Good Friday Service - Communion and The Seven Last Phrases of Christ 4/15/22 - 33 Minutes

Isaiah 53:1-3

Prelude: ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome: I'm so glad for each of you that have come tonight. We will have our Communion service first,,, then our 7 Phrases of Christ. This service is intended to make each of us think about the pain and suffering that Jesus went through for us,,, and the love that He had for us,,, as He took the weight of our sins upon His shoulders,,, and paid the ultimate price for sin,,, as He hung on the cross,,, that day! ----------------------------------------------------------- Invocation: Dear Heavenly Father,,, as we gather this evening to remember the sacrifice that you made for us,,, guide us so that we make this service pleasing to you,,, and help us to bring glory to your name,,, Amen ----------------------------------------------------------- Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-3 Isaiah 53:1–3 (HCSB) — 1 Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this evening. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this evening,,, with all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us this evening,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. --------------- Isaiah is giving prophesy to show Israel God's hope and salvation. And we know today,,, that Jesus came into the world,,, born as a little baby,,, and grew up to become the man that would change our relationship with God forever. My Believer's Bible Commentary says,,, Jesus grew up before the delighted gaze of Jehovah like an exotic, tender plant in this world of sin. He was like a root out of dry ground,,, and Israel was the dry ground,,, a most unlikely soil. The nation of Israel could see no beauty in Him,,, nothing in His appearance to attract them. But,,, thankfully,,, we know the true love that God has for us,,, and the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us,,, so this is hard for us to understand.

But,,, at the same time,,, we have turned our back on God just as the Israelites did.

Even now,,, as Christians,,, we take our eyes off of Jesus and fall back into our sinful ways of the flesh.

The key to living as God intended for us,,, is to keep our eyes on Christ,,, and,,, Jesus' life,,, death,,, and resurrection,,, made it all possible.

That's what communion is for,,, helping us remember and honor the sacrifice Jesus made for us,,, and to strengthen our relationship with God.

So as we continue in our Communion service and 7 Last

Phrases of Christ,,, remember and meditate on every blessing that we have today,,, because of our Savior,,, Jesus Christ. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 288 “Were You There” ----------------------------------------------------------- Communion: As we come to the alter this evening,,, remember the suffering and pain that Jesus endured for you and me as He took our sins upon His shoulders and died in our place.

----------------------------------------------------------- As we begin, I want to remind each of you that everyone is welcome to participate in Holy Communion in the Methodist Church. As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.” We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God. As we begin,,, let us have a moment of prayer and confession,,, I'll begin then we will have a few moments of silence so each of you can make your own prayer and confession silently,,, then I'll finish. Dear Heavenly Father,,, we come to you this evening and thank you for all the blessings that we have received. We thank you for your Son who died on the cross for our sin's and made it possible to come to you in prayer. I ask for forgiveness for my sins and I know that the Holy Spirit will put before you any that I miss. Now we will take just a few moments in silence to allow everyone to speak personally to you, then I'll finish,,,,. ,,,, Most Gracious and Holy God,,, again we thank you for this opportunity to come before you. We ask forgiveness as a church family together,,, for any sins we've committed before we take of your Holy Communion. These things and all others we ask,,, in Jesus' name,,, Amen ----------------------------------------------------------- If you will turn in your hymnal to page 13 and stand,,, we will begin reading under the great Thanksgiving. And we will continue by reading responsively until we get to Amen on page 14. Some of my reading will be different since it's from the Book of Worship Easter liturgy,,, but it will return and you should be able to see where to read responsively again by the reading that you are looking at. ----------------------------------------------------------- The pastor stands behind the Lord's table. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: The pastor may lower hands. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The pastor may raise hands. Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup. When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." The pastor may raise hands. On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. The pastor may raise hands. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever. Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 298 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” ----------------------------------------------------------- The Gospels record seven phrases that Jesus said while He hung on the cross.

Three of these phrases are recorded only in Luke,,, (the 1st,,, the 2nd,,, and the 7th),,, and three of them only in John,,, (the 3rd,,, the 5th,,, and the 6th).

The remaining phrase,,, (the 4th,,,) appears only in Matthew and Mark. These sayings draw from Psalms 22, 31, and 69.

