Were You There?
Good Friday Service
Written by Brad Bailey
Westside Vineyard
The following Good Friday service is developed around the theme “Were You There?” to help all
identify with being a part of the events of Christ’s sacrifice.
Below is a full version of the service including four reflections from characters involved. They each
enter the stage at their respective times. They can use costumes that are easily found at a costume
rental store but simple symbolic clothing could be used as well.
If interested one may also get the following from the Westside Vineyard office: PowerPoint for
service, video piece of Isaiah text, and bulletin outlines. Feel free to adapt in any way for any
purpose… but please maintain appropriate credit for writing.
DETAILED DEVELOPMENT:
A/V – Service is designed to be a bit more dramatic in style.
Pre-service - Begins with house lights a bit more dim than usual. Stage dark. Screen lower to
allow larger images
• Pre-Service Multimedia Loop (Can use any cross related loops or video pieces… along with
PowerPoint slides announcing Easter services and other information.)
Opening songs (AV - Keep band minimally lit… able to see them lightly but not brightly)
• Beautiful Scandalous Night (The Choir)
• Were You There (Old Spiritual) – 1st verse - Were you there when they crucified my
Lord?
Short welcome
Welcome to this evening of engaging the most tragic and transforming events in human history.
Tonight we engage the question we just sang... “Were You There?”
The famous Dutch painter painted many events in life… but when he painted the events of God…
he sometimes painted himself into the picture. He painted himself as the Prodigal Son, squandering
money in the taverns with his wife, whom he depicted as a prostitute. In The Raising of the Cross,
he painted himself as one of those who was there…he even kept himself in his modern clothes to
emphasize his personal involvement in the crucifixion.
Tonight we to are invited to find ourselves there.
Prayer: God… Open our hearts tonight… let us discover afresh that we are a part of your story… in
those who fail as well and those in their failure… who receive the most profound mercy and love.
AV - Lights dim to darkness…
Isaiah 53:3-6 on screen
To emphasize the plural responsibility of the suffering of Christ, the following text can be placed on
the screen with words capitalized as shown below. We created a Flash Media piece in which those
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words slowly emerge forward… and then converted to a video format with music. Less than one
minute in length.
Isaiah 53:3-6 (NLT)
“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned OUR
BACKS on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and WE did not care. Yet it was OUR
WEAKNESS he carried; it was OUR SORROWS that weighed him down. And WE thought his
troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for OUR
REBELLION, crushed for OUR SINS. He was beaten so WE could be whole. He was whipped so
WE could be healed. ALL OF US, like sheep, have strayed away. WE have left God’s paths to
follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us ALL.
Begin a progression of series of reflections that come with verse of “Were You There?”, then
Scriptural text read from front off stage, then related character emerging on stage reflecting on their
part in being there, each ending… “Yes I was there. Weren’t we all?”…followed by one minute of
silent reflection.
AV - Throughout each series below:
• Scripture Reader will read from center floor in front of stage. Desire is enough light to note him
but limit spreading onto stage… which should be as dark as possible.
• Character Reflections: Characters should enter from edge of stage curtain… alternating sides and
taking place on the same side of stage. Each will have a clip on wireless microphone or each side
should have one to share. If only one available, one can easily be shared between all for but they
will need to physically return to location of next character to transfer.
• Band / Singers leading transitional verses of “Were You There?” should remain minimally seen
between verses (seated or moved out of site as needed.) Lit lightly not brightly during singing of
verses.
1. “Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?”
Transitional Verse Of “Were You There?”: “Were you there when they nailed him to the
tree?.” (2nd verse of standard song)
Hearing the events: Reading of Luke 23:44-46; Luke 23:44-46
Luke 23:44-46 (NIV)
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for
the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a
loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his
last.
Mark 15: 39 (NIV)
39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he
said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
Reflections of the Roman Guard who recognizes Christ as God’s innocent Son
It started off like just another Passover weekend. Don’t get me wrong.. that is a big week.
Thousands of Jews filling their city… well… now it’s our city. I guess that’s why it’s so intense.
Let’s just say, it’s a high alert time.
They all come to celebrate their Passover Feast, when they escaped from Egyptian slavery. And the
sheep… they bring so many lambs to sacrifice. The noise… the smell.
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Apparently it was the blood of an innocent lamb that helped them escape slavery way back under
the Pharaoh’s rule. Ironic… here they are under our rule now. I guess sacrificing those sheep
doesn’t bring anything that lasts.
Well… then we got the word. This new rabbi of theirs was heading towards Jerusalem…. coming to
the feast. He was more popular than any normal rabbi… They called him Jesus, the Christ… the
anointed one… a savior of some type. Apparently had a lot of religious leaders upset. So there was
going to be a lot to control… but nothing we couldn’t contain. How powerful could this guy be?
(with mildly snide confidence until this point).
“Powerful?”… I can’t think of that idea in the same way again. Was he powerful? He didn’t fight
anyone.
