LENTEN SERVICES

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LENTEN SERVICE

Worship services for LENT will be offered at Grace on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Lenten Services: Coinciding with our study together of the “Forgiveness Challenge,” the pastors will be interviewing Biblical characters who can give us insight into the nature of and need for forgiveness.

Lenten schedule below.
Feb. 14 Introduction: Interview with Adam
This is Ash Wednesday. There was Communion and the Imposition of Ashes.
WATCH ASH WEDNESDAYSERVICE!
Feb. 21 Sin: Interview with King Ahab.
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

Feb. 28 Confession: Interview with Saul-Paul
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

Mar. 6 Absolution: Interview with the Prodigal Brother
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

Mar. 13 Restoration: Interview with St. Peter
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

Mar. 20 Sanctification: Interview with the Unforgiving Servant
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 28 — “The Easy Way Out” Text: Mark 14:32-42
WATCH SERVICE HERE!

GOOD FRIDAY, March 29 — “He Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”. Text: Matthew 27:11-31

WATCH SERVICE HERE!

SERMON NOTES
PASTOR WOOD’S Message notes

Message Notes Good Friday 2024
Title: “He Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”
Text: Matthew 27:11-31

Intro: Good Friday is a day like no other; a day of many contrasts. Ultimate evil collides with the ultimate good. Love clashes with hatred. Justice meets grace. The death of Jesus brings life to all who believe. The hard part; living up to our confession.

I. Good Friday does not leave room for faith to sit on the fence like Pilate attempted to do.
A. By the events of Matthew 27:11 much has happened.
1. All night in a kangaroo court by the religious leaders.
2. Ends justify the means approach.
3. Jesus indicted on three very carefully worded charges before Pilate.
4. The big one was “claiming to be Christ, a king” (Luke 23:2).
5. Pilate under political pressure—crowd ensured.
B. Pilate declares Jesus was innocent seven times and tries to release Him.
1. Pilate focuses on the third charge.
2. “Are you the king of the Jews?”
3. “It is as you have said.”
4. Majestic silence impresses Pilate.
5. V. 17 “He knew that it was out of envy that they handed Jesus over to him.”
6. Mrs. Pilate’s dream.
7. In the end Pilate washes his hands and declares his own innocence.
8. Jesus is sent to be crucified.
C. Pilate tries to sit on the fence.
1. He tries to pass the responsibility to Herod or the Jews.
2. Contrast: Jesus is decisive and dies on the cross.
3. Was it conscience, or hatred for the Jews for Pilate?
4. Fence sitting signals fear of something and pressure to do something else.
5. Pilate–Jesus embodied trouble he didn’t need.
6. Religious Leaders—Jesus embodied their hatred.
7. Heavenly Father–Jesus embodied forgiveness and eternal life.
8. Contrast: Only one was innocent and He died for the rest.

II. Good Friday is a contrast of guilt and innocence as seen in Barabbas and Pilate’s attempted paschal amnesty.
A. Barabbas—(bar abba—son of the Father).
1. Mark 15:7 – Led an uprising and was a murderer.
2. The very thing Jesus was accused of before Pilate.
3. John 18:40 – lestes–“robber”–“terrorist” against Rome.
4. Matthew 27:16—“notorious” Jewish prisoner in custody.
5. Perhaps a Zealot.
6. Probably smart, charismatic, inspiring, driven to extract Rome.
7. Irony—Exactly what many expected in a Messiah.
8. Jesus didn’t fit their stereotype of a Messiah.
9. Jews preferred their version of Messiah rejected Jesus.
B. Barabbas had not yet been tried.
1. Paschal amnesty attempt by Pilate fails.
2. Innocence obvious to Pilate but not to the crowd.
3. Two “sons” couldn’t have been more different in their way of saving Israel.
4. The guilty is released. The innocent is crucified.
C. We are Barabbas.
1. Sin condemns us.
2. Jesus goes to the cross in our place.
3. 2 Cor 5:21
4. That’s Good Friday.

III. The price of Good Friday was high.
A. The abuse is relentless.
1. The guards beat Jesus at the Praetorium in Herod’s former palace.
2. Flogged.
3. Beat Jesus for sport.
4. Crucify Jesus
5. Mock him and spit on him.
6. The chief priests gloat and arrogantly mock too.
7. Devil’s voice on their lips.
B. It’s the same stuff today.
1. Those who follow the Truth of God’s Word often have it thrown back in our faces too.
2. Devil’s voice on the lips of unbelievers.
3. Believers are the contrast.
4. Hard not to get sucked in by the crowd.
5. Jesus’ death on the cross was the plan and so was the resurrection.
6. This is the truth we bet our lives on.
C. We are invited, never forced to carry our own cross.
1. We are invited to carry our cross.
2. Matthew 27:32 –Simon of Cyrene.
3. Share in His humiliation and rejection.
4. Share in the mocking and unfair treatment.
5. Sacrifice our pride and die to self.
6. To Receive the forgiveness that is won.
7. To live out our faith.
8. To be children of God
9. Invited to the resurrection.
10. No force or pressure like the power seekers.
11. Jesus invites. Faith accepts that invitation.

