GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE
April 10, 2020
Welcome to our Good Friday Service. There’s a video of this service on our Church Facebook page. The first part of our service will be with the lights on. The last part will be a Tenebrae, with the sanctuary darkened, reminding us that the day became dark like night when Jesus died.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Pastor: Let us confess our sins, to God, our Heavenly Father.
People: Merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Because of our sins our Lord suffered and died. Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, hear now words of forgiveness, spoken to you, flowing from the cross. God the Father took your sins and laid them upon His Son. On the cross, Jesus triumphed over sin, death, hell, and the devil. Everything He did on the cross, He did for you. For His sake you are fully and freely forgiven. Therefore I, a called and ordained servant of Christ, forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
GOOD FRIDAY COLLECT
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus, You bore the sins of all people in Your body on the tree of the cross, so that through Your death, eternal life might rise anew. Help us to live in the way of the cross, that we may live everyday with You; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.
Pastor: This is the Word of our Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
EPISTLE Hebrews 5:7–9
In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
Pastor: This is the Word of our Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
HOLY GOSPEL John 19:14-16
14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 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.” 16 So he delivered Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Pastor: This is the passion of our Lord.
People: Christ, have mercy.
HYMN OF THE DAY 425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
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.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most;
I sacrifice them to His blood.
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?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an off’ring far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
GOOD FRIDAY DEVOTION Eyes on the Cross
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you, from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus, Christ, whom we see on the cross.
Our Lenten series has been eyes on Jesus. Tonight we lift our eyes to the cross, where Jesus hangs, from where he looks down, for there we see our life and salvation.
On Good Friday Jesus turned the cross, an instrument of torture and death, into a sign of love and life.
We lift our eyes to the cross, for there we see the world’s greatest love; there we see the love God has for the world, the love that led His Son to suffer and die, that the world might live.
As we lift our eyes to the cross, there we see the eyes of our Savior, looking down on us in love.
We see Him looking down to the soldiers who’ve nailed his hands and feet to the cross, and raised him up to die; he sees them casting lots, gambling for his clothes; Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
From the cross, Jesus looks down at us, and pleads for us, Father, forgive them, that they might live.
The eyes of Christ plead for us, forgive us, and teach us to look on the world with love and grace; to forgive even our enemies, even those who’ve hurt us badly.
When we look up to the cross, and believe the words of Jesus, our hearts are given the power to forgive.
From the cross Jesus looks down and sees his mother crying; He speaks words of loving care, saying to John, “Behold your mother”, and to Mary, “Behold your son.”. And that very day, John took Mary home, to care for her as if she were his own dear mother.
So Jesus would give us eyes to love and care for our families, in young age and old.
And He gives us eyes to care for our spiritual family, to bear each other’s burden, as Paul encourages us in Galatians 6. And to provide care even to strangers, to those we’ve never met before, and may never see again, knowing, that as Jesus said, “If you’ve done it to, (that is, helped), one of the least of these, my brothers, you’ve done it unto me.”
Jesus looks up, and cries out to His Father, “Why have You forsaken me?”, quoting the Messianic prophecy from Psalm 22, with which we closed our service with last night. Jesus was forsaken by God, that we would never would be, although it’s what our sins deserve.
So let us never forsake others who need us, and let us never forsake our Lord who loves us.
From the cross He cries out, “I thirst.” Jesus is sour wine to drink, mixed with gall, a pain killer. His eyes show his pain, but when he tastes the gall, he spits it out, so that he will feel and suffer the full punishment for sin.
We look to the cross and to the eyes of the One who suffered all for us, and suffered so greatly. Seeing how terribly Jesus suffered as he took on the full punishment for our sins, let us never take sin lightly, but truly and daily repent, and gratefully embrace God’s mercy. Let us despise sin, and love what’s good and right.
From the cross, Jesus looks over and sees the thieves dying beside him. One mocks him; the other repents and cries to him, “Jesus, remember me in Your Kingdom.” Jesus looks at him and says, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
So we say in our hearts, Lord, remember us in Your Kingdom.
