Look for the Love in Sacrifice - Good Friday

[0:00] Good evening, church. May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you. Welcome to worship at Pendleton Center United Methodist Church.

[0:11] My name is Scott. I'm one of your pastors. And we come together on this night, this holy night, where we remember what God has done for us in sacrificing himself.

[0:23] Love so great, love so deep, love so wide we can't comprehend. But greater love has no one than this, than to give up one's own life for one's friends.

[0:37] God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. And this is the judgment, that the light has come to the world, and we love darkness more than light.

[0:55] In this service, we pause to focus on the story. It speaks for itself. We will pray and sing to honor God and open our hearts.

[1:07] Then we remember how our need to look for love in the wrong places force Jesus to give himself, so that we would understand that there is no greater love than his.

[1:18] Let us remember that love as now we turn our eyes to him. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

[1:46] Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

[2:12] In the name of Christ, we gather on this day of Good Friday to remember anew the struggle of the cross and the final victory.

[2:31] With you, Lord, we wish to remain. Let us walk together to the cross, see our Lord's suffering, hear his voice pleading for drink, and asking for pardon for those who tortured him mercilessly.

[2:48] Oh, how to hold back the tears in the midst of so much pain. And even then, he taught us how to love. When the day darkened, and it seemed to envelop the whole earth, we thought all was lost.

[3:06] But amid the darkness, we saw your light. It was there, when the sun darkened, and the temple veil tore in half, that we heard your voice.

[3:19] Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Then there was peace. In the midst of life's darkness, peace also comes, when with complete confidence, we offer ourselves to you, beloved Lord.

[3:38] Because in that hour of darkness and pain, your light shone brightly when the centurion exclaimed, truly, this man is the Son of God.

[3:50] With you, Lord, we wish to remain. Amen. Amen. Good evening, everyone.

[4:01] I'm going to invite you to stand as we sing together When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My riches gain, I count on us, And for contempt of all my pride.

[4:58] Forbidden, Lord, that I sure most, Save in the death of Christ, my God.

[5:19] All loving things that show me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

[5:40] See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love, loving the dawn.

[6:02] Did as the dawn and sorrow meet, For the dawn's come so rich around, Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small, Love so amazing, so divine, Divine, demons my soul, My light, my all.

[7:04] You may be seated.

[7:20] Jesus went forth with his disciples, And not to turn the valley, Where there was a garden, Which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, Also knew the place.

[7:34] For Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers, And some officers from the chief priests And the Pharisees, Went there with lanterns, And torches, and weapons.

[7:49] Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, Came forward and said to them, Whom do you seek? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.

[8:01] Jesus said to them, I am he. Judas, who betrayed him, Was standing with them. When he said to them, I am he, He drew back and fell to the ground.

[8:17] Again he asked them, Who do you seek? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he. So if you seek me, Let these men go.

[8:31] This was to fulfill the word, Which he had spoken. I did not lose a single one of those, Whom you gave me. Then Simon Peter, Having a sword, Drew it, And struck the high priest's slave, And cut off his right ear.

[8:47] The slave's name was Malachis. Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword in its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup From which the Father has given me? So the band of soldiers and their captain, And the officers of the Judean authorities, Seized Jesus and bound him.

[9:17] First they led him to Annas, For he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, Who was the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had given counsel To the religious authorities, That it was expedient that one man Should die for the people.

[9:40] Simon Peter followed Jesus, And so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, He entered the court of the high priest Along with Jesus.

[9:52] While Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, Who was known to the high priest, Went out and spoke to the woman Who guarded the gate.

[10:03] And brought Peter in. The woman who guarded the gate said to Peter, Are you not also one of this men's disciples? He said, I am not.

[10:15] Now the servants and the officers Had made a charcoal fire. Because it was cold. And they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, Standing and warming himself.

[10:29] The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

[10:42] Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple. Where all the Jewish people come together.

[10:55] I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me. What I said to them, they know what I said.

[11:07] When he had said this. One of the officers standing by struck Jesus. With his hand. Saying, Is that how you answer the high priest?

[11:20] Jesus answered him. If I have spoken wrongly. Bear witness to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly.

[11:31] Why do you strike me? Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. Please join us in singing the first verse of how deep the Father's love for us.

[11:55] How deep the Father's love for us.

[12:16] How vast beyond all measure. How vast beyond all measure. That he should give his only Son.

