The Way of the Cross

The Devotions for Good Friday for families +++

Good Friday, April 10, 2020 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour Indiana

Opening: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mark 8:35-36

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Following the leader can be a game. Jesus said it is also an important way of living. But it is important to choose the right leader. Jesus is the right leader, because he is the way, the truth, the life.

• To follow him means to deny ourselves—that means we don’t just do what we want. Our sinful hearts can lead us to be unkind to others, selfish.

• But Jesus shows what it means to love. He gave up his life in order that you and I would have true life. Today, let us follow him to the cross and see all that he has done in love for us.

Turn the page and speak together with me the sentence, and the prayer.

Before Jesus went to the cross He went to the Garden to Pray. Dear Jesus , give me courage to follow you. Matthew 26: 36-41 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Praying is important. It is how we communicate with God. Knowing he was going to be betrayed, Jesus went to the Garden to pray to His Father. He did not ask to be relieved of the burden of saving us.

Look now at your coloring book page. To give you an idea on how you might color it, watch as artist Patti Miller works with it.

Consider the Art

In this drawing we see Jesus praying. The leaves of the garden surround him and it seems as though they also bend down to comfort Jesus. The chalice beside him represents the cup of suffering that Jesus will endure for each of us and the star at the top reminds us of the light of hope in the darkness of the Garden. Like the star that led the wisemen at Jesus’ birth, this star represents the hope that we all have because of the suffering Jesus.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for praying for me. Help me to pray to my heavenly Father, too. Amen

Please turn the page

Since we have talked about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, please join in singing “Go to Dark Gethsemane” verse 1 Hymn Verse: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” - Vs. 1 Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter’s pow’r; Your Redeemer’s conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away; Learn from Jesus Christ to pray.

We speak together the sentence and prayer:

Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. Dear Jesus, you make all things right.

Hear now the works of Mark 14:43-46

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him.

Now look at the coloring page to your left. You see a soldier’s hand holding Jesus’s arm, which has a rope tied around it. He has been betrayed and arrested. Watch how the artist begins her work to give you an idea of how to do this at home.

Consider the Art In this drawing we see the hand of Jesus and the hand of the Soldier who captured Jesus. Jesus’ hand is relaxed and willing to surrender. It does not fight back. It is a hand that is willing to give its life for the life of the world. The hand of the soldier is clenching and angry. This hand represents the sin that led Jesus away and to the cross to die.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, Judas betrayed you. You could have escaped, but chose to suffer for me. Thank you for forgiving me when I betray you with my words and actions. Amen

Please turn the page. Let us speak together the sentence and prayer:

Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate. Dear Jesus, great is your faithfulness. Now Hear a reading from Mark 15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Pontius Pilate was a powerful governor, but he also was under the emperor. He knows Jesus is innocent but is worried about getting into trouble if he lets him go.

Watch now as the artist adds color to the drawing to give you an idea of how you can do it at home Consider the Art This drawing is a portrait of Pontius Pilate. He is amazed at the words of Jesus and he is also confused. He holds his head in his hand as he thinks about what he should do with Jesus. Pilate lets the people decide and he leads Jesus before them. They shout back in anger. See the lines that look like a cross around Pilate’s head? They are the shouts of the angry people in Pilate’s ear. They are the shouts that lead Jesus closer and closer to the cross.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you were much stronger than Pilate. You are much wiser, too. Even though he was trying to get himself out of trouble, you suffered to save me from the trouble my sins deserve. Amen

Please turn the page. We speak together the sentence and prayer:

Jesus was crowned with thorns. Dear Jesus, you are our Lord and King. Listen now to a reading from John 19. Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Look at the picture of Jesus on the cross, with thorns on his head and surrounding his body. Watch as the artist does her work, giving you ideas on how you can fill this in at home….

Consider the Art This is a drawing of Jesus in a purple robe and a crown of thorns on his head. The crown was twisted and painful. Around the cross you can see more of the twisted thorn branches. They represent the pain that Jesus endured as our King. Even his purple robe is twisted and falling, and his head is bowed in shame. His eyes are closed as He thinks only thoughts of love and kindness towards those who cause this pain. This love and kindness leads Jesus, our King, one step closer to the cross.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, even getting a splinter is very painful. How much pain you suffered for me shows your great love! Thank you for enduring for me the pain my sins deserve. Amen

Let’s sing verse 2 of “Go to Dark Gethsemane”

Hymn Verse: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” - Vs. 2 Follow to the judgment hall, View the Lord of life arraigned; Oh, the wormwood and the gall! Oh, the pangs His soul sustained! Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; Learn from Him to bear the cross.