Although it is impossible to be certain about the exact order in which Jesus uttered these phrases,,, the chronological arrangement that we will use is generally accepted. Jesus apparently hung on the cross from approximately 9:00 am until about 3:00 pm,,, if you pay attention to Mark 15:25, 34.

The first three statements were probably uttered before noon,,, while the rest of them took place in the afternoon,,, nearer to the time of His death.

Each phrase will be read and I will speak briefly on each one as you meditate on what each phrase brings to your mind as well.

Then as I snuff a candle out,,, I'll read the responsive reading and you will respond appropriately. ----------------------------------------------------------- Let us pray. Merciful God - as we remember how your son Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross,,, how seven times he spoke,,, seven phrases of love,,, we ask you to bless our hearing. - Father,,, as we recall how all the hours His silence cried for mercy on the souls of all,,, we ask you to help us to understand the mystery of your love,,, and make us into a people who are ever more worthy of it. Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE FIRST PHRASE - “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Comes from Luke 23:33-34 Luke 23:33–34 (HCSB) — 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” ] And they divided His clothes and cast lots. * Meditation on the First Phrase: This phrase means so much to me.

It's amazing how much Jesus puts the thoughts,,, or feelings of others ahead of His own.

That shows His love for us,,, and gives us an example of the way that we should live as well.

It was love that kept Him on the cross,,, even for those that nailed Him to the cross,,, not the nails in His hands and feet.

The 1st Phrase: “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Extinguish The 1st Candle L - Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P - You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE SECOND PHRASE - “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Comes from Luke 23:39-43 Luke 23:39–43 (HCSB) — 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.” * Meditation on The Second Phrase How much are we like the first thief? Full of anger - because we are not rescued from our sin? Full of hate - because we suffer because of the sins of others?

How much do we want God to snap his fingers and make right what we have made wrong?

How easy it is to cry "save us" when we have done wrong and to be mad at God for our mistakes,,, our failures!

How easy it is to scorn the Messiah,,, to mock the goodness of the world and condemn the light of the world because we are unwilling to face what we have done?

Yet there is goodness,,, There is a cure for sin,,,a cure that does not promise magical solutions,,, but promises that the pain of sin is not the end,,, that when all this is over,,, when the suffering is finished,,, that the final word is not torture and defeat,,, but life -- life springing out of the ashes,,, life transformed and fulfilled in Paradise. To the compassionate thief,,, To the one who could still recognize the "good" in the world,,, To the one who tried to comfort and protect that "good",,, To the one who sought good,,, --,,, Comfort was given. The 2nd Phrase: “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Extinguish The 2nd Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE THIRD PHRASE - “Woman, here is your son.” and “Here is your mother.” Comes from John 19:25-27 John 19:25–27 (HCSB) — 25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. * Meditation on the Third Phrase Who can understand the grief? the grief of Mary watching her son suffer? the grief of Mary watching him die?

And who can understand the grief of the son? The son who must see his mother mourn?

What gift can a man give his mother? What can he offer when he is gone? How can he help her? Hold her? Comfort her? Honour her?

"Woman, here is your son"

Here is one I love,,, to love you, and for you to love. One who knows me,,, One who is my brother and who can speak of me. One Who can hold you,,, comfort you,,, and honour you; One who shares your grief. "Here is your mother" Here is one I love,,, for you to love,,, and to love you. The one who taught me,,, the one who fed me,,, the one who took care of me,,, the one who grieves with you.

The 3rd Phrase: “Woman, here is your son.” - "Here is your mother" Extinguish The 3rd Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE FOURTH PHRASE - “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” comes from Mark 15:33-34 Mark 15:33–34 (HCSB) — 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Meditation on the Fourth Word Of all the agony of that tortuous day the lacerations and the pain as Jesus hung from the cross,,, Nothing reaches the depth of this anguished cry of desolation "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus, who found his purpose and strength in the presence of God who was sustained by his relationship with God and who endured all,,, by the tangible power of God,,, always at work within him,,, found himself totally alone on the cross. Jesus,,, whose very being was God,,, found himself utterly,,, absolutely,,, despairingly,,, cut off from all that gives life and breath,,, cut off from all that gives purpose and hope,,, cut off from the source of his being,,, cut off,,, even from himself,,, plumbing the depths of the human condition to walk in the place of the utter absence of God,,, in the place of sinners,,, in the place of those who reject God. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" In these words is the central mystery of the crucifixion which cannot be fully comprehended,,, that there is no despair so deep or evil so overwhelming or place so far removed from joy,,, light,,, and love from the very heart of God that God has not been before us,,, and where God cannot meet us,,, and bring us home.

