocent man. A criminals death. Dying with the lowest of the low. In unimaginable pain, struggling for breath, fighting just to hang on to life because there is something you want to say. “Forgive them” Do I forgive as I should? Even so, your forgiveness is also for me.
Death	When he had received the drink, Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.	And now you are gone. God is dead? And you let it happen. For me.
Burial	Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.	Now in death you are honoured, as you had not been in life. The rich look after your body, and ensure that you get a proper burial. Your life has been spent, your mission is complete You have made friendship with God possible for me.

Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.