[12:29] To make a wretch his treasure. How great the pain of searing loss.

[12:42] The Father turns his face away. As wounds which are the chosen one.

[12:54] Bring many sons to glory. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.

[13:26] They said to him. Are you not also one of his disciples? He denied it. And said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest.

[13:38] A kinsman to the man whose ear Peter had cut off. Asked. Did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it.

[13:50] And at once the cock crowed.

[14:03] They led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early. They themselves did not enter the headquarters. So that they might not be defiled. But might eat the Passover.

[14:15] So Pilate went out to them and said. What accusations do you bring against this man? They answered him. If this man were not an evil doer.

[14:26] We would not have handed him over. Pilate said to them. Take him yourselves. And judge him by your own law. The religious authorities said to him.

[14:37] It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken. To show by what death he was to die. Pilate entered the headquarters again.

[14:59] And called Jesus. And said to him. Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered. Do you say this of your own accord?

[15:10] Or did others say it to you about me? Pilate answered. Am I a Jew? Your own nation and chief of priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?

[15:22] Jesus answered. My kingship is not of this world. If my kingship were of this world. My servants would fight. That I might not have been handed over to the religious authorities.

[15:36] But my kingship is not from this world. Pilate said to him. So are you a king? Jesus answered.

[15:47] You say that I am king. For this I was born. And for this I have come into the world. To bear witness to the truth.

[15:58] Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him. Pilate said to him. What is truth? What is truth? What is truth?

[16:09] What is truth? After Pilate had said this. He went to the religious authorities again.

[16:23] He told them. I find no crime in him. But you have a custom. That I should release one man for you at the Passover. Will you have me release for you the king of the Jews?

[16:37] They cried out again. Not this man. But Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. The Lord was a robber. The Lord was a robber.

[16:49] Amen. On His shoulders, ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out among the scholars.

[17:35] It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished.

[17:48] His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished.

[18:18] Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe.

[18:31] They came up to Him saying, Hail, King of the Jews, and struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no crime in Him.

[18:49] So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, Behold the man. When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, Crucify Him!

[19:03] Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no crime in Him. The religious authorities answered Him, We have a law and by that law He ought to die because He has made Himself the Son of God.

[19:25] When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid. He entered the headquarters again and said to Jesus, Where are you from?

[19:36] But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?

[19:51] Jesus answered him, You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore, He who delivered me to you has the greater sin.

[20:07] Upon this, Pilate sought to release Him. But the religious authorities cried out, If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend.

[20:22] Everyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar. When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the pavement, and in Hebrew, Gababitha.

[20:36] Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the religious authorities, Behold your king.

[20:46] They cried out, Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

[20:59] They handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

[21:27] There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross.

[21:46] It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Judeans read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

[22:07] The Jewish chief priests then said to Pilate, Do not write the King of the Jews, but this man said, I am the King of the Jews.

[22:19] Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier, also his tunic.

[22:45] But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom. So they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be.

[23:01] This was to fulfill the scripture. This was to fulfill the scripture. They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. This was to fulfill the scripture.

[23:39] No gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.

[23:57] Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer.

[24:11] But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my rest long.

[24:27] So the soldiers did this.

[24:47] But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

[24:59] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother.

[25:14] And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the scripture, I thirst.

[25:35] A bowl full of vinegar stood there, so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on Hysop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished.

[25:49] And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross for the Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a high day, the religious authorities asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

[26:21] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

[26:39] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness.

[26:51] His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth, that you also may believe. For these things took place, that the scripture might be fulfilled.

[27:05] Not a bone of him shall be broken. And again another scripture says, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced. That's great.

[27:17] Thank you. Thank you.

[27:54] For eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

[28:24] Amen.

[29:24] As the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Amen. Would you please stand as we sing verse 1 and 4 of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross?

[29:41] When I Survey the Wondrous Cross When I Survey the Wondrous Cross On which the Prince of Glory died My riches be my cloud but lost And what a tempt of all I died Were the whole realm of nature mine

[30:42] That were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all Go in peace.

[31:19] May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death upon a cross, keep you and strengthen you this night and forever.

[31:33] Let his show of love remind you to look for love in the right place. Also let his love give you hope As we know this is not how our story ends.

[31:48] Amen Amen Thank you.

[32:26] Thank you.