GOOD FRIDAY

April 13, 2001

Pastor: Wayne C. Eichstadt

Pre-Service Meditation: Psalm 130

Pre-Service Prayer:

Lord Jesus, as my fellow believers and I come to Your cross to remember Your bitter death on our behalf, bless our worship, I pray. Cause us to see the full extent of our sin and be filled with repentant sorrow, but also to see the full extent of Your love and be filled with thankful praise for Your grace. Amen.

Welcome & Introduction

(1:00 p.m.)

WELCOME to Jerusalem. The city and the whole land has been in darkness for about an hour. There are many, many people in the city this week for the Passover which was celebrated just last night. Today everyone is looking forward to the Sabbath Day tomorrow. But this darkness and what’s taking place outside the city RIGHT NOW is distracting their thoughts.

The crowds of people here must surely be wondering about the darkness, though I’m sure many must know that has something to do with those events taking place outside the city on a small hill.

Jerusalem has been on edge and active all week…all of the activity and unspoken tension among the church leaders has centered around Jesus of Nazareth—the traveling preacher who has been gaining more and more of a following these past three years. The church leaders hate Him, and now they seen to it that He is being crucified as a blasphemer.

Streams of people are making their way out to the hill to see this prophet from Galilee named Jesus die. We will go there too, but first let us turn to the Old Testament Scriptures and hear how God revealed to His people of long ago, just how this day would come to pass…

(7:30 p.m.)

WELCOME to Jerusalem. In about 25 minutes the sun will set and the Sabbath Day will begin. If you have been to Jerusalem before you will recognize, Calvary, the dark silhouetted hill just outside of the city. Tonight, as you look out from the city to see the hill in the evening shadows you will also notice three empty crosses.

If you are just arriving in Jerusalem, you might suppose this has been a rather ordinary day. However, the quiet solitude of evening and the beginnings of the Sabbath are deceiving because they hide a day that was filled with events like none other! The sky went dark for three hours during the crucifixions on Calvary. When the man in the middle died, the earth shook and rocks were split apart. Even the thick curtain in the temple was torn in two, and people returned home in stunned silence by what they had seen and heard.

Today, many people made their way out to the hill to see a man named, "Jesus," die. As we gaze upon that hill this evening, you will hear what took place there today while you were about your daily work…you too will return home in quiet amazement. But first let us turn to the Old Testament Scriptures and hear how God revealed to His people of long ago, just how this day would come to pass…

Responsive Psalm Reading: Psalm 22:1-19

Pastor: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Cong: Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

P: O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;

C: And in the night season, and am not silent.

P: But You are holy,

C: Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

P: Our fathers trusted in You;

C: They trusted, and You delivered them.

P: They cried to You, and were delivered;

C: They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

P: But I am a worm, and no man;

C: A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

P: All those who see Me ridicule Me;

C: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying:

P: "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;

C: Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

P: But You are He who took Me out of the womb;

C: You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.

P: I was cast upon You from birth.

C: From My mother’s womb You have been My God.

P: Be not far from Me,

C: For trouble is near; For there is none to help.

P: Many bulls have surrounded Me;

C: Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

P: They gape at Me with their mouths,

C: Like a raging and roaring lion.

P: I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint;

C: My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me.

P: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws;

C: You have brought Me to the dust of death.

P: For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

C: They pierced My hands and My feet;

P: I can count all My bones.

C: They look and stare at Me.

P: They divide My garments among them,

C: And for My clothing they cast lots.

P: But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;

C: O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

Hymn: 153 st. 1-3 ~ Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

(1:00 p.m.)

STAND WATCH BENEATH THE CROSS

From the city of Jerusalem we have followed the stream of onlookers to a small hill outside the city, called Golgotha, or translated, Calvary – the place of a skull. There atop the hill, are three crosses. Two thieves, one either end, and the most scorned criminal in the middle—Jesus of Nazareth. There is, at a distance, a group of the women who followed Jesus watching and if we listen closely, no doubt we would hear them crying. At the foot of the cross we see Mary, Jesus’ mother and with her John, Jesus’ disciple. As Mary stands at the feet of her dying son, there is as Simeon had foretold over 30 years ago, a sword of grief piercing through her very own soul. Others are here—the soldiers, the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people; and citizens ordinary men and women with their children who simply came to watch. You now also….Come….stand watch beneath the cross…

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:32-34).