Please turn the page. Let us speak the sentence and pray together:

Jesus carried the cross. Dear Jesus, thank you for your great compassion. Hear now a reading from John 19. When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

Look now to the page on the left. Jesus is carrying a heavy cross. Watch as the artist colors the page to see how you might do that…

Consider the Art In this drawing we see Jesus bent down by the weight of the cross. Both arms embrace the cross. They represent a strong and willing embrace. This embrace represents Jesus’ great care and compassion. He holds tight to the cross and endures its weight because He knows the way of the Cross leads us, His people, to life and salvation.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, the cross must have been heavy for you to carry. Even heavier was the burden of my sins. Thank you for carrying them, for they are too heavy for me. Amen

Please turn the page. We speak together the sentence and prayer

Jesus was Crucified Dear Jesus, thank you for bearing our sin in your body.

Hear now from the Gospel of John, chapter 19:

And He went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

Look now at the coloring page. You can see Jesus, as well as the hands of the criminals crucified with him. Watch now as the artist adds color to the page to give you an idea on how to color it….

Consider the Art This a drawing of the crucified Jesus. See the wood of the cross. See the clouds as they start to gather around. See the hands of the others on either side. Above his head is a sign that calls Him King. See the body of Jesus. His body was crucified and in his body he led all our sins to the cross and paid the penalty for them there.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners like me. You were crucified with sinners on the cross. Help all of us sinners to know your love saves us from our sin. Amen

Please turn the page. We speak together the sentence and prayer:

Jesus promised His Kingdom to the believing thief. Dear Jesus, give us faith that believes your Word.

Hear now from Luke 23:

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 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.”

Look now at the coloring page.

One of the two criminals crucified with Jesus looked to Him with faith. Jesus died for that man’s sins and yours and promised that he would join him in Paradise. One day, we will meet him there. Watch now as the artist adds color…

Consider the Art In this drawing we see the believing thief looking with open eyes at Jesus. In front of him we see the open Word of God. It was the Word that created faith in the heart of the thief. At the bottom around the thief, we see the waters of Holy Baptism. It is the Word of God connected to the waters of Holy Baptism that created saving faith in each of us.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you suffered pain and death for each one of my sins. Thank you for washing my sins away in baptism and making me part of your kingdom forever. Amen

Let us sing v 3 of “Go to Dark Gethsemane”

Hymn Verse: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” - Vs. 3 Calv’ry’s mournful mountain climb; There, adoring at His feet, Mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete. “It is finished!” hear Him cry; Learn from Jesus Christ to die. Please turn the page. We speak the sentence and pray together.

Jesus died on the cross. Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins.

Hear now from Luke 23:

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 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.

Look now at the coloring page. The feet of Jesus, nailed to the cross, are shown, and also two streams flowing. The Bible tells us blood and water flowed from his side, streams of life for us. Watch now as the artist begins coloring to give you ideas….

Consider the Art In this drawing we see the feet of Jesus nailed to the cross. We see the water flowing down on the left and we see the blood flowing down on the right. Behind the cross we see the darkness that covered the land. There is no sun. There is no light. The darkness of sin has brought death to Jesus’ body. On Easter we will have a new drawing to discover and color. It will be light and resurrection. It will be full of color, hope and also of promise, the promise of life everlasting with our Lord.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you paid for my sins not with money, but with your own precious blood. Thank you also for rising for me to give me new life. Help me be thankful today for your love. Amen

Let’s now sing verse 4 of Go to Dark Gethsemane:

Hymn Verse: “Go to Dark Gethsemane” - Vs. 4 Early hasten to the tomb

Where they laid His breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken Him away? Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.

Turn the page and let us pray the Lord’s Prayer together…

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you for joining us for this service today to honor Jesus for what he did to save us. We hope you will join with us Sunday to celebrate how he rose from death and still lives for us today. We hope that this coloring book helps you remember how Jesus loves you!

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you now and always. Amen

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Leader: Pastor Blomenberg

Reader: Vicar Ronchetto Organist: Mr. Paul Scheiderer

Artist: Mrs. Patti Miller