ORDER OF SERVICE FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2023
GOOD FRIDAY
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I find no rest.
3Yet you are the Holy One, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4Our ancestors put their trust in you, they trusted, and you rescued them.
5They cried out to you and were delivered; they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
Gospel reading: John 18:1-11
1 went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Together, we pray:
Holy Spirit, grant us Jesus’ courage. There are times when we know what you want us to do, aware the path is difficult, or dangerous. We can be tempted, like Peter, to react with violence, even when the odds are against us. Help us to remember that Jesus walked peaceably, and calls us to walk peaceably as well. Forgive us when we choose otherwise. Amen.
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?
6But as for me, I am a worm and not human, scorned by all and despised by the people.
7All who see me laugh me to scorn; they curl their lips; they shake their heads.
8“Trust in the Lord; let the Lord deliver; let God rescue him if God so delights in him.”
Gospel reading: John 18:12-27
12So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. 13First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
15Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26One of the slaves 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?” 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Together, we pray:
Lord Jesus, you know us too well. We profess to follow you, yet when feeling threatened, take the easy way out and deny you. Like Peter, we weep when we realize that you really do know us better than we know ourselves, feeling embarrassed that we did not have enough courage to profess our faith in you. And yet, you continue to love us, unconditionally. Forgive us when we disappoint you. Amen.
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.
Where you there when they nailed him to the tree?
9Yet you are the one who drew me forth from the womb, and kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.
Gospel reading: John 18:28-40
28Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. 39But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 40They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
Together, we pray:
Sometimes, God, we can be like Pilate. We ask, “What is truth?”, when you are standing right in front of us. The truth is, you are the Son of God. The truth is that you love us unconditionally, forgive us completely and prepare a place for us after death. The truth is that we know this, believe this, yet sometimes we question you. Forgive us when we doubt you. Amen.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
12Many young bulls encircle me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13They open wide their jaws at me, like a slashing and roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; and you have laid me in the dust of death.
16Packs of dogs close me in, a band of evildoers circles round me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
17I can count all my bones while they stare at me and gloat.
18They divide my garments among them; for my clothing, they cast lots.
19But you, O Lord, be not far away; O my help, hasten to my aid.
20Deliver me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog.
21Save me from the lion’s mouth! From the horns of wild bulls, you have rescued me.
Gospel reading: John 19:1-25a
19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. 4Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” 5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” 7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
8Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” 11Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”
13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. 14Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” 15They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” 16Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus; 17and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
25And that is what the soldiers did.
Together we pray:
Source of all life, we hurt you and your creation deeply when we use our scriptures to condemn one another. All nations and races have been created by your divine breath. All of us sin and fall short of your glory. All of us are embraced by your grace. Jesus’ love is for the whole world. Forgive us when we forget this. Amen.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
22I will declare your name to my people; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
23You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give glory. Stand in awe of the Lord, all you offspring of Israel.
24For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the Lord hears them.
25From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord.
26The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of nations shall bow before God.
28For dominion belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations.
Gospel reading: John 19: 25b-37
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
28After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” 29A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
Together we pray:
Lord Jesus, in the midst of your anguish, knowing your death was near, your concern was for your mother. Grant us your strength so that even as we struggle, we may continue to care for our neighbour, trusting that as we do so, you are caring for us. Amen.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes is causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
29Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the Lord.
30Their descendants shall serve the Lord, whom they shall proclaim to generations to come.
31They shall proclaim God’s deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying to them, “The Lord has acted!”
Gospel reading: John 19:38-42
38After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Together we pray:
Almighty God, the depth of your love is beyond our comprehension. Your capacity to forgive can overwhelm us. Through Jesus you have claimed, called and commissioned us to proclaim your good news with our lives. We are in awe before you. Thank you, gracious God, for all you have done for us, and continue to do. Nurture our faith, fill us with your passion and help us serve our neighbour, always looking for the face of Jesus. Amen.
Hymn: VU 346, verses 1-3 There In God’s Garden
Sermon:
In the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling, Lord Voldemort is an evil wizard bent on destroying everything good. He is so feared that most characters refuse to speak his name, calling him “He-who-must-not-be-named.” This, of course, gives Voldemort more, not less, power. How does our avoidance of hard topics and images, like the crucifixion, give the negative more power in our lives? Why is it often difficult to convince people of the importance and power of worshiping on Good Friday?
People whisper words, as though by not saying them out loud they will have no power. I am guessing you have heard people say, “You know he has cancer…,” whispering that last word.
Good Friday is a day most people would rather whisper. It is a day we would rather not face, for it reminds us of the painful truth: Jesus was crucified, suffered and died. Those words are tolerable when they are followed with “and on the third day was raised” — but not today. Today we stop at the foot of the cross with the grieving women.
Good Friday is a day of powerful truths we would rather avoid or ignore. Like those who put off preparing their taxes because they know there is a big bill coming, or the smoker who avoids the doctor knowing the lecture is coming, it is tempting to avoid this day. For pastors it is tempting to skip over the hard despair and grief of the day and point right to Easter Sunday.
But the words of Scripture this day lay it all bare, even if we do not. We still have St. John laying the crucifixion before us, in all its injustice and horror. This is a day of hard truths. This Jesus we worship and adore has been abandoned by everyone, including, it seems, God. This Jesus we love is also the Jesus from whom we run when he asks too much, and sometimes the hardest word of all to hear is the word of forgiveness and mercy. Those hard words are in the cross as well.
In the gospel passion narratives, very little is said about Jesus’ physical pain and agony. This is especially the case with the Gospel of John. It’s as if what we are meant to feel is not the whip of cords, the nails, or the spear, but the emotional pain: the betrayal, the abandonment, the isolation, the public humiliation. If Jesus’ physical pain in crucifixion were all this story was about, then the passion of Jesus might feel somewhat distant to us and our experience of life. Hopefully none of us will undergo any kind of physical torture akin to crucifixion, but we have all experienced emotional pain. We don’t tell this story on this most solemn of days to imagine Jesus’ physical pain. Instead, we tell it in order to see our pain bound up in his—the kind of pain we are feeling right now, in whatever form we are feeling it.
There is no human suffering that is not felt by God on the cross. There is no pain or loss that is not pulled into God’s heart. There is no kind of death that doesn’t die with Jesus. And therefore, we don’t approach the cross from a place of fear or shame, but with boldness.
Each Holy Week we encounter two biblical accounts of the passion and death of Christ that offer quite different emphases. On Passion Sunday we heard a synoptic narrative that stresses the suffering of the man, Jesus. On this day of the death of Christ, we hear John’s passion narrative, in which Jesus, the Word of God, walks forward to his arrest—no kiss of Judas here—and the soldiers fall down before the I AM; he answers boldly to the high priest, debates with Pilate, wears a purple robe, arranges for the care of his mother, is served with hyssop, gives over his spirit when all is finished, and is buried as would be a king, with a hundred pounds of spices. These details tell the Christian meaning of the death of Jesus: Christ, who is God among us, reigns from the cross. John’s gospel offers us the way to proclaim that, on this day God died, and from divine death comes human life. To God alone be the glory. Amen.
Hymn: VU 346, verses 4-6 There In God’s Garden
PROCESSION OF THE CROSS
The congregation stands and faces the cross as it is brought forward.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
The dialogue is said a second time at the midpoint of the procession.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
The dialogue is said a third time at the end of the procession.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
Our worship concludes on Easter Sunday…