GOOD
FRIDAY TENENBRAE
7
April 2023
NOTES
ON TODAY’S LITURGY
Our
service today is a continuation of the worship
which began last
evening, Maundy Thursday. Today, we gather to
celebrate our Lord’s
sacrifice on the cross. The Good Friday liturgy is
both an austere
time of reflection and intercession, as well as an
adoration of
Christ, the sacrificial lamb.
TENEBRAE
is a Latin word meaning “darkness” or “shadows”.
This
traditional type of Good Friday service originated
more than a
thousand years ago. The Tenebrae Service is
characterized by a
successive extinguishing of candles as the Passion
narrative is read. This is representative of the
approaching end of our Lord’s life. At the
conclusion of the service, the strepidus,
a harsh noise, is heard representing the closing
of Jesus’ tomb.
Again,
there is no Benediction as our service does not
really end today, but
rather continues on toward its climax, the
celebration of our Lord’s
Resurrection on Easter morning.
The
congregation
and Presiding and Assisting ministers enter in
silence.
WELCOME
AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stand
Invocation
419
Savior,
When in Dust to Thee LSB
419 sts. 1,
1 Savior,
when in dust to Thee
Low
we
bow the_adoring knee;
When,
repentant,
to the skies
Scarce
we
lift our weeping eyes;
O,
by
all Thy pains and woe
Suffered
once
for us below,
Bending
from
Thy throne on high,
Hear
our
penitential cry!
3 By
Thine hour of dire despair,
By
Thine
agony of prayer,
By
the
cross, the nail, the thorn,
Piercing
spear,
and torturing scorn,
By
the
gloom that veiled the skies
O’er
the
dreadful sacrifice,
Listen
to
our humble sigh;
Hear
our
penitential cry!
Text:
Public
domain
COLLECT
OF
THE DAY
P Let
us pray.
Almighty
God,
graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord
Jesus
Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into
the hands of
sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the
same Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
THE
PASSION
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
P The
Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighteenth
chapter.
Reading: John
18:1–11 (Betrayal and arrest of Jesus)
When
Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his
disciples across
the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he
and his
disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also
knew the place,
for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So
Judas, having
procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the
chief priests
and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and
torches and weapons.
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came
forward and
said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him,
“Jesus of
Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas,
who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said
to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the
ground. So he
asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said,
“Jesus of
Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.
So, if you
seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the
word that he
had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not
one.” Then
Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the
high priest's
servant and
cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was
Malchus.) So Jesus
said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall
I not drink
the cup that the Father has given me?”
The
First candle is extinguished.
449
O
Sacred Head, Now Wounded LSB
449 sts. 1, 3
1 O
sacred Head, now wounded,
With
grief
and shame weighed down,
Now
scornfully
surrounded
With
thorns,
Thine only crown.
O
sacred Head, what glory,
What
bliss,
till now was Thine!
Yet,
though
despised and gory,
I
joy to call Thee mine.
3 What
language shall I borrow
To
thank
Thee, dearest Friend,
For
this
Thy dying sorrow,
Thy
pity
without end?
O
make me Thine forever!
And
should
I fainting be,
Lord,
let
me never, never,
Outlive
my
love for Thee.
Text:
attr.
Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153;
German
version, Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76;
tr.
The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune:
Hans
Leo Hassler, 1564–1612
Text:
©
1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by
permission: LSB Hymn License
no. 110004199
Tune:
Public
domain
Reading:
John
18:12–27 (Jesus before the High Priest and the Denial
of Peter)
So
the band of soldiers and their captain and the
officers of the Jews
arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to
Annas, for he was
the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest
that year. It was
Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be
expedient that one
man should die for the people.
Simon
Peter
followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since
that
disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with
Jesus into the
court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at
the door. So the
other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went
out and spoke
to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and
brought Peter in.
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also
are not one
of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am
not.” Now the
servants and
officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was
cold, and they were
standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with
them, standing
and warming himself.
The
high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples
and his
teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to
the world. I
have always taught in synagogues and in the temple,
where all Jews
come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do
you ask me? Ask
those who have heard me what I said to them; they know
what I said.”
When he had said these things, one of the officers
standing by struck
Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer
the high
priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong,
bear
witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right,
why do you
strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the
high priest.
Now
Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they
said to him,
“You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He
denied it
and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high
priest, a
relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,
asked, “Did I not
see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied
it, and at once
a rooster crowed.
The
Second candle is extinguished.
431
Not
All the Blood of Beasts LSB
431 sts. 1–2,
4
1 Not
all the blood of beasts
On
Jewish
altars slain
Could
give
the guilty conscience peace
Or
wash
away the stain.
2 But
Christ, the heav’nly
Lamb,
Takes
all
our sins away;
A
sacrifice of nobler name
And
richer
blood than they.
4 My
soul looks back to see
The
burden
Thou didst bear
When
hanging
on the cursèd
tree;
I
know my guilt was there.
