Part One
It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.  “Here is your King,” Pilate said to the Jews.  But they shouted, “Take Him away!  Crucify Him!”  “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.  “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.  Finally, Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified.  So, the soldiers took charge of Jesus.  Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  Here they crucified Him, and with Him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross.  It read: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.  Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.  The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ’The King of the Jews,’ but that this Man claimed to be King of the Jews.”  Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”  When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining.  This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.  “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another.  “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”  This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.”  So this is what the soldiers did. Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed.  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.”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Prince of Peace.  When You were mocked, You did not respond with harsh words.  When You were tormented, You did not react in anger.  When You were nailed to the cross, You prayed for forgiveness for those who caused You to suffer.  You intercede with the Father for our forgiveness.  Give to us, also, the virtues of gentleness, patience, and a forgiving spirit, that we may repay evil with good.  Teach us also to love our enemies, and as children of the heavenly Father, to live in peace with all people.  Amen.

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Part Two
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him.  They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”  The soldiers also came up and mocked Him.  They offered Him wine vinegar and said, “If You are the king of the Jews, save Yourself.”  There was a written notice above Him, which read: “This is The King of the Jews.”  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, 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.  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.”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your infinite mercy You heard the plea of the thief dying on the cross next to You.  Hear our prayers, as well, and  open our hearts in mercy to welcome those who turn to You, and rejoice in their salvation.  When our last hour comes, hold us firm in the one true faith, and bring us to live with You in Paradise.  Amen.

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Part Three
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  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.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, while You suffered the agony of the cross, Your thoughts turned to the welfare of others.  Your concern was for Your mother in her sorrow.  We pray that You would regard with pity all who mourn.  Care for their needs and grant them Your peace.  Amen.

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Part Four
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”  Which means, “My God, My

God, why have You forsaken Me?”  When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Let us pray:

Lord God, Father of all people and Creator of all that exists, You hold all people in Your power.  We pray that You would not forsake the world which Your Son died to redeem.  Even though we still see the influence of sin and evil all around us, assure us of Your continued presence in our midst.  Help us to know Your love in our lives, so we can show Your presence to others.  Amen.

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Part Five
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the one who sent Me.  Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:37-42)

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

Let us pray:

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, You endured not only physical pain but also spiritual anguish on the cross in our place.  We thirst for the healing only You can provide.  When we find ourselves suffering, give us the peace of forgiveness and the patience to endure the pain that comes our way.  Comfort us with the memory of the cross, and use this to give us the strength we need to bear our burdens.  Amen.

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Part Six
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not manmade, that is to say, not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  For this reason Christ is the Mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Author and Finisher of our faith.  You did not stop short of finishing the task given to You by Your Father.  We pray that You would complete in us also everything that You intend for us, so that as children of the heavenly Father, we may live for His glory.  Amen.

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Part Seven
It was now about the ninth hour, and darkness had come over the whole land since the sixth hour, for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”  When He had said this, He breathed His last.  When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, as You gave Your life on the cross in our place, You commended Your spirit into the loving hands of Your heavenly Father.  Give us the grace to trust in You for all things.  When our last hour comes, grant us peace that we may close our eyes with confidence, knowing that we also will dwell forever in the hands of our heavenly Father.  Amen.

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