GOOD FRIDAY SPECIAL EDITION 2020
IT IS FINISHED Welcome to our special service for Good Friday edition of the Sunday Link. It is something of a bumper edition compared with previous editions, but I hope that it will bring you a blessing on this very special day. Good Friday seems a strange name for what is remembered as a sad day. It’s believed it may have developed from ‘God's Friday’. In other words, God's special day, the only way to heal and restore the whole world. We are going to journey with Jesus to the cross and as we remember the story, I invite you to try and step into that story for yourselves. At each stage of the journey there will be some readings from the scripture, some thoughts and a song to help us. There are also things to do, to watch and to listen to in order to help us in our reflections. Before we begin, Lts. Chris and Lucy Still (Bedworth) made me aware of this poem this week by Dave Hopwood, I think it’s a good place of reflection to start with and to focus one’s mind on the occasion: Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted Jesus: Jesus died for them. Pilate rejected Jesus, Herod taunted Jesus, Caiaphas framed Jesus: Jesus died for them. The soldiers crucified Jesus, the disciples deserted Jesus, the people laughed at Jesus: Jesus died for them. Mary wept for Jesus, the women anointed Jesus, Joseph buried Jesus: Jesus rose for them. We have doubted Jesus, we have denied Jesus, we rejected Jesus: but Jesus died for us.
The Salvation Army Stornoway Corps 59 Bayhead Stornoway HS1 2DZ
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Matthew 26: [Jesus] said to his disciples, 2“As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5“But not during the festival,…or there may be a riot among the people.” S.A. Songbook 209 1.When Jesus looked o'er Galilee, So blue and calm and fair, Upon her bosom, could He see A cross reflected there?
2. When sunrise dyed the lovely deeps And sparkled in His hair, O did the light rays seem to say: A crown of thorns He'll wear?
3. When in the hush of eventide Cool waters touched His feet,
Was it a hymn of Calvary's road He heard the waves repeat? 4. But when the winds triumphantly Swept from the open plain, The Master surely heard the song: The Lord shall live again!
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t768_EaZRhI
Matthew 26: 14Then one of the Twelve— the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Luke 22: 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9“Where do you10 want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” It was Thursday night. For Jesus and his disciples it was the evening of their Passover meal, a special meal celebrated by the people of God to remember how they were led by the Lord out of slavery, through the water, to freedom. It is an upstairs room, around a low table, candlelit, and with the guests reclining all around. They had celebrated a meal like this many times before in their lives. They must have celebrated it with Jesus before. But tonight in Jerusalem, this year, this week, it was different. The table was all set; with the lamb, the bitter herbs, the salt water and the special bread. They listened again to the story. Death passed over them because of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts all those years ago. Soon death would pass over them again, because of Jesus’ blood, the lamb of God on a wooden post. His body was broken like the bread, so that in the end death will not be able to break us. He died so we could live forever. They shared the bread. 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26) Throughout history, the seal of a covenant was made in blood. Blood was shed in order to consecrate and commit to the promises made in the covenant. Jesus told his disciples, there would be a new covenant and the sacrificial blood this time would be his own. No greater offering in sacrifice could be made. Something to do... When it is dark, light a candle and sit at a table. Imagine the scene of the disciple all sat around the table that evening. Remember the way Jesus washed their feet. How he shared truths with them. How he acted with compassion towards those he knew would betray him. Perhaps you could eat some bread as commitment to your participation in the new covenant established under Jesus Christ. The blood of the lamb which gave us our salvation. S.A. Songbook 610 1.My life must be Christ's broken bread, My love His outpoured wine, A cup o'erfilled, a table spread Beneath His name and sign, That other souls, refreshed and fed, May share His life through mine.
2. My all is in the Master's hands For Him to bless and break; Beyond the brook His winepress stands And thence my way I take, Resolved the whole of love's demands To give, for His dear sake.
3. Lord, let me share that grace of Thine Wherewith Thou didst sustain The burden of the fruitful vine, The gift of buried grain. Who dies with Thee, O Word divine, Shall rise and live again.