Text:
Isaac
Watts, 1674–1748,
alt.Tune:
William Daman, c. 1540–1591Text
and
tune: Public domain
Reading: John 18:28–40 (Jesus before
Pilate)
Then
they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the
governor's
headquarters. It
was early morning. They themselves did not enter the
governor's
headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but
could eat the
Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said,
“What accusation
do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If
this man
were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him
over to you.”
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge
him by your own
law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us
to put
anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that
Jesus had
spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to
die.
So
Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus
and said to
him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered,
“Do you
say this of your own accord, or did others say it to
you about me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the
chief priests
have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were
of this world,
my servants would have been fighting, that I might not
be delivered
over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the
world.” Then
Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus
answered, “You
say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and
for this
purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to
the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to
him, “What is truth?”
After
he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and
told them, “I
find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I
should release one
man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to
release to you the
King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this
man, but
Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
The
Third candle is extinguished.
430
My
Song Is Love Unknown LSB
430 sts. 1, 3–4
1 My
song is love unknown,
My
Savior’s
love to me,
Love
to
the loveless shown
That
they
might lovely be.
Oh,
who
am I
That
for
my sake
My
Lord
should take
Frail
flesh
and die?
3 Sometimes
they strew His way
And
His
sweet praises sing;
Resounding
all
the day
Hosannas
to
their King.
Then
“Crucify!”
Is
all
their breath,
And
for
His death
They
thirst
and cry.
4 Why,
what hath my Lord done?
What
makes
this rage and spite?
He
made
the lame to run,
He
gave
the blind their sight.
Sweet
injuries!
Yet
they
at these
Themselves
displease
And
’gainst
Him rise.
Text:
Samuel
Crossman, c. 1624–1683Tune:
John N. Ireland, 1879–1962Text:
Public
domain
Tune:
©
John Ireland Trust. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no.
110004199
Reading:
John
19:1–16a (Jesus Prepared for Crucifixion)
Then
Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers
twisted together
a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed
him in a purple
robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the
Jews!” and
struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and
said to them,
“See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know
that I find no
guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of
thorns and
the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the
man!” When the
chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried
out, “Crucify
him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him
yourselves and
crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews
answered him,
“We have a law, and according to that law he ought to
die because
he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard
this
statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his
headquarters again
and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus
gave him no
answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to
me? Do you
not know that I have authority to release you and
authority to
crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no
authority
over me at all unless it had been given you from
above. Therefore he
who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
From
then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews
cried out, “If
you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend.
Everyone who makes
himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard
these words,
he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat
at a place
called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It
was about the
sixth hour. He
said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out,
“Away
with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to
them, “Shall
I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We
have no
king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to
be crucified.
The
fourth candle is extinguished.
425
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross LSB
425 sts. 1, 3
1 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.
3 See,
from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow
and
love flow mingled down!
Did
e’er
such love and sorrow meet
Or
thorns
compose so rich a crown
Text:
Isaac
Watts, 1674–1748
Tune:
Lowell
Mason, 1792–1872
Text
and
tune: Public domain
Reading: John 19:16b–24 (The
Crucifixion of Jesus)
So
they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own
cross, to the place
called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is
called Golgotha.
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one
on either
side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an
inscription and
put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the
King of the
Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the
place where
Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was
written in Aramaic,
in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the
Jews said to
Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but
rather,
‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate
answered, “What
I have written I have written.”
When
the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his
garments and divided
them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also
his tunic. But
the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to
bottom, so
they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but
cast lots for it
to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the
Scripture which
says,
“They
divided my garments among them,
and
for my clothing they cast lots.”
So
the soldiers did these things.
439
O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken LSB
439 sts. 1–2,
4
1 O
dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That
such
sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of
what
great crime hast Thou to make confession,
What
dark
transgression?
2 They
crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge
Thee;
With
cruel
mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They
give
Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They
crucify
Thee.
4 What
punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The
Shepherd
dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The
Master
pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who
would
not know Him.
Text:
Johann
Heermann, 1585–1647;
tr.
Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78,
alt.
Tune:
Johann
Crüger,
1598–1662
Text
and
tune: Public domain
Reading:
John 19:25–30 (Jesus’ Mother and His Death)
[But]
standing
by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw
his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing
nearby, he said to
his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to
the
disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour
the disciple
took her to his own home.
After
this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said
(to fulfill the
Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood
there, so
they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop
branch and held
it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour
wine, he said, “It
is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his
spirit.
The
fifth candle is extinguished.
