Christ in the Centre - Good Friday 2005 - LEICESTER

 

John the Baptist (played by Mark Wood) is preaching to the crowds on the banks of the River Jordan (outside Leicester Cathedral).

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
`Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "   Matthew 3:3

 

 

 

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Jesus (played by James Burke-Dunsmore) appears on the banks of the River Jordan to meet John the Baptist.

 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  Matthew 3:13

 

 

 

 

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Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist.

 

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  Matthew 3:17

 

 

 

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Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men.  The religious leaders begin to be concerned about his authority.

 

 

 

 

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Jesus and his followers journey throughout the land.

 

 

 

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Satan (played by Chin Kong Yien) tempts Jesus.

 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  Matthew 4:1

 

 

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Jesus heals a blind man (played by Andrew Dawes).

 

... and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.  Matthew 4:24

 

 

 

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Jesus welcomes the children and ministers to the crowds.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

The fame of Jesus spreads and many came to him to be healed.  His authority continues to unsettle the religious leaders.

 

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Jesus warns Simon Peter (played by Paul Campbell) to beware the influence of Satan.

Jesus’ disciples, especially Peter, recognise Him to be the Christ but do not understand when he says that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die.  (This was the reason that He came into the world, “to die for our sins, according to the scriptures.”  1 Corinthians 15:3).  He tells them that He will rise again after three days.  They travel to Jerusalem .

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Jesus and his followers arrive in Jerusalem (Town Hall Square) after having preached and told parables throughout the land.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"  Matthew 21:10

 

 

 

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Judas (played by Naz Choudhury) arranges with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Priest played by Keith Woolhouse).

 

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. Matthew 26:3,4

 

 

 

 

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After Arriving in Jerusalem , Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples and tells them that there will be a new covenant with God through His body and His blood.  Jesus leaves for Gethsemane where he prays to His Father to take the cup of suffering away from Him.  He submits to the will of His Father and is strengthened by an angel (played by Tracey Holderness) who watches over Jesus while he prays.

"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death."  Matthew 26,38

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The disciples sleep and are roused by the arrival of a mob, led by Judas, who have come to arrest Jesus.

... 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. Matthew 26: 47

 

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Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.

 

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.  Matthew 26: 48, 49

 

 

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Jesus heals the ear of the servant (played by Matthew Lee) which had been cut off in the initial fight.

 

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.  Luke 22: 50, 51

 

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Jesus is arrested and bound by the temple guards.

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ...  John 18: 12

 

 

 

 

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Jesus is taken to the house of Annas (played by James Ireland), the powerful former High Priest, for questioning. 

 

... and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. John 18: 13

 

 

 

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Then an illegal trial by the Sanhedrin is held and Jesus is convicted of blasphemy.  Caiphas (played by David Briggs) asks for witnesses of the supposed blasphemy.

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together ...

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, `I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " Yet even then their testimony did not agree.  Mark 14: 54-59

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Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

They all condemned him as worthy of death.  Mark 14: 60-64

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Jesus is sent to Herod (played by Dave Hawkridge).

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.  Luke 23: 6-9

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Jesus is taken to the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate (played by Mark Wood) for the death penalty to be carried out.  Pilate can see no wrong in Jesus and tries to release Him but is under great pressure from the religious authorities. 

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.  Luke 23: 13-16

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Pilate decides to have Jesus whipped to satisfy the demand for punishment.   The guards scourge Jesus with whips 39 times.

 

 

 

 

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Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.  Matthew 27: 15 - 18

Then he released Barabbas to them. Matthew 27: 26

 

 

 

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Pilate washes his hands of the matter.

 

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" Matthew 27: 24

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Jesus is made to carry a cross.  

 

 

 

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Jesus is exhausted and stumbles on the long walk from Jerusalem (Town Hall Square) to Calvary (Humberstone Gate).

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. Matthew 27: 32

 

 

 

 

 

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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." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23: 33-34

 

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Two other criminals are crucified alongside Jesus.

 

It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Mark 15: 25 - 26

 

 

 

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One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. "

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."  Luke 23: 39 - 43

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The words Jesus speaks from the cross are full of love and forgiveness.  The sky grows dark as Jesus bears the full weight of the sins of mankind, which separates Him from His Father.  When all Jesus’ work is complete, He gives up His spirit and dies.

Here just before he dies, he is telling one of his disciples, John (played by Paul Collins), to look after his mother, Mary (played by Jane Wood).

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19: 26 - 27

 

 

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The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  
John 19: 32 - 34

 

 

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The crowd leave the scene and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus collect the body of Jesus for burial.  Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene are there also.

 

Later, 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.  John 19: 38 - 39

 

 

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Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and John, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.  Matthew 27: 55 - 56

 

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When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

After a time of prayer, worship and an address from the Rt. Rev. Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester ...

 

 

 

 

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... The glorious Resurrection.   

The disciples are dismayed at the loss of Jesus, but they had forgotten that He had said that He would rise again …

"On the third day, he rose again ..."

Satan is defeated.

Jesus is alive!  Halleluiah!

 

 

 

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When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:8

 

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