From His Kingdom on high, Jesus remembers us; he prepares a place for us, as he told his disciples the night before he died, and he will come back to us, to take us ton be where He is forever.
As Jesus never forgets about us, but always remembers us in His Kingdom, so let us never forget Him; let us never lose sight of His Kingdom on Earth, His Church, and His Kingdom of glory in heaven, that waits for us.
From the cross Jesus cries, “It is finished.” I’ve completed the task that I was sent to do, to redeem the world from sin and death. He was faithful to the very end.
Let us be faithful to the very end, that, as Jesus promises us in Revelation 2:10, we may receive “a crown of life”.
Finally, from the cross Jesus cries, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”. He bows His head, and dies.
That very moment, his soul was received by His Father in Heaven. As his body was laid in a tomb, His soul rejoiced in glory.
In His Father’s hands, Jesus committed himself while he lived, and when he died.
So let us commit ourselves, our eyes, our hands, our hearts, our souls, all that we are, unto our Heavenly Father. Let us put our lives in His hands, for He will never let us down, nor fail to help and save us in every need.
We live with our eyes focused on the cross, eyes on Jesus, for there we see all we need, for now and for eternity, even the peace of God, which passes understanding. May it guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, who looks on us with eyes of love. Amen.
THE TENEBRAE SERVICE “The Seven Words from the Cross”
TENEBRAE COLLECT
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, graciously look upon Your family, for whom our Lord Jesus was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men, to be forsaken, to suffer and to die upon a cross, that we might live; in His name we pray.
People: Amen.
HYMN 440, vs. 1, 6 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now
Jesus, I will ponder now On Your holy Passion;
With Your Spirit me endow For such meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith May the image cherish Of Your suff’ring, pain, and death That I may not perish.
THE FIRST WORD Luke 23:33–38
33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. 34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide His garments. 35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save
Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!” 36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him sour wine 37and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over Him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
HYMN 440, vs. 6 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now
Graciously my faith renew; Help me bear my crosses,
Learning humbleness from You, Peace mid pain and losses.
May I give You love for love! Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heav’n above Sing Your praise forever!
THE SECOND WORD Luke 23:39–43
39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
HYMN 450, vs. 1 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
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 mind.
THE THIRD WORD John 19:25–27
25But standing by 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 nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
HYMN 450, vs. 1 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
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.
THE FOURTH WORD Mark. 15:25–35
25And it was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26And the inscription of the charge against Him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left. 29And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked Him to one another, saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him. 33And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
HYMN 451, vs. 1-2 “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted”
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ, by man rejected; Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected Prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it: ’Tis the true and faithful Word.
Tell me, all who hear Him groaning, was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would intervene to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that justice gave.
THE FIFTH WORH John 19:28–29
28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29A 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.
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on the cross you endured not only the spiritual anguish of being forsaken, but also physical pain and suffering. We thirst for the healing of body and soul that only you can provide. When we find ourselves suffering, give us strength to endure. Bring to our minds all that you endured for us, and give us the grace to bear our burdens with peace and patience. Amen.
THE SIXTH WORD John 19:30
30When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you endured the pain until the bitter end. You remained faithful and finished the task of saving us. Give us grace to complete the task, to finish the race, to stay faithful to the very end, that we may receive the crown of righteousness which is stored up for us in heaven. Amen.
THE SEVENTH WORD Luke 23:44–46
44It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last.
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus, we can’t find the words to express our love and gratitude to You. All we can do is live our lives for You. Grant that when our last hour will come, we fall asleep in faith, to rest in peace and rise in glory, for You live and reign, O Lord, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forevermore. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in Your Kingdom, and teach us to pray.
All: 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.
JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND BURIED John 19:31-34; Matthew 27:59-60
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
(The book is slammed shut, signifying the closing of the tomb.)
SILENT PRAYER AND REFLECTION