447
Jesus, in Your Dying Woes LSB
447 sts. 1, 7, 13, 16
1 Jesus,
in Your dying woes,
Even
while
Your lifeblood flows,
Craving
pardon
for Your foes:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
7 Jesus,
loving to the end
Her
whose
heart Your sorrows rend,
And
Your
dearest human friend:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
13 Jesus,
in Your thirst and pain,
While
Your
wounds Your lifeblood drain,
Thirsting
more
our love to gain:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
16 Jesus,
all our ransom paid,
All
Your
Father’s
will obeyed;
By
Your
suff’rings
perfect made:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
Reading: John 19:31–42 (Jesus’ Side
Is Pierced)
Since
it
was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies
would not
remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath
was a high day),
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken
and that they
might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke
the legs of the
first, and of the other who had been crucified with
him. But when
they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not
break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his
side with a
spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He
who saw it has
borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that
he is
telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these
things took
place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one
of his bones
will be broken.” And again another Scripture says,
“They will
look on him whom they have pierced.”
After
these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple
of Jesus, but
secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he
might take away
the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So
he came and
took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had
come to Jesus by
night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes,
about seventy-five
pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and
bound it in
linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom
of the Jews.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a
garden, and in
the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been
laid. So because
of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was
close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.
The
sixth candle is extinguished.
761
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me LSB
761 sts. 1, 3
1 Rock
of Ages, cleft for me,
Let
me
hide myself in Thee;
Let
the
water and the blood,
From
Thy
riven side which flowed,
Be
of
sin the double cure:
Cleanse
me
from its guilt and pow’r.
3 Nothing
in my hand I bring;
Simply
to
Thy cross I cling.
Naked,
come
to Thee for dress;
Helpless,
look
to Thee for grace;
Foul,
I
to the fountain fly;
Wash
me,
Savior, or I die.
Text:
Augustus M. Toplady, 1740–78Tune:
Thomas
Hastings, 1784–1872Text and tune: Public domain
Silence
SERMON
Good
Friday April 9, 2023 The St. Matthew Passion
What
the Cross is Not
Everything
today gets analyzed and judged based on politics,
race, gender, and
economics. Even Christ’s crucifixion. I read just such
an
examination of Jesus’ death on the cross a few weeks
ago. I
absolutely disagree with the author’s ideas. But it’s
important
sometimes to proclaim not only what we believe, but
also to say
clearly what we don’t believe. We need to separate
biblical truth
from unbiblical falsehood lest we be deceived and
possibly lose our
faith.
For
years there has been a theory floating around that
Jesus was more of
a political revolutionary than a religious figure. It
is said that
Jesus was more about improving people’s lives in this
world than
offering them salvation in the world to come. Some
people say Jesus
was the first Communist. We know that isn’t true. Why?
Jesus
said his Kingdom was not of this world. He turned down
every
opportunity he had to raise a rebellion against the
Roman invaders
and be an earthly king. Yet, the new twist on the old
false teaching
is that Jesus died to protest the oppressive Roman
government and
that his example urges us to stand up against all
alleged oppressors
today. Certainly, Jesus is not a supporter of tyrants,
but Christ’s
death is not about political theory, or economic
systems, or how we
should vote. His political ideology didn’t get him
killed. It was
those who valued their ideology and power above his
life that killed
him.
Yet,
there are those who say that the Crucifixion was an
accident of
sorts, something thought up and acted out by the
religious and
political leaders to thwart Jesus’
radical agenda. They deny that Christ’s cross was
something
necessary: foreseen and ordained by God from before
the Beginning. Genesis talks about Christ smashing the
serpent’s head. Isaiah
prophecies the advent of God’s suffering servant. The
cross wasn’t
something that just happened by chance; it was
something that had to
happen. It was necessary for our salvation. It was no
surprise to
God the Father or Jesus the Son. They saw it coming
before Jesus was
born,
Jesus’
death on the cross didn’t make God love us, as some
people say. God has always loved us and always will.
God never hated us. Jesus
didn’t have to change the Father’s mind. But God does
hate our
sin. How could a holy God do otherwise? God holds us
accountable
for our sin because He’s fair, honest, and just. That
doesn’t
mean He doesn’t love us. Insisting one follows God’s
commandments and do what’s right isn’t hatred. Setting
boundaries, having discipline and accountability are
ways to show
love. God loves us enough to correct us when we need
it – and do
we ever need it!
Sin
must be atoned for. Actions have consequences. Debts
must be paid. Consider this: Imagine you had a
catastrophic illness, and the
medical bill was in the millions of dollars. You
couldn’t afford to
pay for that. But what if your insurance paid all of
it. It wasn’t
free. Someone had to pay the hospital and doctors and
nurses and
such. But the insurance company paid them, not you.
For you, it was
like
the
surgery was free. The insurance company’s payment
benefitted you.
In
a similar way, Jesus pays the debt incurred by our sin
and we
benefit. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is
death. Our
debt to God is infinite. We can’t pay for it. Only God
could
cover that. Jesus payed it for us because he is God.
Like a
cosigner on a loan, like an insurance company covering
their insured
person, Jesus steps in and takes on our debt, our sin,
the
consequences of our transgressions against God, and
suffers the
penalty: death in our place. Thereby he wipes out our
debt; he
liberates us from the consequences of our sin, at the
price of his
own life.