Hymn: 324(1,3,5)

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)

Hymn: 181

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)

Hymn: 182(1,3)

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." (Matthew 27:45-49)

Hymn: 174(1-3)

Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’" Having said this, and bowing His head, He breathed His last. So when the centurion who stood opposite Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed his last he said, "truly this was the Son of God!"

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where He was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden, Joseph’s own new tomb, that was hewn out of the rock in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore, because that day was the Preparation Day and the Sabbath drew near—because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, the mother of Joses, sitting opposite the grave. They observed the tomb, and where and how His body was laid. And Joseph rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away. And the women returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath Day according to the commandment. (Harmony)

Hymn 175

(7:30 p.m.)

WERE YOU THERE?

(Gospel Harmony & Church Choir)

The apostle John was there on Calvary when Jesus was crucified; and the Holy Spirit inspired him and the other evangelists to record the events. Were YOU there? Yes, in a way you were; for your sins were there laid upon Jesus and there He died for them.

Now, as the evening shadows lengthen and the all voices and cries of the day grow silent, and these event-full 24 hours draw to their close; as you sit this evening in Jerusalem and see the empty crosses atop the nearby hill, listen to the eye-witness accounts and see what took place here today, as if you were there...

And Pontius Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold! Your King!" But 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." And so Pilate delivered Jesus to their own will. He delivered Him to them to be crucified.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

There were two others, criminals, led with Jesus to be put to death.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him and the criminals one on the right hand and one the left.

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

The people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others, Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

The soldiers also mocked Him coming and offering Him sour wine and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Eli! Eli! Lama sabachthani—My God, My God, why have Your forsaken Me?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus…

Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom. Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.

"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

<< Music Stops>>

Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ " Having said this, and bowing His head, He breathed His last. So when the centurion who stood opposite Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed his last he said, "truly this was the Son of God!"

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

[They] laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for His friends. (John 15:13).

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb………..?

Hymn: 175 ~ When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

SERMON

INI

Text: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-15

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. and the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread. So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived

…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

In Christ Jesus, whose body tonight lies dead in the tomb having laid down His life for you on the cross, dear fellow-redeemed:

The stream of onlookers was not fast or crowded, but it was steady. I admit I was in that stream of people for the same reason—to look and to watch. It was this past Sunday and people in cars, on foot, and on bicycles were making their way along the "Judson Bottom Road" to see how far the river had risen. People also lined the newly formed shores of the river in Sibley Park and walked along the dike. Since that time, the river has risen higher, the road and park are closed, and the opening in the floodwall at Main Street has been closed; so now people are left with vantage points further away like the one on Lookout Drive—and every time I drive past the lookout, there has always been at least one person standing there…watching.

What draws people to this phenomenon of nature and leads them to stand and just watch what is really nothing more than fast-moving water and debris? The answer to that question differs from person to person, I’m sure, but for whatever reasons we, the onlookers, have been captivated, held in mesmerized awe, staring at the flooding river.

The captivation on Calvary when Jesus died was somewhat similar. Many people were out there standing, staring, gawking at the sight. They stood there in mesmerized amazement, perhaps in ways they didn’t even fully understand…standing there, staring at a man dying.

Jesus’ enemies stood and stared with joy and glee. Theirs would be a ecstatic Sabbath Day for their greatest critic and most hated enemy was dying. They had done it! And it turned out to be so EASY! A disciple betrayed Him and Pilate couldn’t withstand the political pressure – oh, what joy to watch Him die!

