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Apr 02, 2021

"What's So 'Good' about Good Friday?"

Passage: John 18:28-19:15

Preacher: Pastor Tony Phelps

Series: Easter Series

Category: Luke, Matthew, Acts, John

Summary:

John 13:12-30, John 15:18-27, John 18:28-19:15, Matthew 27:24-34, John 19:17-24, Matthew 27:35-44, Matthew 27:45-49, Luke 23:46-49, John 19:28-37, Acts 2:22-32, Acts 2:33-36

Detail:

 

LIVING HOPE OPC ORDER OF WORSHIP for Good Friday, April 2nd, 2021 at 7:00PM

 

Prelude & Welcome

Call to Worship – The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:22-24

Prayer of Adoration & Invocation

FIRST LESSON: John 13:12-30

Betrayal: He that eateth My bread lifted up his heel against Me.

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” 21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

*PSALM 41:6-11 (tune: NTH 338; words from TPH)

He comes to me with evil in his heart;

When he goes out, he spreads his empty lies.

All of my foes who hate me whisper low,

Plotting the worst that evil minds devise.

 

They say, “A deadly thing on him is poured;

He will not rise again to leave his bed.”

Even my close friend turned his back on me –

He, whom I trusted and who shared my bread.

 

But you, O LORD, be gracious unto me.

Raise me again, their malice to requite.

O’er me my foes will not in triumph shout –

By this I know that in me you delight.

SECOND LESSON: John 15:18-27

Rejection: They hated Me without a cause.

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

PSALM 35:19-23: (tune: NTH 252; words from TP)

Let not my wrongful enemies

Raise over me their joyful cries,

Nor those whose hate I merit not

With secret scorning wink their eyes.

 

They speak not peace; deceit they plot

Against the men of peaceful mien;

They open wide their mouth at me

And say, “Aha! Our eyes have seen!”

 

LORD, Thou hast seen; then be not still!

O Lord, be not far from my sight!

Stir up Thyself! To justice wake!

My God, my Lord, uphold my right!

THIRD LESSON: John 18:28-19:15

Trial: Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 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.”

FOURTH LESSON: Matthew 27:24-34

Mocking: They gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall.

24 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.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 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!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 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. 32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

*PSALM 69:17-21 (tune: NTH 144; words from TP)

Ne’er from Thy servant hide Thy face;

I’m pressed; soon answer me.

Draw near to me; redeem my soul;

My foes come; ransom me.

Well known to Thee is my reproach,

My shame and my disgrace;

The adversaries of my soul

Are all before Thy face.

 

My heart is broken by reproach,

And I am sick and weak.

I never find the sympathy

And comforters I seek.

They also gave me bitter gall

In all the food I ate;

They gave me vinegar to drink

The time my thirst was great.

FIFTH LESSON: John 19:17-24

Crucifixion: They divided my outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,

 

*PSALM 22:13-18 (tune: NTH 79; words from TPH)

Like lion jaws they open wide, and roar to tear their prey.

My heart is wax, my bones unknit, my life is poured away.

My strength is dried like shattered clay; my tongue sticks to my jaws;

You bring me to the dust of death, and there you lay me down.

 

For see how dogs encircle me! On every side there stands

A brotherhood of cruelty; they pierce my feet and hands.

My bones are plain for me to count; men see me and they stare.

My clothes among them they divide, and gamble for their share.

 

SIXTH LESSON: Matthew 27:35-44

Insults: He trusts in God; let Him deliver Him.

35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

*PSALM 22:4-8: (tune: NTH 79; words from TPH)

Our fathers put their trust in you; from you salvation came.

They begged you and you set them free; they were not put to shame.

But as for me, I am a worm and not a man at all.

To men I am despised and base; their scornings on me fall.

 

All those who look at me will laugh and cast reproach at me.

Their mouths they opened wide; they wag their heads in mockery.

“This man has trusted in the LORD; let God redemption send.

Now let his God deliver him, for he delights in him.”

SEVENTH LESSON: Matthew 27:45-49

Darkness: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?    

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 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?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

*PSALM 22:1-3: (tune: NTH 79; words from TPH)

My God, my God, O why have you forsaken me? O why

Are you so far from saving me and from my groaning cry?

By day and night, my God, I call; your answer still delays,

And yet you are the Holy One who dwells in Israel’s praise.

HOMILY: What’s So “Good” about Good Friday?

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

*HYMN: Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed (new hymn tune)

EIGHTH LESSON: Luke 23:46-49

Committal: Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.    

46 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. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

* PSALM 31:3-5: (tune: “O for a Thousand Tongues)

Because thou art my rock, and thee

I for my fortress take;

Therefore do thou me lead and guide,

ev'n for thine own name's sake.

 

And since thou art my strength, therefore

pull me out of the net,

Which they in subtlety for me

so [secretly] have set.

 

Into thine hands I do commit

my sp'rit: for thou art he,

O thou, Jehovah, God of truth,

that hast redeem-ed me.

NINTH LESSON: John 19:28-37

Death: Not a bone of Him shall be broken.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would 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. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

*NTH 246 Man of Sorrows! What a Name

 

TENTH LESSON: Acts 2:22-32

Resurrection: Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow thy Holy One to undergo decay.

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

*PSALM 16: (tune: NTH 169; words from TP)

Preserve me, O my God;

I put my trust in You.

LORD, I confess, You are my Lord;

No good have I but You.

The godly ones on earth,

Those holy in Your sight,

The noble and majestic ones,

Fill me with great delight.

 

Their sorrows multiply

Who after idols seek.

To them I’ll no blood off’rings make;

Their names I’ll never speak.

The LORD the portion is

Of my inheritance.

He fills my cup, my lot prepares,

Secures to me His grants.

 

The lines that fell to me

Enclose a pleasant site.

The heritage that I received

To me is a delight.

I bless the LORD Who guides

With counsel that is right.

My heart within me He directs

To teach me in the night.

 

I always keep the LORD

Before me, Him to see.

Because He is at my right hand

I never moved shall be.

Thus gladness fills my soul;

My joy must be expressed

With my whole being, for my flesh

Securely finds its rest.

 

My soul You will not leave

In death’s dark pit to be.

Corruption You will not permit

Your Holy One to see.

The path of life You’ll show;

Of joy You hold great store.

Before Your face, at Your right hand,

Are pleasures evermore.

 

ELEVENTH LESSON: Acts 2:33-36

Ascension: The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.”

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

*PSALM 110 (tune: NTH 452; words from TP)

Jehovah to my Lord has said,

“Sit Thou at My right hand

Until I make Thy foes a stool

Whereon Thy feet may stand.”

Jehovah shall from Zion send

The scepter of Thy power.

In battle with Thine enemies

Be Thou the conqueror.

 

A willing people in Thy day

Of power shall come to Thee.

Thy youth arrayed in holiness

Like morning dew shall be.

Jehovah swore, and from His oath

He never will depart:

“Of th’order of Melchizedek

A priest Thou ever art.”

 

The Lord at Thy right hand shall smite

Earth’s rulers in His wrath.

Among the nations He shall judge;

The slain shall fill His path.

In many lands He’ll overthrow

Their kings with ruin dread;

And, marching, He’ll drink from the brook

And so lift up His head.

*BENEDICTION: Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

*Please stand, if able, as we sing.

Trinity Psalter selections licensed for use by Crown & Covenant Publications

Trinity Psalter Hymnal used with permission from Trinity Psalter Hymnal Joint Venture