Good Friday (2)
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Intro
Intro
Welcome to Church242 and our Good Friday Gathering. Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ stepped down from Heaven to become fully human, fully God and to take the punishment for our Sins. Was He welcomed with open arms? Did the world marvel at God in the flesh? Did we role out the red carpet and cheer him onto His throne?
No, Jesus was hated by the religious leaders, He was betrayed by one of his friends for 30 pieces of silver, His closest friend denied him 3 times and He was mocked while giving his life on the cross for our sins.
Tonight is a night of reflection on what Jesus Christ has done for us.
Tonight is a night of contemplation for all that Jesus went through.
Tonight is a night of Praise and Worship as we thank God for sending HIs own Son to die for our Sins.
Tonight we will journey through Matthew on the way to the cross, and as we get closer we will be turning off lamps which reflect the abandonment Jesus felt for us.
Let me encourage you to listen to the Holy Spirit tonight, to praise and worship how ever you feel led, to be free to remember and praise how you want to worship our lord, in the freedom that He died for.
At the end of the night we will not have conversation, we will not have dinner, we will leave in silence for us to remember what Jesus had done for us on Friday. But remember, Sunday is coming.
1st Set of Bible Readings - Josh
1st Set of Bible Readings - Josh
Reading 1
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Lamp off
Reading 2
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
(Lamp off)
Reading 3
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
(lamp off)
Reading 4
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Commentary
Rejected by Men, despised and Betrayed. 30 pieces of Silver - That’s how much it took for Judas to betray Jesus. Worldly possessions that couldn’t buy life, freedom, salvation or eternity. As Jesus sat to begin the passover meal He knew that his friend who was sitting with him, eating with him and talking with him had betrayed him. As the world turned on Jesus we remember tonight that Jesus didn’t hold anything back by putting his life on the cross so that we might be saved - Let us praise His Name for showing us that nothing in this world can save, it was only a perfect life sacrificed for our sins which can save, it was the life of Jesus Christ who bore our Sins and placed on Him, the iniquity of us all.
2nd Bible Readings - Ps. Mat
2nd Bible Readings - Ps. Mat
Reading 5
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
(lamp off)
Reading 6 + 7
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
(lamp off)
Reading 8
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
(lamp off)
Commentary
Friend - Still in this moment of betrayal, Jesus uses the word Friend - Jesus died on the cross so that all those that don’t know him might use this word to describe Jesus to them - Friend. Yes, he is Lord, Yes He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, but He also wants to be your friend. He died so that you might have relationship with Him.
(Communion Video)
Invite people to come up for Communion
Communion
Communion
After the Garden of Gethsemene - Jesus went out and was Arrested. He was bought before the religious leaders - The High Pressts and was asked a question
But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The high priests tore His robes, and said that Jesus was blashpeming -
Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Jesus, there, being spato n, beaten, about to be handed over to Pilate for Judgement is seen by Peter.
Someone asked Peter - Where you not with this man, Peter said no.
Then someone - Certainly you too are a disciple - He said no, I do not know this man.
and a third time someone asked Peter - I do not know this man. and it says;
And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Then the morning came - the priests, elders took Jesus and handed him over to Pilate - The governar.
Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.”
Finally, Pilate presents Jesus next to a man Barabas. One man could be released - Pilate’s wife warned Pilate not to have anything to do with the crucifixition of Jesus.
He asked hte crowd -
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Pilate didn’t listen to his wife - Instead listend to the pharisees, scribes and Crowd who where all scared of losing something. Their power.
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of Silver.
Peter, Denied Jesus 3 times because he was scared of losing His life.
As we reflect on the Cross and as we take Communion tonight the question is:
Do you remember, or, do you know Who Jesus is, and what the Cross achieves and is it enough against the swirling invitation of the world.
Is it enough to turn your back on what the world offers you, and follow Jesus?
Do you know that Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, who went to cross to die for your Sins so that you might choose Him above everything else and be saved and seated in Eternity for ever with the Lord.
Do you know that Jesus loves you so much, that the pain he endured was worth it to bring you home?
Do you know that Good Friday is so good because despite the pain that Jesus felt, it paid the price that was required to bring you back into relationship with you, and He Died, so that even though your body may die, you have the opportunity to be with the Lord forever.
3rd Bible Readings - Josh
3rd Bible Readings - Josh
Reading 9
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
(lamp off)
Reading 10
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
(Lamp off)
Reading 11
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Commentary
It is finished - Tetelestai - It means Complete, Finished, Accomplished and fulfilled. The debt has been paid. The perfect lamb has been slain for our sins. Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God had gone through the whipping, had gone through the beating, had gone through the pain, had gone through the betrayal of those that He came here to save and now He has breathed His last on the cross and His blood has been poured out…For our salvation. So that all those that call on the name of Jesus Christ will be saved. So that by His Blood our spiritual relationship with God the Father might be Healed. Jesus chose to go to the cross and in the same way we must choose Him and Salvation. Behold what Jesus has done, Behold the Love that Sent JESUS to the Cross to die for us, Behold the mercy of God, hanging on a cross, for us all to see.
(Song)
Bible Reading - Mat
Bible Reading - Mat
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Commentary and Finish
Commentary and Finish
He poured out his soul to death. He bore the sin of many. As we reflect tonight on the cross, we remember that Jesus came to save the world and the world turned their back on Him. Jesus came to save those who would mock him. Jesus came to be tortured by those He loved. Jesus would be murdered by those He stepped out of heaven and into earth for. Tonight we remember why. We remember that the motivation was love and Mercy. The motivation was relationship. The motivation was to put you in right standing with all those that call Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour. We remember that Jesus went to the cross and we remember that on the cross, he felt totally alone and totally abandoned even from his own father in Heaven and we reflect on that abandonment tonight. However, we leave one light on, because we know that Sunday is Coming. We know that the story doesn’t end on Friday. The light of the world has come and despite Jesus being abandoned by us, the darkness can not overcome the light. If you want to give your life to Christ, I invite you to come forward. If you need prayer tonight, I invite you to come forward. Otherwise, I ask that you leave in silence, contemplating the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You need not pack away any chairs, please do not make any noise until you are outside, but ponder - Ponder what great love Sent JESUS, Ponder the pain that it took to pay our debts, Ponder just how much God loves you, and we will see you Sunday morning to celebrate the risen King.
Let me pray before we all leave in silence.