Jesus
gives that gift to everyone. Inexplicably, some people
won’t take
the gift. They staunchly refuse it. Why some people
won’t accept
the greatest gift in the universe, no one can explain.
It makes no
sense but it’s true. Some people would rather cling to
their own
false beliefs in Hell than know the joys of Heaven.
Actually, in
Hell, they will know that Jesus is Lord, but it will
be too late. There are no atheists in Hell.
The
circumstances of our birth have no effect on where we
will spend
eternity. No one has a claim on Christ’s love because
of their
race or social status or whatever. There are good
Christian
believers among all types of people. There are evil
non-believers
among all types of people too. Being part of a
majority doesn’t
make you holy. It doesn’t make you unholy either. God
looks at
the heart. Not being a part of majority doesn’t make
you holy or
unholy either. Again, God looks at the heart.
Did
you see those “Jesus
Gets
Us”
commercials during the Super Bowl? One said, “Jesus
loves the
people we hate.” That’s true. It is also true that
Jesus loves
the people doing the hating. He loves everybody. The
people that
are hated also hate people themselves. Oh yeah. We’re
all sinners. We’re
all haters in some way. And God loves both the hated
and haters, and
each and every one of us is both hater and hated, we
are all both
saint and sinner.
If
you think that you’re not a sinner, then you must
think that Jesus
didn’t die for you because he died for sinners. And if
you cannot
accept that Jesus died for
you,
then you have excluded yourself from his debt
forgiveness program
called The Cross. Then you are not covered by his
payment. You are
outside his salvation, where there will be wailing and
gnashing of
teeth. But that doesn’t have to be anyone’s fate. That
is not
the fate of those who believe in Jesus Christ, those
who are washed
in his blood.
When
Jesus died, he looked like a criminal, like a
political rebel getting
his due. He looked like a loser. The Jews believed
from their
interpretation of scripture that anyone crucified like
that was
outside the realm of God’s love, that he was cursed by
God Himself. Jesus was vindicated by the Resurrection.
By rising from the dead,
he proved his innocence and his murders’ guilt. It
proved that he
was right, and they were wrong. It showed once and for
all that he is
the Son of God.
So
today we look to Christ on the cross. The cross is not
a political
symbol. It’s not the possession of any group or
ideology. It’s
not a symbol of hate. Jesus on the cross is love in
action. The
cross is hope. The cross points us to the triumphant
joy of Easter. See you Sunday. Amen.
Choir
Anthem
Stand
BIDDING
PRAYER
P Let
us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord
God would
defend her against all the assaults and temptations of
the adversary
and keep her perpetually on the true foundation, Jesus
Christ:
P Almighty
and everlasting God, since You have revealed Your glory
to all
nations in Jesus Christ and in the Word of His truth,
keep, we ask
You, in safety the works of Your mercy so that Your
Church, spread
throughout all the nations, may be defended against the
adversary and
may serve You in true faith and persevere in the
confession of Your
name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for all ministers of the Word, for all vocations
in the
Church, and for all the people of God:
P Almighty
and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of
the Church is
governed and sanctified, receive the supplications and
prayers which
we offer before You for all Your servants in Your Holy
Church that
every member of the same may truly serve You according
to Your
calling; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for our catechumens, that our Lord God would
open their
hearts and the door of His mercy that, having received
the remission
of all their sins by the washing of regeneration, they
may be mindful
of their Baptism and evermore be found in Christ Jesus,
our Lord:
P Almighty
God and Father, because You always grant growth to Your
Church,
increase the faith and understanding of our catechumens
that,
rejoicing in their new birth by the water of Holy
Baptism, they may
forever continue in the family of those whom You adopt
as Your sons
and daughters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty:
P O
merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand
all the
might of man and because You have ordained, for the
punishment of
evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well, all
the powers
that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly
pray You
graciously to regard Your servants,
especially
our
President; the Congress of the United States; our
Governor; and
all those who make, administer, and judge our laws;
that
all who receive the sword as Your ministers may bear
it according to
Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray our Lord God Almighty that He would deliver the
world from
all error, take away disease, ward off famine, set free
those in
bondage, grant health to the sick and a safe journey to
all who
travel:
P Almighty
and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful
and the
strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in
any tribulation
or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so
that in all
their necessities they may rejoice in Your manifold help
and comfort;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for all who are outside the Church, that our
Lord God would
be pleased to deliver them from their error, call them
to faith in
the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ,
our Lord, and
gather them into His family, the Church:
P Almighty
and everlasting God, because You seek not the death but
the life of
all, hear our prayers for all who have no right
knowledge of You,
free them from their error, and for the glory of Your
name bring them
into the fellowship of Your holy Church; through Jesus
Christ, our
Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge of
God’s
Holy Word and walk before Him as is fitting for
Christians:
P Almighty
and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven
and earth, by
whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose
providence all things
are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all
concord, grant
us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that
we may serve
You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name;
through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for our enemies, that God would remember them in
mercy and
graciously grant them such things as are both needful
for them and
profitable for their salvation:
P O
almighty, everlasting God, through Your only Son, our
blessed Lord,
You have commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to
those who
hate us, and to pray for those who persecute us. We
therefore
earnestly implore You that by Your gracious visitation
all our
enemies may be led to true repentance and may have the
same love and
be of one accord and one mind and heart with us and with
Your whole
Christian Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let
us pray for the fruits of the earth, that God would send
down His
blessing upon them and graciously dispose our hearts to
enjoy them
according to His own good will:
P O
Lord, Father Almighty, by Your Word You created and You
continue to
bless and uphold all things. We pray You so to reveal to
us Your
Word, our Lord Jesus Christ that, through His dwelling
in our hearts,
we may by Your grace be made ready to receive Your
blessing on all
the fruits of the earth and whatsoever pertains to our
bodily need;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Finally,
let us pray for all those things for which our Lord
would have us
ask, saying:
C Our
Father who art in heaven,
hallowed
be Thy name,
Thy
kingdom come,
Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
give
us this day our daily bread;
and
forgive us our trespasses
as
we forgive those who trespass against us;
and
lead us not into temptation,
but
deliver us from evil.
