Responsive Reading for Good Friday or the End of Lent

This is a responsive reading for use near the end of Lent or on Good Friday. You can download a PDF of this resource by clicking here.

With a kiss of betrayal, Judas believed he was instigating the liberation of Israel.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through that kiss, Jesus made a way for the liberation of all people.
See, I am making all things new!

With a charge of blasphemy, the elders believed they were protecting their religion.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through that charge, Jesus showed that true religion is about relationship with God and not human structures.
See, I am making all things new!

With a sentence of death, the Roman Empire believed they were preserving power through violence.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through that death sentence, Jesus revealed violence to be no match for sacrifice.
See, I am making all things new!

With obedience to duty, the soldiers believed they were bringing order and peace to the world by way of a political kingdom.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through that obedience, Jesus brought order and peace to the world by way of a heavenly kingdom.
See, I am making all things new!

With jeers of insult, observers at Calvary believed they were undermining Jesus’ identity and purpose.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through those jeers, Jesus demonstrated that true identity and purpose are defined by God alone.
See, I am making all things new!

With a shout of triumph, the Accuser believed he was seeing his hold on the world solidified.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through that shout, Jesus showed that the arrogance of the Evil One was blinding.
See, I am making all things new!

With three days of mourning, Jesus’ followers believed they were closing this chapter of their lives.
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Through those three days, Jesus accomplished not an end but a beginning.
See, I am making all things new!

Header image by Flickr user Claudio Ungari. Used under Creative Commons License. Cropped from Original.