The soldiers probably didn’t stare too much at Jesus…just enough to make sure he was dying according to plan, that was after all their job. Yet, they too took enough note of Jesus to laugh and to ridicule and to enjoy the sport. However, at least one soldier—the centurion—took greater note and recognized Jesus as the Son of God by the end of the day.

John, Jesus’ mother, and the other women who were there stared at Jesus through tears. They neither understood enough, nor had faith enough to look forward to the third day. All they could see was their dear friend (and for Mary, her firstborn son), the one they had believed to be the Messiah dying on the cross. He was the one who had done so many marvelous things, but now looked so helpless, bloody, and groaning in agony.

The rest of the people certainly had mixed reasons and emotions for being there. Some undoubtedly came out of morbid curiosity at an execution, others out of simple curiosity about all that was happening, and probably some were just "passing by."

Today/tonight, we want to go back and stand at the cross and look up at Jesus and stare. It is a gaze of sorrow, though not for the same reasons as those who wept on the first Good Friday. It is a gaze of joy, but not because of gladness that Jesus would be dead. We want to stand with our eyes fixed firmly on our dying Lord, and then freeze that image in our hearts & minds together with the words: JESUS SAVES!

On Friday evening as Nicodemus helped Joseph bury Jesus’ body, we aren’t told if he thought about what Jesus had told him that night when Nicodemus first came to Jesus. Had Nicodemus thought of those words and been able to understand fully what Jesus had said, then Nicodemus would have understood exactly what had just happened on Calvary. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15).

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews and as such he would have known the Old Testament Scriptures very well. When Jesus’ referred back to Moses and the bronze serpent in the wilderness, Nicodemus knew perfectly what had happened…

The children of Israel had been wandering in the wilderness for nearly 40 years and were in their final approach into the Promised Land. They were getting so close. The nation of Edom stood in their path before them. So Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking for permission to pass through his country. Moses reminded the Edomites that they were "brothers" because the Israelites were descendants of Jacob, and the Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Moses told the king that they would simply pass through on the main highway, they wouldn’t eat or drink anything from Edom, nor would they ever leave the road neither to the right or to the left. Edom refused, so the Israelites had to journey from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom.

Even though the people were ALMOST to the PROMISED LAND and this would only be a relatively short delay (albeit with extra walking), the people had ENOUGH! Aaron had recently died and now THIS! What next!!?? “The soul of the people became very discouraged(impatient) on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.’” [vv.4-5]

The people’s complaint was a familiar one. Time and again throughout their journey they would complain and claim that God and Moses had brought them out into the wilderness to die. HOW FOOLISH! God had not brought the plagues against Egypt, rescued them from Pharaoh, given them Manna and quail, and water when they needed it, and protected them from enemies simply so he could toy with them and then kill them in the wilderness! NO!! God who had miraculously and graciously provided for them and preserved them for 40 years of wandering in rugged wilderness would not forsake them now! And yet the people got "fed up" with God and complained even about His gift of Manna, calling it "worthless bread" even though that is what had kept them alive for 40 years.

“So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. [vv.6-8]

God’s judgment upon the people’s rebellious complaints was the sending of very deadly snakes. God’s sent the serpents, they began to bite the people, and immediately, the people began to die. God sent the serpents as a way to show the people the seriousness of their sin, to lead them to see that they had rebelled against the Living God. God’s purpose was also to lead the Israelites to repentance and when they did repent turning to the Lord for help, the Lord also sent salvation.

The bronze snake which God had Moses put on the pole was an image of the very snakes that were killing the people. On that pole, the people saw the thing that was bringing them death. When they looked at the pole, they saw their nemesis, they saw what was killing them; but because of God’s promise they looked to the pole for salvation. What the people saw was death—the form of a fiery serpent—but because of God’s promise attached to it, when they looked to that pole in faith they were saved. When they looked at the bronze serpent, God gave them healing.

The bronze snake, itself, did not save the people any more than the blood of all the sacrificial bulls and lambs washed away their sin. The bronze serpent itself did not save the people any more than the blood itself on the door posts in Egypt on the night of the 10th plague spared them from the killing of the firstborn. It was GOD who saved the people at each of these times.