For
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
Forever
and ever. Amen.
Please
direct
your attention towards the wooden crucifix to the
right of the
chancel.
The
following is repeated three times.
P Behold,
the
life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of
the world.
C O
come, let us worship Him.
Sit
REPROACHES
P Thus
says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and
wherein have
I offended you? Answer Me. For I have raised you up out
of the prison
house of sin and death, and you have delivered up your
Redeemer to be
scourged. For I have redeemed you from the house of
bondage, and you
have nailed your Savior to the cross. O my people.
C Holy
Lord
God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful
Redeemer; God
eternal, leave us not to bitter death. O Lord, have
mercy.
P Thus
says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and
wherein have
I offended you? Answer Me. For I have conquered all your
foes, and
you have given Me over and delivered Me to those who
persecute Me.
For I have fed you with My Word and refreshed you with
living water,
and you have given Me gall and vinegar to drink. O my
people.
C Holy
Lord
God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful
Redeemer; God
eternal, allow us not to lose hope in the face of
death and hell. O
Lord, have mercy.
P Thus
says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and
wherein have
I offended you? Answer Me. What more could have been
done for My
vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good
grapes, why
did it yield only bad? My people, is this how you thank
your God? O
my people.
C Holy
Lord
God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful
Redeemer; God
eternal, keep us steadfast in the true faith. O
Lord, have mercy.
The
seventh candle is extinguished.
Stand
456
Were You There LSB
456 sts. 1–3
1 Were
you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were
you
there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were
you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were
you
there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they nailed Him to the tree?
3 Were
you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were
you
there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Text
and
tune: African American spiritual, 19th cent., alt.
Text
and
tune: Public domain
The
strepitus is sounded.
CONCLUDING
COLLECT
P Let
us pray.
We
implore You, O Lord, that Your abundant blessing may
be upon Your
people who have held the passion and death of Your Son
in devout
remembrance, that we may receive Your pardon and the
gift of Your
comfort, and may increase in faith and take hold of
eternal
salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son,
our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and
forever.
C Amen.
P
Depart in peace.
The
pastor and congregation leave in silence.
Acknowledgments
Good
Friday (Chief Service), from Lutheran
Service Book.
GOOD FRIDAY TENENBRAE
7 April 2023
NOTES ON TODAY’S LITURGY
Our service today is a continuation of the worship which began last evening, Maundy Thursday. Today, we gather to celebrate our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. The Good Friday liturgy is both an austere time of reflection and intercession, as well as an adoration of Christ, the sacrificial lamb.
TENEBRAE is a Latin word meaning “darkness” or “shadows”. This traditional type of Good Friday service originated more than a thousand years ago. The Tenebrae Service is characterized by a successive extinguishing of candles as the Passion narrative is read. This is representative of the approaching end of our Lord’s life. At the conclusion of the service, the strepidus, a harsh noise, is heard representing the closing of Jesus’ tomb.
Again, there is no Benediction as our service does not really end today, but rather continues on toward its climax, the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection on Easter morning.
The congregation and Presiding and Assisting ministers enter in silence.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stand
Invocation
419 Savior, When in Dust to Thee LSB 419 sts. 1,
1 Savior,
when in dust to Thee
Low
we
bow the_adoring knee;
When,
repentant,
to the skies
Scarce
we
lift our weeping eyes;
O,
by
all Thy pains and woe
Suffered
once
for us below,
Bending
from
Thy throne on high,
Hear
our
penitential cry!
3 By
Thine hour of dire despair,
By
Thine
agony of prayer,
By
the
cross, the nail, the thorn,
Piercing
spear,
and torturing scorn,
By
the
gloom that veiled the skies
O’er
the
dreadful sacrifice,
Listen
to
our humble sigh;
Hear
our
penitential cry!