Well, a lot of weird accusations arose. He got arrested…. But none of our Roman leaders wanted
the responsibility for this man. Off to Pilate… then off to Herod… then back to Pilate. He was an
innocent man, but it seemed like nobody could stop what was happening. I guess in the end there
was just too much anger to contain… and we thought. ‘What’s one more crucifixion.’ It wasn’t my
problem. Or so I thought.
(Demeanor changes from light reminiscing to deeper reflection of him now pondering what
unfolded and the effect)
I knew Pilate was uneasy about the innocence of this man. I suppose something about him made me
uneasy too. After we had nailed him and hoisted him up… I kept watching him. There was
something different. Then I heard him cry out something…. not to me… but about me… “Father,
forgive them… they don’t know what they are doing.” Should have been just another weird groan
from one of these crosses. But it pierced me. Maybe we didn’t know what we were doing. Then …
the darkness came upon us… right in the middle of the day!! (Then slowing down to a more
reflective mode.) It was like this man’s death affected the whole earth. Then he gave up his life.
Was the God these people knew once again passing over in judgment? Was this man now the
innocent lamb being sacrificed?
O God…. I had pounded those nails into his hands… pierced his feet. (From off stage… the sound
of pounding spikes into wood.)
Yes… I was there. Weren’t we all?
Silent Reflection: Offering Our Confession Of Sin (Below on screen for one minute):
Offering Our Confession of Sin
In the silence of our hearts let us express our own…
Shameful resistance that crucified Him
Sin that he bore
Separation from God which He endured
2. “Were you there when they failed him in their fear?”
Transitional Verse Of “Were You There?”: “Were you there when they failed him in their
fear?.” (or "Were you there when he called us to the cross?")
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Hearing the events: Reading of Matthew 26:31-46, 55-56
Matthew 26:31-46 (NIV)
31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "’I
will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will
go ahead of you into Galilee." 33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never
will." 34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will
disown me three times." 35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown
you." And all the other disciples said the same. 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place
called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he
said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch
with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to
his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he
asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the
body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this
cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 When he came back, he again
found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more
and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to
them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Matthew 26:55-56 (NIV)
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with
swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not
arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then
all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Reflections of Peter the disciple who fell asleep in garden…tried to fight for him… and
denied him
(Demeanor is that of a broken man… a bit choked up to speak… becoming reflective.)
Three years I was his disciple. I felt so confident… so proud. I guess I thought I was on the
winner’s side… so I must be like him… but I wasn’t like him.
Yeah… I was there that last night. During the Passover meal… he began washing feet… and I
refused him at first. It wasn’t the first time I argued with the Master. Well…after the Passover meal
he took three of us, the three who were closest to him, to the garden at Gethsemane. He told us to
go, watch and pray. But everything had been so intense and I was tired. No one was around that I
could see. It didn’t seem like there was anything to be so worried about. But I suppose now I
know… there was more going on than anything we could see. And then they came… the guards
with their swords to get him.
I was ready for a fight. I pulled out my knife… even got one of their ears. But before we could take
it to the full Jesus ended the whole fight… But how could we not fight?! As He spoke I got it. His
words had a way of making my knife… suddenly look silly… powerless… selfish. He was so
different.
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I realized I really wasn’t like him. Ready to follow him??? When I saw him dragged away…
manhandled by those Roman pagans… despised by the religious leaders… all without a fight.
Well… I began denying I even knew him. So proud of being on his side… part of his chosen… (fast
tone comes to a slow)…now I didn’t even know whose side I was on.
Yeah, he warned me I would deny him. He always seemed to know me better than I knew myself. I
just never could accept what he said about the need to suffer. It all seemed too weak. (Pausing to
ponder further) Yet he was the strongest presence I could ever know… and I wasn’t…
I failed him… but he never gave up on me. (Repeating even more deeply to himself) He never gave
up on me.
But I’ll still never forget failing him that night. I had so much to learn about his faithfulness... and
what it means to follow.
Yea … I was there that night. Weren’t we all?
Silent Reflection: Offering Our Fears and Failures (Below on screen for one minute):
Offering Our Fears and Failures
In the silence of our hearts let us express our own…
Failure to keep watch
Fear in following Him
Failures to Identify with His disgrace
3. “Were you there when he gave us life anew?”
Transitional Verse of “Were You There?”: “Were you there when he gave us life anew?”
Hearing the events: Reading of Luke 8:1-2; Matthew 27:45-46; Matthew 27:55-56; Luke
23:49
Luke 8:1-2 (NIV)
…Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil
spirits and diseases: (including) Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
(Now at the time of the crucifixion…)
Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV)
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:55-56 (NIV)
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care
for his needs. 56 Among them (was)Mary Magdalene…
Luke 23:49 (NIV)
49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a
distance, watching these things.