In the wilderness, God promised that if a snake-bitten Israelite repented of his sin, looked to God for help, then looked to bronze serpent while believing God’s promise of salvation, through that faith the one who was bitten would be saved and live.

In the sacrifices, God forgave the sins of the people when they brought those sacrifices with repentant hearts. He forgave their sins when they came offering the blood of the sacrifices but looking ahead and trusting in God’s promises concerning the Lamb of God who would truly pay for their sins. Anyone who offered the sacrifice without faith was doing a worthless act. GOD SAVED them from their sins through faith in Christ!

In Egypt, GOD SAVED. He spared the lives of the firstborn in all of those households who believed Him when He said that they would not see death if they painted the blood of the Passover lamb on their door posts.

So when Jesus told Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,” it was a promise of salvation through faith. Many looked and saw Jesus "lifted up" on the cross, but those who receive life are not those who look believing, those who look in FAITH, trusting that when Jesus died on the cross He was dying for the sins of the world…for my sins! It is as Jesus also told Nicodemus, “God so loved the Word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

As we see Jesus hanging on the cross we see the full reality of sin and death. Just as Israel looked and saw the serpent that was causing all of their pain, suffering and death; so too, we look at Jesus dying on the cross and see the pain and suffering that is ultimately, our death.

There at the cross, we see Jesus dying, we see what sin brought into the world. Jesus’ death was not beautiful to watch. Crucifixion was a miserable, awful way to lose one’s life. We tend to picture the cross shiny and beautiful in our jewelry. We make it smooth and clean in artwork. But crucifixion was not shiny and beautiful, smooth, or clean. It was horrendous, rough, and bloody. When someone saw crucifixion, he saw death in a most dramatic way.

There, at the cross, we see what sin brought into the world. There, as we see Jesus crowned with thorns, bleeding and dying, we see what is ultimately killing us – sin. There on the cross, we see and hear what we deserve. From the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). On the cross, Jesus endured the punishment of hell for every one of our sins. When Jesus cried out in complete agony, "Why have you forsaken Me?" There we also see what is killing us eternally – the condemnation in the judgment of hell.

Just as the Israelites who looked to that image of death and received life, so too we receive life from looking to the cross in faith. We hear from the Old Testament, “So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. [v.9] When we look at Christ we are saved and LIVE! Jesus SAVES US from SIN – all of our sin. When Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" He was declaring, "The work of redemption is DONE!" Every bit of the guilt of your sins is washed away. There is NOTHING left."

JESUS SAVES you from EVERY SIN…the sins we commit when we are caught up in the here-and-now like the Israelites were. The Israelites were so consumed by having to walk around Edom, being sick-and-tired of the Manna; they were so consumed with what was right there in front of them that they forgot they were walking to the PROMISED LAND! We sin by being caught up in the here-and-now, forgetting to look forward to eternal life, forgetting to look to our Savior who is leading us there.

The Children of Israel sinned by disregarding the blessings God had given them. The Manna that God had given them, they called "worthless bread." They didn’t lack food when they cried out for help, they lacked what they WANTED. We too sin when we complain and grow bitter because we don’t have what we WANT, even though God has provided so much.

The Children of Israel sinned when they blamed someone else: "GOD it is YOUR problem! YOU brought us out here to DIE!" We sin when we find a scapegoat for the things we do wrong, the bad ways we act, and the sinful words we say.

On that day in the wilderness, the whole nation of Israel didn’t suddenly rise up and start rebelling against God. It started small and grew throughout the nation. We too sin when WE are the starting point of sin and from our words and actions it spreads and stirs up others to follow us in our sin. The list of our sins include those by which we have become stumbling blocks that have caused other people to "trip" and to sin. We sin in ways we do not even know.

Someplace in our world today and probably some place right here in our own city, there are people who are locked in their houses in total fear because today is Friday the 13th. They are people who are consumed by superstition and fear and doubt, not knowing where to turn, wondering if they can survive, believing as if a day and a number makes any difference in their life whatsoever. We sin if we trust in things other than Christ. We fail in our weaknesses when we fear, because Christ casts out fear.