Text: Public domain
COLLECT OF THE DAY
P Let us pray.
Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighteenth chapter.
Reading: John 18:1–11 (Betrayal and arrest of Jesus)
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
The First candle is extinguished.
449 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded LSB 449 sts. 1, 3
1 O
sacred Head, now wounded,
With
grief
and shame weighed down,
Now
scornfully
surrounded
With
thorns,
Thine only crown.
O
sacred Head, what glory,
What
bliss,
till now was Thine!
Yet,
though
despised and gory,
I
joy to call Thee mine.
3 What
language shall I borrow
To
thank
Thee, dearest Friend,
For
this
Thy dying sorrow,
Thy
pity
without end?
O
make me Thine forever!
And
should
I fainting be,
Lord,
let
me never, never,
Outlive
my
love for Thee.
Text:
attr.
Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153;
German
version, Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76;
tr.
The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune:
Hans
Leo Hassler, 1564–1612
Text:
©
1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by
permission: LSB Hymn License
no. 110004199
Tune:
Public
domain
Reading: John 18:12–27 (Jesus before the High Priest and the Denial of Peter)
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
The Second candle is extinguished.
431 Not All the Blood of Beasts LSB 431 sts. 1–2, 4
1 Not
all the blood of beasts
On
Jewish
altars slain
Could
give
the guilty conscience peace
Or
wash
away the stain.
2 But
Christ, the heav’nly
Lamb,
Takes
all
our sins away;
A
sacrifice of nobler name
And
richer
blood than they.
4 My
soul looks back to see
The
burden
Thou didst bear
When
hanging
on the cursèd
tree;
I
know my guilt was there.
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt.Tune: William Daman, c. 1540–1591Text and tune: Public domain
Reading: John 18:28–40 (Jesus before Pilate)
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
The Third candle is extinguished.
430 My Song Is Love Unknown LSB 430 sts. 1, 3–4
1 My
song is love unknown,
My
Savior’s
love to me,
Love
to
the loveless shown
That
they
might lovely be.
Oh,
who
am I
That
for
my sake
My
Lord
should take
Frail
flesh
and die?
3 Sometimes
they strew His way
And
His
sweet praises sing;
Resounding
all
the day
Hosannas
to
their King.
Then
“Crucify!”
Is
all
their breath,
And
for
His death
They
thirst
and cry.
4 Why,
what hath my Lord done?
What
makes
this rage and spite?
He
made
the lame to run,
He
gave
the blind their sight.
Sweet
injuries!
Yet
they
at these
Themselves
displease
And
’gainst
Him rise.
Text:
Samuel
Crossman, c. 1624–1683Tune:
John N. Ireland, 1879–1962Text:
Public
domain
Tune:
©
John Ireland Trust. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no.
110004199
Reading: John 19:1–16a (Jesus Prepared for Crucifixion)
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
The fourth candle is extinguished.
425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross LSB 425 sts. 1, 3
1 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.
3 See,
from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow
and
love flow mingled down!
Did
e’er
such love and sorrow meet
Or
thorns
compose so rich a crown
Text:
Isaac
Watts, 1674–1748
Tune:
Lowell
Mason, 1792–1872
Text
and
tune: Public domain
Reading: John 19:16b–24 (The Crucifixion of Jesus)
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They
divided my garments among them,
and
for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things.
439 O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken LSB 439 sts. 1–2, 4
1 O
dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That
such
sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of
what
great crime hast Thou to make confession,
What
dark
transgression?
2 They
crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge
Thee;
With
cruel
mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They
give
Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They
crucify
Thee.
4 What
punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The
Shepherd
dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The
Master
pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who
would
not know Him.
Text:
Johann
Heermann, 1585–1647;
tr.
Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78,
alt.
Tune:
Johann
Crüger,
1598–1662
Text
and
tune: Public domain
Reading: John 19:25–30 (Jesus’ Mother and His Death)
[But] standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The fifth candle is extinguished.
447 Jesus, in Your Dying Woes LSB 447 sts. 1, 7, 13, 16
1 Jesus,
in Your dying woes,
Even
while
Your lifeblood flows,
Craving
pardon
for Your foes:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
7 Jesus,
loving to the end
Her
whose
heart Your sorrows rend,
And
Your
dearest human friend:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
13 Jesus,
in Your thirst and pain,
While
Your
wounds Your lifeblood drain,
Thirsting
more
our love to gain:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
16 Jesus,
all our ransom paid,
All
Your
Father’s
will obeyed;
By
Your
suff’rings
perfect made:
Hear
us,
holy Jesus.
Reading: John 19:31–42 (Jesus’ Side Is Pierced)
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
The sixth candle is extinguished.
761 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me LSB 761 sts. 1, 3
1 Rock
of Ages, cleft for me,
Let
me
hide myself in Thee;
Let
the
water and the blood,
From
Thy
riven side which flowed,
Be
of
sin the double cure:
Cleanse
me
from its guilt and pow’r.