The 4th Phrase: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Extinguish The 4th Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE FIFTH PHRASE - “I’m thirsty!” comes from John 19:28 John 19:28 (HCSB) — 28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” * Meditation on the Fifth Phrase A cross is as much an instrument of torture as it is a gallows from which to hang,

And as the day wears on seconds stretch into minutes,,, which stretch into hours,,, until there comes a point when time can no longer be measured,,, except in the gradual weakening of the body and its ever more insistent demands for that substance which is so vital to life,,, so foundational to all living things,,, so basic to existence as we know it: -- water.

Water to moisten a parched mouth,,, Water to free a swollen tongue,,, Water to open a rasping throat that cannot gasp enough air,,, Water to keep hope alive,,, to keep life alive just a few moments longer.

Water,,, to a crucified man,,, is life.

"O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee as in a dry and weary land where no water is."

Who can tell if these words from Psalm 63 went through Jesus mind but a thirst for water is a thirst for life,,, and a thirst for life is a thirst for God,,, who promises streams in the desert,,, mighty rivers in the dry land,,, and living water to wash away every tear.

Here, at the end of it all,,, those promises seem far away, - distant. And yet Jesus - forsaken by God,,, still clings to the memory and the hope of life.

The 5th Phrase: "I thirst." Extinguish The 5th Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE SIXTH PRASE - “It is finished!” comes from John 19:29-30 John 19:29–30 (HCSB) — 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. * Meditation on the Sixth Phrase What a sigh of relief! What a cry of deliverance,,, that finally,,, after seemingly endless pain and gasping torment,,, it is over at last. The suffering is ended. The ordeal is finished and nothing remains but the blessed peace of the absence of all sensation. When all there is,,, is pain,,, its ceasing is the greatest blessing of all,,, even when its ceasing comes only with death.

But Jesus' cry is more than just welcoming the ending of pain,,, it is more than joy at the deliverance death brings. He does not merely say, "it is over" he says, "it is accomplished,,, fulfilled,,, achieved"

Jesus's cry isn't a cry of defeat and despair,,, It is a cry of success and triumph - even at the moment of death - that the race has been run,,, that he has endured to the end,,, that the strife is over,,, and the battle is won.

Jesus' cry is a cry of relief to be sure but it is also a cry of victory: "The work I came to do is complete" there is nothing more to add"

The 6th Phrase: “It is finished!” Extinguish The 6th Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Seventh Phrase: - “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” comes from Luke 23:46 Luke 23:46 (HCSB) — 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Saying this, He breathed His last. * Meditation on the Seventh Word It is the end,,, the very end,,, the end of the ordeal,,, the end of the suffering,,, and Jesus alone on the cross,,, tortured,,, exhausted,,, abandoned by his friends,,, forsaken by God,,, gasps for a last breath,,, and gathers the strength for one final cry.

Why would he choose to speak so close to the end? Why would he muster the last energy he had to cry out with a loud voice? Couldn't God have heard his thoughts?

Unless God wasn't the only one intended to hear. Unless his voice was pitched loud so that we too might hear this final dedication of his soul.

A dedication made despite the pain, despite the mocking, despite the agony, despite the sense of horrible aloneness he felt. A dedication made to God before the resurrection, before the victory of the kingdom, before any assurance other than that which faith could bring. Jesus entrusts his spirit -- his life -- and all that has given it meaning -- to God in faith, even at the point of his own abandonment when the "good" seems so very far away,,, he proclaims his faith in God,,, the darkness cannot overcome it. The 7th Phrase: “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Extinguish The 7th Candle L Lord Jesus - you gave your life for us. P You suffered and died that we might be made whole. ----------------------------------------------------------- BENEDICTION: Let us pray: Depart now in peace - and may the Spirit of Christ, go with you,,, may his faith and trust abide within you,,, and may the knowledge of his love support you,,, both now,,, and,,, forevermore,,, Amen