All of these sins and any others we might have are washed away and we are saved because Jesus died on the cross. JESUS SAVES!

Many will gaze upon this cross. Many will even wear a cross around their neck and still not see what you see. When you look, when you gaze, when you stare at your dying Savior, you see there the power to save. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:23-25).

Stand there at the cross, look up, and see…JESUS SAVES! Amen.

—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt

Offertory Hymn: 172 st. 8, 10 ~ O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Offering of Thankful Hearts

Confession of Sins and Absolution

I now ask you before God who searches the heart:

Do you confess with repentant sorrow that you have sinned against God and deserved His wrath and punishment? – then declare so by saying, "I DO SO CONFESS."

We do rightly confess our sins for Holy Scripture declares, "If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

Do you believe that God, by grace, for Jesus’ sake, will forgive you all your sins? Then declare so by saying, "I DO BELIEVE"

You are right in believing this for God’s Word declares it with certainty, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Do you promise that with the aid of the Holy Spirit you will from this time forward amend your sinful life? -- then declare so by saying, "I DO PROMISE."

This also is good and pleasing before Jesus our Lord who said to the woman caught in adultery: "Go and sin no more!" and again at another time, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father who is in heaven."

Finally, do you believe that through me, a called servant of God, you will receive the forgiveness of all your sins – then declare so by saying, "I DO BELIEVE."

As you believe even so may it be unto you.

Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office as a called servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you and in the stead and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Words of Institution

Pax Domini

Agnus Dei

Distribution of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Hymns:

149 ~ Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain

171 ~ Upon the Cross Extended

Nunc Dimittis

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

PRAYER:

O gentle Savior, we have beheld Your agony and death. Surely You are the Son of God. No greater gift, no better sacrifice can ever be given than that which we have seen today. Here we have seen the tremendous cost of our sins. May Your cross on Calvary and what You did for us there ever be the source of our forgiveness, comfort, joy, and peace

Thank You for giving us in the Sacrament, the body and blood you offered for our sins and through them giving us pardon and peace. We plead that You not forsake us—sinners though we be—but evermore rule in our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to constantly serve You. Enable us to say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ…and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Bless the preaching of Your cross everywhere and by that message draw all people to You that they may live with You and for You forever, knowing that JESUS SAVES!"

All other needs, cares, and pleas we bring to you together with our praise in the words You have taught us…OUR FATHER…

(1:00 p.m.)

You came to Jerusalem and climbed Calvary’s hill to stand watch beneath the cross while Your Savior died. It is still dark here in Jerusalem. In less than an hour, time will again mark the moment when Jesus cried out "IT IS FINISHED!" and then bowed His head in death. You came to Jerusalem confessing that it was your sins which led Jesus to the cross. Go forth now in Mankato and surrounding regions, knowing IT IS FINISHED, YOU HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WASHES AWAY ALL YOUR SIN! Go forth with His blessing, uplifted, forgiven, and anticipating the joyful celebration of His resurrection, trusting in Your Jesus who has saved you.

(7:30 p.m.)

The sun has now set, the Sabbath has begun. On this day, the Jewish leaders will come to Pilate and request that he seal the tomb and set a guard—and he will; but that will not stop Jesus’ resurrection.

You came to Jerusalem this evening to remember and reflect upon today’s events. You were there to hear Jesus cry out, "IT IS FINISHED!" and you were there to see Him bow His head in death.

You came to Jerusalem confessing that it was your sins which led Jesus to the cross. Go forth now to your homes in Mankato and surrounding regions, knowing IT IS FINISHED, YOU HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST which WASHES AWAY ALL YOUR SIN! Go forth with His blessing, uplifted, forgiven, and anticipating the joyful celebration of His resurrection, trusting in Your Jesus who has saved you!

Benediction: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!

Closing Hymn: 170 ~ O Perfect Life of Love