3 Nothing
in my hand I bring;
Simply
to
Thy cross I cling.
Naked,
come
to Thee for dress;
Helpless,
look
to Thee for grace;
Foul,
I
to the fountain fly;
Wash
me,
Savior, or I die.
Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740–78Tune: Thomas Hastings, 1784–1872Text and tune: Public domain
Silence
SERMON
Good Friday April 9, 2023 The St. Matthew Passion
What the Cross is Not
Everything today gets analyzed and judged based on politics, race, gender, and economics. Even Christ’s crucifixion. I read just such an examination of Jesus’ death on the cross a few weeks ago. I absolutely disagree with the author’s ideas. But it’s important sometimes to proclaim not only what we believe, but also to say clearly what we don’t believe. We need to separate biblical truth from unbiblical falsehood lest we be deceived and possibly lose our faith.
For years there has been a theory floating around that Jesus was more of a political revolutionary than a religious figure. It is said that Jesus was more about improving people’s lives in this world than offering them salvation in the world to come. Some people say Jesus was the first Communist. We know that isn’t true. Why?
Jesus said his Kingdom was not of this world. He turned down every opportunity he had to raise a rebellion against the Roman invaders and be an earthly king. Yet, the new twist on the old false teaching is that Jesus died to protest the oppressive Roman government and that his example urges us to stand up against all alleged oppressors today. Certainly, Jesus is not a supporter of tyrants, but Christ’s death is not about political theory, or economic systems, or how we should vote. His political ideology didn’t get him killed. It was those who valued their ideology and power above his life that killed him.
Yet, there are those who say that the Crucifixion was an accident of sorts, something thought up and acted out by the religious and political leaders to thwart Jesus’ radical agenda. They deny that Christ’s cross was something necessary: foreseen and ordained by God from before the Beginning. Genesis talks about Christ smashing the serpent’s head. Isaiah prophecies the advent of God’s suffering servant. The cross wasn’t something that just happened by chance; it was something that had to happen. It was necessary for our salvation. It was no surprise to God the Father or Jesus the Son. They saw it coming before Jesus was born,
Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t make God love us, as some people say. God has always loved us and always will. God never hated us. Jesus didn’t have to change the Father’s mind. But God does hate our sin. How could a holy God do otherwise? God holds us accountable for our sin because He’s fair, honest, and just. That doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us. Insisting one follows God’s commandments and do what’s right isn’t hatred. Setting boundaries, having discipline and accountability are ways to show love. God loves us enough to correct us when we need it – and do we ever need it!
Sin must be atoned for. Actions have consequences. Debts must be paid. Consider this: Imagine you had a catastrophic illness, and the medical bill was in the millions of dollars. You couldn’t afford to pay for that. But what if your insurance paid all of it. It wasn’t free. Someone had to pay the hospital and doctors and nurses and such. But the insurance company paid them, not you. For you, it was like the surgery was free. The insurance company’s payment benefitted you.
In a similar way, Jesus pays the debt incurred by our sin and we benefit. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. Our debt to God is infinite. We can’t pay for it. Only God could cover that. Jesus payed it for us because he is God. Like a cosigner on a loan, like an insurance company covering their insured person, Jesus steps in and takes on our debt, our sin, the consequences of our transgressions against God, and suffers the penalty: death in our place. Thereby he wipes out our debt; he liberates us from the consequences of our sin, at the price of his own life.
Jesus gives that gift to everyone. Inexplicably, some people won’t take the gift. They staunchly refuse it. Why some people won’t accept the greatest gift in the universe, no one can explain. It makes no sense but it’s true. Some people would rather cling to their own false beliefs in Hell than know the joys of Heaven. Actually, in Hell, they will know that Jesus is Lord, but it will be too late. There are no atheists in Hell.
The circumstances of our birth have no effect on where we will spend eternity. No one has a claim on Christ’s love because of their race or social status or whatever. There are good Christian believers among all types of people. There are evil non-believers among all types of people too. Being part of a majority doesn’t make you holy. It doesn’t make you unholy either. God looks at the heart. Not being a part of majority doesn’t make you holy or unholy either. Again, God looks at the heart.
Did you see those “Jesus Gets Us” commercials during the Super Bowl? One said, “Jesus loves the people we hate.” That’s true. It is also true that Jesus loves the people doing the hating. He loves everybody. The people that are hated also hate people themselves. Oh yeah. We’re all sinners. We’re all haters in some way. And God loves both the hated and haters, and each and every one of us is both hater and hated, we are all both saint and sinner.
If you think that you’re not a sinner, then you must think that Jesus didn’t die for you because he died for sinners. And if you cannot accept that Jesus died for you, then you have excluded yourself from his debt forgiveness program called The Cross. Then you are not covered by his payment. You are outside his salvation, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But that doesn’t have to be anyone’s fate. That is not the fate of those who believe in Jesus Christ, those who are washed in his blood.