Conclusion: Our names deserve to be on that cross but only one name was attached to it on Good Friday. Not ours. Not Simon of Cyrenes. Not Barabbas. Only Jesus. Our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life instead. In one name our sins are forgiven. Not of this world. Jesus.

Taking It Home
1. What does Good Friday evoke in you? What does it mean to you at this point in your life?
2. Have you ever tried to sit on the fence when you practice your faith? How did that work out? What made the choices so hard?
3. What may be a particular sin that troubles you most? Has it repeated? Describe why it is so hard to shake? What may work better?
4. Name the most meaningful thing about Good Friday in your mind? Why does it stick out most?
Consider Reading Matthew 27-28

PRINTABLE PDF: MNGoodFri.PDF

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GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE PROGRAM

PRINTABLE PDF: WSGoodFriday.PDF

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
March 29, 2024
“Behold the Man!”

Grace Lutheran Church
1787 Klerner Lane
New Albany, Indiana 47150
812-944-1267
glcna.org

GOOD FRIDAY “TENEBRAE” SERVICE
March 29, 2024 — 7:00 PM

WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER

OPENING HYMN: Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted LSB 451 vs 1-4

THE INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

APPROACHING THE CROSS: (PSALM 22)
Pastor: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
People: Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
Pastor: All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
People: “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
Pastor: Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
People: From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Pastor: Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
People: Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Pastor: Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
People: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
Pastor: My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
People: My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
Pastor: Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
People: All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
Pastor: They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
People: But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

SONG: In Silent Pain the Eternal Son LSB 432

CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
Pastor: As we stand at the foot of the cross, we confess and acknowledge our sins before God.
All: Jesus, Lamb of God, I confess that I have like a lost sheep gone astray. I confess that I have too often underestimated my Adversary and like Peter, let my guard down; more concerned with blending into the crowd than confessing Jesus. I confess that I have even betrayed our Lord like Judas imposing my will upon Jesus and exchanging my integrity for creature comforts. I confess that I have fled Jesus in fearful retreat like the rest of the disciples when I should have had more courage. I have many sins to confess which take for granted our Savior but on this night, I remember and confess them at the foot of Your cross. Lord, hear my confession and forgive my many sins. Forgive me and renew me so that I might follow Your Word and be kept in Your care. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Pastor: Having heard your confession, I as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And now “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.”
People: Amen.

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray.
All: Lord Jesus, You carried our sins in Your own body on the cross so that we might have life. May we and all who celebrate this day find new life in You now and in the world to come. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who was given into the hands of sinners, suffered death on the cross and who now lives and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC: Sung by: Tom Perryman
Messiah By: George Frederick Handel
No. 29, Recitative: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
No. 30, Aria: Behold, and See if There Be Any Sorrow
+++THE WORD+++

NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 6:1-11
(Count yourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ)
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL HYMN: “No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet” LSB 444

THE GOSPEL: Matthew 27:11-26 (Jesus is Crucified)
Pastor: The Gospel according to St. Matthew the 27th chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.

THE MESSAGE: Pastor Matt Woods

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

HYMN RESPONSE: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded LSB 449 vs. 1, 2, 4

OFFERTORY: Deep Were His Wounds (HS #821)
1. Deep were His wounds, and red, On Cruel Calvary,
As on the cross He bled In bitter agony.
But they, whom sin has wounded sore.
Find healing in the wounds He bore.

2. He suffered shame and scorn, And wretched, dire disgrace;
Forsaken and forlorn, He hung there in our place.
But all who would from sin be free
Look to His cross for victory.

3. His life, His all, He gave When He was crucified;
Our burdened souls to save, What fearful death He died!
But each of us, though dead in sin,
Through Him eternal life may win.

THE PRAYERS

LORD’S PRAYER

SPECIAL MUSIC: “JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL” – GLC CHOIR

THE CLOSING READING: “The Burial of Christ”
(Luke 23:47-56)
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

THE PRAYER
Pastor: O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Living God, who at the evening hour did rest in the tomb, and thereby sanctified the grave to be a bed of hope for Your people: Make us abound in sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of your passion, that when our bodies rest in the dust, our souls may live with You; who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.

(Now all the lights of the Church are dimmed to remind us of the very real death that Jesus experienced on Calvary for us, because of our sin, and for our salvation.)

PROCESSION TO THE TOMB—We follow behind the Christ Banner to the tomb where it will lay until Easter Morning. And then we depart with sins removed and with the crucified Lord firmly established upon our hearts. We remember the still lighted Christ candle, which symbolizes that hope is not lost. Jesus will rise again and with him, our hope of new life.

Welcome:
Thank you for joining us on this very holy evening. We pray that this night has bless you and your family in Jesus. If you are a guest with us and would like to know more about Grace Lutheran, please consider writing down your contact information on one of the cards in the pews. Then, simply place the card in the offering plate on the way out. This will give one of the pastors an opportunity to reach out to you. If you are looking for a church home, you will find that Grace Lutheran is a family of imperfect people who love their Savior. The Word of God holds the highest authority here and we are grateful for the saving Message of the Gospel. God bless you.

Pastor Bruce Kischnick and Pastor Matt Woods
You Are Invited To
Easter Sunday Services
6:30 AM “Son-Rise” Service
8:00 AM Festival Service with communion
Easter Breakfast 7:00 – 10:15 AM
10:30 AM Festival Service with communion