Litany for Good Friday
Leader : Jesus spoke words of FORGIVENESS.
He spoke words of forgiveness to those who crucified Him. He spoke these words for people in times past who cried out for one to come and forgive them. He spoke these words to us today saying… “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
People: Father, these words of forgiveness are for me.
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering…
He was crushed for our iniquities, The punishment that brought us peace was on Him.”
Father in Your mercy, hear our cry.
Leader: Jesus spoke words releasing SALVATION.
In His pain and suffering, Jesus spoke words of hope and salvation to a man who was sentenced to die for his actions. To the thief beside Him He said…
“Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”
People: “And everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Father in your mercy, hear our cry.
Leader: Jesus spoke words of LOVE
A sword pierced the heart of His mother Mary as she saw her Son there on the cross. Jesus took time in the middle of His pain to attend to His mother in her time of need saying…
“Woman, here is your son.” And to John His faithful disciple, “Here is your mother.”
People: Many in this season have suffered loss; we remember the words…
“The LORD is near to the broken-hearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Father in our suffering and pain, hear our cry.
Leader: Jesus spoke words of LONELINESS
In His final minutes on the cross Jesus cried out words that fulfilled prophesy written of the coming Messiah. It started with these words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”. David expressed this in Psalm 22 – and the Son of David echoed the cry of loneliness and abandonment.
People: Father hear the cry of Your children as well when we speak the words first given by Your prophets
“How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen,
Or cry out to You… but You do not save?”
We long to have You fulfill Your promise when you said…
“Before you call I will answer
while you are speaking I will hear.”
Father in Your mercy, hear our cry.
Leader: Jesus spoke words of AGONY.
Like David, the Son of David cried out for a drink – saying “I thirst.”
People: “O God, my soul thirsts for You my whole being longs for You
In a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
Like the woman at the well we ask…
LORD, “give us this water so that I will not be thirsty…”
LORD, in Your mercy, hear our cry.
Leader Jesus shouted out words of TRIUMPH
With His last remaining strength, Jesus shouted out in victory – “It is finished!”
The penalty for sin had been paid in full and victory is complete. Hallelujah!
People: “In all these things we are more than conquerors.”
“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Father, hear the shout of Your people!
Leader: Jesus spoke words announcing REUNION
It was time to go home. It was time to trust the Father to now receive His Son.
Jesus spoke these last words before He died…
“Into Your hands I commit My spirit.”
People: Jesus, You said to us
“I go to prepare a place for you.... And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and take you to be with Me that where I am you may be also.”
Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus.