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Reflections of Mary Magdalene… a changed woman
I’ll never forget the day he first came into our town. This was no mere rabbi. When he came to
me….well…I could sense a force that was bigger, that had more control than anything inside me.
Control? Kind of a strange thing. When it comes to those evil spirits he cast out… I’m not sure who
had control. It’s not like I didn’t have some choices. I let a lot of things into my life… but I just
never really understood what I was giving over. I was selling myself out. I just accepted it. I
thought it had to be that way… that I had to be that kind of person.
But then he came… so much authority. He spoke. I barely remember it, just some sort of battle
within me… and then… freedom … like I’ve never known. Yet it was ME… more ME than ever. It
was as if he knew who I was really meant to be.
That’s when I knew God was a God of new beginnings. Until then… well… God and me…never
saw much chance. But then… it was as if I discovered God was the only one who really ever knew
me. I’ll tell you.. you don’t want to leave that kind of power. So I followed him. I wanted to help
him… and he let me… he let me travel along with his team of followers.
But then we headed to Jerusalem. It got so intense, all excitement at first… But then it was twisted
into so much fear and then anger.. I didn’t understand. I kept waiting for him to stop it… to claim
the authority I’d always seen. But he didn’t.
It just got worse. (Increasingly intense in emotion) He was whipped… his skin ripped open. The
more they beat him… the more the leaders mocked him… and then the people began mocking as
well. Then came the trap of blasphemy. What did these leaders know of blasphemy??!!!. And then
came the shouts… I couldn’t believe what I was hearing…. Shouts… (pensively) to crucify him.
It was then I saw what the God of new beginnings had to do… had to endure..
Looking back now on that first day he cast those powers of evil from my life… I thought I had been
through it all, everything that evil could put a person through. But now I knew… as I saw him torn
up… nailed to that cross… I saw the full consequences of evil…. the cost… His love. His power
changed me that first day… but the love I now saw in his suffering. That really changed me. That
first encounter just set me free… this love… this sacrificial love… would forever lead me on.
Yes I was there. Weren’t we all?
Silent Reflection: Offering Our Gratitude for New Beginnings (Below on screen for one
minute):
Offering Our Gratitude for New Beginnings
In the silence of our hearts let us express our own…
Gratitude for His power to confront the evil that oppresses us
Gratitude for His love to provide a new life… a new beginning
4. “Were you there when he gave us bread and wine?”
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Transitional Verse Of “Were You There?”: “Were you there when he gave us bread and
wine?”
Hearing the events: Reading of John 19:25-27
John 19:25-27 (CEV)
25 Jesus’ mother stood beside his cross …When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with
her, he said to his mother, "This man is now your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "She is now
your mother." From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.
Reflections of John the disciple… now recalling the Last Supper
We had become so close. He was like a brother… and a father… and so much more. Of course I
would care for his mother… Mary… but how could he leave us this way? To watch him die before
my eyes… I never felt so alone.
Then I thought of our Passover meal the night before. What he was trying to tell us about the bread
and his body… the cup and his life being poured out. He wasn’t just dying… he was giving his life.
Could that first Passover in Egypt have just been a prelude to this? My mind began to swirl in
thought. The Egyptian Pharaoh… and all his masses… enslaving God’s own. They were so
defiant… even to the signs of judgment, every plague, every consequence. Until that final
judgment…. of death itself. (Now slowing from a fast swirl of thought.) I watched the crowds turn
against Jesus… and seeing those in positions of power refuse to receive God’s own… Such
defiance… suddenly it was like we were all like Pharaoh in Egypt… fighting God.
Was this a new Passover? Was God setting us free again?
Then I remembered When Jesus was first introduced by the prophet John… “Behold” John
declared, “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The sins of
all.. My sins. As I kept watching I began to realize that he really is up there for me. He’s not just
leaving us… he’s giving himself for us… to us.
Last night… what he was saying is coming so true. ….
Yes…my “Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks,
he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the
same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this,
whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NIV))
Yes… I was there… and now he is here. And he calls us to come and eat… come and drink. So
tonight… let us come. Let us now come and receive this bread representing his body broken for
us… and this cup… representing his blood poured out for us.
(Character leaves stage as a pastor / elder / leader comes to main table and begin breaking main loaf
and distributing to the pairs of people who will serve at different locations. Suggest one station /
pair of servers per fifty people to allow all to be served within 6 to 10 minutes.)
Receiving The Lord’s Communion Meal
During serving of elements, options for musical or visual reflection include montage of The Passion
of the Christ film, original song “Good Friday” by Brad Foster (available via Westside Vineyard) or
any number of short video pieces available from media suppliers.
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An Offering of Worship
Av – House lights can rise a bit
• Were You There (Final verses - Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? And
“Were you there when God raised him from the dead?”)
• Nothing but the Blood (Matt Redman)
• Sweetly Broken (Jeremy Riddle)
• Thank you for cross (Brenton Brown)
Closing benediction and announcements
