GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE AT ROY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
The Seven Last Words of the Cross
The Old Rugged Cross, V1, C, V3, C
You Are My All in All. V1, C, V2, C
Services based on the seven last words (phrases) of Jesus from the cross are traditionally developed from harmonies of the Gospel passion narratives. From noon on Friday to 3:00 P.M.,Christ's hours on the cross. The common order of the readings is presented here. Visuals, music, drama, or liturgical dance may be employed imaginatively.
After His arrest following the meal in the Upper Room, Jesus appears before Annas, Caiaphas, part of the Sanhedrin, then the full Sanhedrin, before Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, and then Pilate again. Throughout the night He is mocked, beaten repeatedly, and flogged before He is forced to carry at least part of His cross through the streets of Jerusalem up the hill to Golgotha. There He is laid down on the timbers, nailed to them, and then the cross is set upright. Jesus is suspended between heaven and earth.
Beneath the Cross of Jesus. 1,2,3
1) Luke 23:34
Jesus said,“Father,forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Crowds are mocking, laughing, spitting. How does Jesus respond? Anger? Rage? Bitterness? No. Just love for others, forgiveness for those who have put him there. All the way to the bitter, horrible end, Jesus clings to mercy and forgiveness. “Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12).
And who is He referring to? Is He only concerned with those who have played an active part in His crucifixion and death? Or is He looking down the road at us?
2) Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him,“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Lots of taunting and jeering around Him, even from those who have been condemned to die alongside Jesus. One of the thieves defends Jesus to the other. Then Jesus has a short but heartfelt, meaningful conversation with this man. He asked for mercy and got it.
There is hope, all the way to death. Forgiveness is extended to all. Repentance and sorrow are a part of coming to Jesus. This man is exactly the kind that Jesus came to save.
Just As I Am. V1, V2, V4
3) John 19:26–27
He said to her,“Woman,here is your son,”and to the disciple,“Here is your mother.”From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Mary has been a part of Jesus’ life since the beginning. Since the first appearance of angelic messengers, she has been directed to this moment. Simeon’s words, “a sword will pierce your own soul,” Luke 2:34-35.
Some groups have seen that this means Mary didn’t have any other children. I think it shows more that the firstborn son wants to make sure that His mother is taken care of.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us. V1, V2
4) Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
These are the only words of Jesus in Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts of the crucifixion. He is all alone. It’s a quote from Psalm 22.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.[b]
3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
He has trusted and followed and obeyed. And now He feels deserted, isolated, overwhelmed.
5) John 19:28
Jesus said,“I am thirsty.”
Jesus reminds us of His humanity. It has been a long, draining night. Almost a day without food or drink, the loss of significant amounts of blood. Repeated beatings. No sleep. Physically exhausted.
He initially refused the drink offered—it contained a painkiller. There’s also a reference here to Psalm 69:21, “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”
Once Again. V1, C, V2, C, B, B, C
Alas and Did My Savior Bleed? V1, V3, V4, V5
6) John 19:30a
When He had received the drink, Jesus said,“It is finished.”With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
His suffering? His mission? His obedience to the Father? His battle against sin and evil for us? His life? There is a sense of control in this statement. Jesus declared that it was over, and it was.
He was in charge. John 10:18, “I lay down my life, no one takes it from Me.” He knows His life has specific purpose, and in His faithful obedience to God’s will, He has accomplished so much. The list is empty. The Greek word means, it is done, it is complete.
Man of Sorrows/Hallelujah What A Savior. V1, V2, V3, V4
7) Luke 23:46
Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed his last.
Psalm 31:5. Jesus’ last words are a prayer to His Father. He has lived a life of prayer and conversation with God the Father. They are inexorably connected. And there’s a picture of the triune God: Father, Son, and Spirit.
At the Cross (Love Ran Red). V1, C, V2, C, B, B, C
Lord’s Supper
The Wonderful Cross. V1, V2, C, V3, C
Benediction: May God, whose arms were spread on the cross to embrace the whole world, help us to take up the cross and follow Him. Amen. (reformedworship.org)
O Sacred Head (Passion Chorale)
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 tho' despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine, was the transgression but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo here I fall, my Savior, 'tis I deserve Thy place,
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance
How art Thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn,
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn?
Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair,
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death with cruel rigor hath robbed Thee of Thy life
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.
My burden in Thy passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee; wrath were my rightful lot,
Have mercy I implore Thee, Redeemer, spurn me not.
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 to Thee.
My Shepherd, now receive me, my Guardian, own me. Thine
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love,
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part,
O Savior, do not chide me when breaks Thy loving heart;
When soul and body languish in death's cold cruel grasp,
Then in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.
The joy can never be spoken above all joys beside
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide,
O Lord of life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee.
My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore;
When soul and body languish, Oh leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own.
Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die,
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee upon Thy cross shall dwell
My heart by faith enfolds Thee who dieth thus dies well.