Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
8-14

Aim
To look at the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

Faith Group
Christian

Time of Year
Lent
Holy Week
Easter

Script
1. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today we are going to think about Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

2. What happened on Good Friday?

3. On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross. On Good Friday, we go to church to venerate the cross.

2. What does the cross remind us of?

3. The cross reminds us that God loves us this much. (Stretch out arms.)

2. What else does the cross remind us of?

3. The cross reminds us of the suffering of Jesus and of his love for God his Father and for us. On Good Friday we thank Jesus for his suffering and his love.

2. What did Jesus say about his own suffering and death?

3. He said, "A man can have no greater love than to give his life for his friends."

4. What happened on Good Friday really started the previous evening. After the Passover meal, Jesus's Last Supper, Jesus and his friends went to the Garden of Olives on Gethsemane Hill. Jesus began to pray ...

Jesus: Father in heaven, comfort me for I am afraid ... I love you even more than I love my life... Help me.

4. Men with lights and swords rushed into the garden and surrounded Jesus and his friends.

Soldiers: Which one is it? Come on, who is Jesus?

Captain: I am the Captain of the Temple Guard. No one move. Judas, which one is Jesus of Nazareth?

Judas: The one I kiss, that is Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus, Master, I greet you with a kiss.

Jesus: Judas, my friend, you betray me with a kiss.

Captain: That is Jesus of Nazareth. Take him prisoner.

Jesus: Judas, you are still my friend. I forgive you.

4. Jesus was taken to the High Priest's house and put under guard. He heard Peter, his oldest and most trusted friend deny him.

Woman: You're a friend of Jesus, aren't you? I've seen you with him. I'm sure.

Peter: Stop asking me about Jesus of Nazareth. I don't know him. I'm not his friend. I'm not his follower. I don't know what you're talking about. I swear I don't know him.

Jesus: Peter, you deny me now, but your courage will return. You will speak my name over all the land. I trust you. I forgive you.

4. Jesus was brought before Pilate. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent. Yet he was afraid of the crowd. They wanted him to condemn Jesus.

Crowd: Crucify him. Crucify him.

Pilate: Why? What harm has he done?

Crowd: Crucify him. Crucify him.

Pilate: I will flog him and let him go.

Crowd: No. Crucify him. Crucify him.

Pilate: What am I to do? So be it. I pass sentence of death. Take Jesus of Nazareth to Calvary and crucify him.

5. Jesus was taken away and nailed to a cross on the hill of Calvary.
While he hung on the cross, some people in the crowd mocked him.

Person 1: Jesus of Nazareth, you helped others, now help yourself.

Person 2: Look where all your preaching and teaching got you.

Person 3: Work a miracle now. Save yourself.

5. Jesus forgave those who jeered.
Beside him, on a cross, was a thief. He did not jeer.

Thief : Jesus of Nazareth, you are the Son of God. Remember me when you meet your Father again.

Jesus: Believe me, friend, I tell you, this day you will be with me in my Father's house.

5. Jesus wanted to be closer to God his Father. He wanted to give his suffering and his love to God. He wanted to put himself into God's hands. After three hours on the cross, he raised his head for the last time and said...

Jesus: Father, into your hands I give myself

5. Then he bowed his head and died.

(Pause.)

3. Even through all his pain and suffering, Jesus never lost faith in God his Father and he even forgave all those who hurt him.
Dear Lord, help us to forgive and love all people, no matter who they are or what they do to us.
Lord hear us...

All: Lord graciously hear us.

4. Dear Lord, help us to keep our faith in God, especially when things go wrong and we feel like giving up.
Lord hear us...

All: Lord graciously hear us.

5. Let us now say together the Lord's Prayer. Our Father...

6. We will now sing "When I needed a neighbour" by Sydney Carter (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 800).