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbA9eU7eYGQ
John 13:30: As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. Mark 14:26: When [the rest of them] had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. It was night-time on the Mount of Olives, at a place called Gethsemane. For Jesus and his disciples, now only 11 in number, this was a favourite place. It was a place for rest, for getting away from the crowd, for prayer; a place of fruitful olive trees on a hillside in a secluded garden. They were tired. In the shadow of the trees Jesus knelt in the shadow of death and he accepted it. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. (Ps23:4) In order to restore the light in our lives, he had to walk through the darkness. He prayed for the disciples and the believers. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.25“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17) He prayed for himself. 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22) He said 'yes' to death so that it could have no power over us. He said 'I will' to death so it can no longer rule us. He said 'Your will be done' so that he might deliver us to the Lord. Something to do... Go in to your garden or to a window to pray alone. Read aloud Jesus’ prayer for the disciples and believers (Above—John 17:20-26), not only to hear it for yourself but because you never know who might hear you and be blessed. Take some time, as Jesus did, to pray alone for yourself in the garden. Feel the cool air and the warm sun meet your skin as the breath of God. S.A. Songbook 208 1. When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride. 2. Forbid me Lord that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God. All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. 3. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love
and Sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown. 4. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdjKuxE2nt8
It was early morning. Jesus had been bound and sent up before one high priest and then another. “He has spoken blasphemy!” they said, “He is worthy of death.”. ‘Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him…’ (Matt.26:67) Tied up, bruised, battered and bedraggled, he is taken to the Roman governor because only he could give permission for a crucifixion. He asked them (John 18); 29 …“What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. Jesus was summoned for questioning. Jesus stood before the governor, the governor asked him; “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. (Matt.27:11) 35 …“Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 …“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my37kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!”… “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?”...“I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” 40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!”… (John 18) This was the place of judgment. Here Jesus was condemned. Here they made a mock king out of the real King. Jesus took all the anger, accusations and curses that the whole human race has ever heaped upon God. He agreed to be the resolution to the sins, the mistakes and mess of our world. 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27) S.A. Songbook 193 1.On Calvary's tree the King of Glory languished, Held not by nails but by undying love, Sin's debt to pay, the sting of death remove, Boundless cleansing to provide, Mercy's gate open wide.
From that sacred hill Hope is gleaming still; Thy shame and grief he bore; Go in peace, sin no more.
2. His purple robe is parted 'mong the soldiers, That scepter-reed discarded where it fell; Yet, meekly borne, that crown of cruel thorn Still attests his royal might, Fears to quell, wrongs to right. 3. Darkness descends, the cross in mystery veiling, Deep thunders roll and lightnings rend the skies As Jesus dies, a willing sacrifice; God's own word by
blood is sealed: By his stripes we are healed. 4.His tender touch can heal the broken-hearted, His word dispel the darkness of despair; Come, bring thy sin, thy sorrow, pain and care, And, believing, thou shalt prove All the strength of his love.
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGPDyV8Y3bY
He had been whipped to within an inch of his life. He had staggered with the cross beam up the hillside. A crowd gathered there at Golgotha, the place of the skull. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews’. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19) What is going on? This isn't the way heroes conquer their enemies. This looks like a defeat not a victory. This looks like losing not winning. 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19) ‘For me he died with his arms open wide, as if to say I love you, come inside.’(C. & D. Machen) 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed,
“Surely he was the Son of God!”
Prayer Most Glorious Lord, it is Your Hour. It is the Hour by which You conquered sin and death. It is the Hour for which You came into this world, taking on flesh so as to offer Your precious life for the salvation of the world. My suffering Lord, may I see in Your Cross the most perfect act ever known in this world. May I see Love in its most pure form. May my eyes and soul look beyond the blood and pain and see Your Divine Heart, pouring forth Mercy upon me and upon the whole world. Bathe the world in Your Mercy, dear Lord. Cover us with Your grace and draw us to new life through Your death. Amen. Something to watch... A clip from the film ‘Jesus of Nazereth’ powerfully depicting the crucifixion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonsJlKD1vE S.A. Songbook 176 1.Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice You became nothing, poured out to death. Many times I've wondered at your gift of life And I'm in that place once again. I'm in that place once again.
And once again I look upon the cross where you died. I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside. Once again I thank you, Once again I pour out my life. Now you are exalted to the highest place. King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow.
But for now I marvel at your saving grace And I'm full of praise once again. I'm full of praise once again.
Thank you for the cross, Thank you for the cross, Thank you for the cross my friend.
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpbenQljEHk
Something to listen to... I strongly recommend a Salvation Army band ‘classic’, Eric Ball’s tone poem ‘The Kingdom Triumphant’. I have put the words to the featured tunes on to someone else’s video and made it available here: https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aq2Y2OMiFuLdjIJ1rTYmhRgiYEC6Gw?e=ZOFQu6 Also recommended is Ernie Haase & Signature Sound singing a beautiful rendition of ‘We Shall See Jesus’. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=630jT5QMhnQ Something to do... Take some time to colour the image below, and as you do, pray. Pray the prayer that is written below but also offer some of your own as thoughts come to mind while colouring. Consider each person in the image as you colour them and consider their emotions in the scene. How does that feeling resonate with you in your understanding of the crucifixion? Prayer Loving Lord, We remember today, the pain and suffering of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure, so we could be set free. He paid the price, he made the sacrifice, to offer to us the gift of eternal life. Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love. Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things. For not fully recognizing what you have willingly given and what you have done. Thank you Lord that by your wounds we are healed. Thank you that because of your great sacrifice we can live life in all its fulness. Thank you that sin and death have been conquered, and that your power is everlasting. Thank you that we can say with great assurance, “We shall see Jesus!” For we know what’s still to come.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Abide in each of us Lord we pray, Amen.