When Jesus died, he looked like a criminal, like a political rebel getting his due. He looked like a loser. The Jews believed from their interpretation of scripture that anyone crucified like that was outside the realm of God’s love, that he was cursed by God Himself. Jesus was vindicated by the Resurrection. By rising from the dead, he proved his innocence and his murders’ guilt. It proved that he was right, and they were wrong. It showed once and for all that he is the Son of God.
So today we look to Christ on the cross. The cross is not a political symbol. It’s not the possession of any group or ideology. It’s not a symbol of hate. Jesus on the cross is love in action. The cross is hope. The cross points us to the triumphant joy of Easter. See you Sunday. Amen.
Choir Anthem
Stand
BIDDING PRAYER
P Let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would defend her against all the assaults and temptations of the adversary and keep her perpetually on the true foundation, Jesus Christ:
P Almighty and everlasting God, since You have revealed Your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ and in the Word of His truth, keep, we ask You, in safety the works of Your mercy so that Your Church, spread throughout all the nations, may be defended against the adversary and may serve You in true faith and persevere in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for all ministers of the Word, for all vocations in the Church, and for all the people of God:
P Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified, receive the supplications and prayers which we offer before You for all Your servants in Your Holy Church that every member of the same may truly serve You according to Your calling; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for our catechumens, that our Lord God would open their hearts and the door of His mercy that, having received the remission of all their sins by the washing of regeneration, they may be mindful of their Baptism and evermore be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord:
P Almighty God and Father, because You always grant growth to Your Church, increase the faith and understanding of our catechumens that, rejoicing in their new birth by the water of Holy Baptism, they may forever continue in the family of those whom You adopt as Your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty:
P O merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand all the might of man and because You have ordained, for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well, all the powers that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly pray You graciously to regard Your servants,
especially our President; the Congress of the United States; our Governor; and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws;
that all who receive the sword as Your ministers may bear it according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray our Lord God Almighty that He would deliver the world from all error, take away disease, ward off famine, set free those in bondage, grant health to the sick and a safe journey to all who travel:
P Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may rejoice in Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for all who are outside the Church, that our Lord God would be pleased to deliver them from their error, call them to faith in the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and gather them into His family, the Church:
P Almighty and everlasting God, because You seek not the death but the life of all, hear our prayers for all who have no right knowledge of You, free them from their error, and for the glory of Your name bring them into the fellowship of Your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge of God’s Holy Word and walk before Him as is fitting for Christians:
P Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for our enemies, that God would remember them in mercy and graciously grant them such things as are both needful for them and profitable for their salvation:
P O almighty, everlasting God, through Your only Son, our blessed Lord, You have commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who persecute us. We therefore earnestly implore You that by Your gracious visitation all our enemies may be led to true repentance and may have the same love and be of one accord and one mind and heart with us and with Your whole Christian Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Let us pray for the fruits of the earth, that God would send down His blessing upon them and graciously dispose our hearts to enjoy them according to His own good will:
P O Lord, Father Almighty, by Your Word You created and You continue to bless and uphold all things. We pray You so to reveal to us Your Word, our Lord Jesus Christ that, through His dwelling in our hearts, we may by Your grace be made ready to receive Your blessing on all the fruits of the earth and whatsoever pertains to our bodily need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
P Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask, saying:
C Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
Forever and ever. Amen.
Please direct your attention towards the wooden crucifix to the right of the
chancel. The following is repeated three times.
P Behold, the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the world.
C O come, let us worship Him.
Sit
REPROACHES
P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended you? Answer Me. For I have raised you up out of the prison house of sin and death, and you have delivered up your Redeemer to be scourged. For I have redeemed you from the house of bondage, and you have nailed your Savior to the cross. O my people.
C Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, leave us not to bitter death. O Lord, have mercy.
P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended you? Answer Me. For I have conquered all your foes, and you have given Me over and delivered Me to those who persecute Me. For I have fed you with My Word and refreshed you with living water, and you have given Me gall and vinegar to drink. O my people.
C Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, allow us not to lose hope in the face of death and hell. O Lord, have mercy.
P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended you? Answer Me. What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? My people, is this how you thank your God? O my people.
C Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, keep us steadfast in the true faith. O Lord, have mercy.
The seventh candle is extinguished.
Stand
456 Were You There LSB 456 sts. 1–3
1 Were
you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were
you
there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were
you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were
you
there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they nailed Him to the tree?
3 Were
you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were
you
there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh
.
. .
Sometimes
it
causes me to tremble,
tremble,
tremble.
Were
you
there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Text
and
tune: African American spiritual, 19th cent., alt.
Text
and
tune: Public domain
The strepitus is sounded.
CONCLUDING COLLECT
P Let us pray.
We implore You, O Lord, that Your abundant blessing may be upon Your people who have held the passion and death of Your Son in devout remembrance, that we may receive Your pardon and the gift of Your comfort, and may increase in faith and take hold of eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
P Depart in peace.
The pastor and congregation leave in silence.
Acknowledgments
Good Friday (Chief Service), from Lutheran Service Book.