Good Friday Tenebrae (Service of Darkness)

[00:00:51] Speaker A: It. [00:02:05] Speaker B: Morning. Is my mic on? There we go. Well, good morning. It is good Friday when we meditate on Jesus crucifixion for us and for our salvation. This will be a Tenebrae service. Tenebrae means darkness or shadows, so the darkness will grow as we progress through readings. Some of the readings are from the prophets and the psalms. Some of the readings are from the passion, the account of the passion from the gospel of John. There will be a point around the middle of the service when we'll have an opportunity to nail a piece of paper with our name on it to the cross. We are, as we talked about yesterday, you know, we participate in Jesus cross and resurrection. Jesus did it for us. He did it in order to take us up into his death and life, so that in him we die, in him we rise. We are wrapped up in the cross. And so part of what we talked about yesterday with the Lord's supper is that, well, at least in the later service, I don't know. Is that as the body of Christ united together in him, taken up into his life, in some sense, we're giving up our own individual identity. Just like a married couple, right? The two become one flesh, right? They become together something bigger than themselves. They give up some of their individuality, their freedom, their time, whatever their goals, aspirations. Those things get set aside for something else. That's the same thing for us. We all united to Jesus in his death and resurrection. We're all taken up into something bigger than ourselves. We become the body of Christ. And so this morning, meditating on Christ's death, we'll nail a piece of paper with our own name on it to this cross right here. And if you would rather not walk up here or nail it, you can hand your piece of paper to an usher as well. Mark Eggers will be helping with that. But it's to signify that we see Jesus on the cross. We see ourselves there with him, dying in him. Thanks be to God. All right, let's stand and begin with the responsory. On my heart. Imprint your image, blessed Jesus, king of grace, that life's riches, cares and pleasures ever may your work erase. Let the clear inscription be. Jesus crucified for me is my life, my hope's foundation, and my glory and salvation. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with his stripes we are healed. O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath, for your arrows have sunk into me. And your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation. There is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head like a heavy burden. They are too heavy for me. I confess my iniquity. I am sorry for my sin. Make haste to help me, o Lord, my salvation. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And by his stripes we are healed. Please be seated. We'll sing hymn 440. [00:07:23] Speaker C: Jesus, I will ponder now, hash, on your holy passion with your spirit. [00:07:38] Speaker A: Me and thou for such meditation grant that I in love and faith. Faith in this cherish love. Your suffering and death. Let your make me see your greatest grace. Ain't wish I hash ones and stripes and wretchedness. And your roots and victory. May we see a certain rock spirit. And for you now for them you died. O God, do with lords and round you never make me see your passion. But it's to me ignore all I say. Wonder all your crucific where I should be let free. Let me live you all the shine if my sins give me a light. Let my conscience breathe. Let your cross my nearness with me. Forgiveness. One hash holy passion. If I must have the passion. Grace. Holy grail. [00:12:30] Speaker D: Our first prophecy for this morning. Who has believed what they have heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant. And like a root on a dry ground. He had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him. [00:13:04] Speaker B: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley. Where there was a garden which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place. For Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, whom do you seek? They answered him. Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he. Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, I am he. They drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, whom 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. This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken. Of those whom you gave me. I have lost not one. Then Simon Peter, having a sword. Drew it. And struck the high priest's servant. And cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter. Put your sword in its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup that the father has given me? So the band of soldiers and their captain. And the officers of the Jews. Arrested Jesus and bound him first. They led him to annas. For he was the father in law of Caiaphas. Who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews. That it would be expedient. That one man should die for the people. [00:15:34] Speaker C: Christ. The life of all the living. Christ the death of death our foe who thyself for me. Once given to the darkest depths of woe. Hash through thy sufferings hash had merit. [00:15:59] Speaker A: Hash. My eternal life inherent. [00:16:04] Speaker C: Hash thousand thousand they shall be. [00:16:10] Speaker A: Dearest Jesus unto thee hash thou art. [00:16:18] Speaker C: Thou hast taken on thee. Hash thumbs and stripes, approval. Hash hash one pain and scorn were heaped upon thee. O thou sinless son of God. Thus didst thou, my soul. Deliver from the bonds of sin. Forever. [00:16:49] Speaker A: Thousand. [00:16:52] Speaker C: They shall be. [00:16:54] Speaker A: Dearest Jesus unto hash to thee. [00:17:02] Speaker C: Thou hast borne thus, biting only that my. [00:17:08] Speaker A: Wounds might all be whole. [00:17:13] Speaker C: Thou hast suffered sad and lonely rest. [00:17:19] Speaker A: To give my weary soul. [00:17:24] Speaker C: Yea, the curse of God. Enduring blessing unto me. Securing. Thousand thousand they shall be. [00:17:40] Speaker A: Dearest Jesus unto me. Who has suffered great affliction. And has borne it patiently. [00:17:58] Speaker C: Even death by crucifixion. Holy to atone for me. Thou didst choose to be tormented. That my duties should be rented. Thousand thousand they shall be. [00:18:26] Speaker A: Hash, dearest Jesus unto thee then for. [00:18:34] Speaker C: All that brought my pardon for thy. [00:18:40] Speaker A: Sorrows deep and, soul for thy anguish in thy pardon I will thank thee evermore. [00:18:55] Speaker C: Thank you for thy groaning sigh for thy pleading. And thy die. [00:19:07] Speaker A: For I must cry out and try and shall praise thee. [00:19:23] Speaker D: He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And as one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised. And we esteemed him. Not. All white, we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [00:19:56] Speaker B: Simon Peter followed Jesus. And so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest. He entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest. But Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest. Went out and spoke to the servant girl, who kept watch at the door and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, you also are not one of this man's disciples, are you? He said, I am not. Now the servants and 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. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck jesus with his hand, saying, is that how you answer the high priest? Jesus answered him, if what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong. But if what I said is right, why do you strike me? Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, you also are not one of his disciples, are you? He denied it and said, I am not one of the servants of the high priest. A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off asked, did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. [00:22:31] Speaker C: O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken that such sharp sentence should I be spoken? Oh, what great christ. [00:22:56] Speaker A: Love to make confession. What dark transgression. [00:23:08] Speaker C: They crown my heavenly force. [00:23:13] Speaker A: This might scourge thee with all my peace to the cross. They urge me, they give me all to dream. [00:23:34] Speaker C: They still desire. [00:23:38] Speaker A: Make crucify thee. [00:23:46] Speaker C: When from these sorrows when s mortal. [00:23:53] Speaker A: Anguish it is my sins for which the Lord must languish in all the rain. This I do. What vanishes. [00:24:29] Speaker C: Strange is suffered under. [00:24:34] Speaker A: Wash at soul. Keep that love to wonder. The masterpiece that is servant holy, grant me I is worthy shall die. I shall not fear. What stand you to marry more than all the my worthless is my sacrifice, my own name never closing my weakness. And when you are in heaven to me around joy ever as he where sweetest is my saints forever raise thee. I shall raise thee. [00:27:04] Speaker D: Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied by his knowledge. Shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors. [00:27:46] Speaker B: 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. So Pilate went outside to them and said, what accusation do you bring against this man? They answered him, if this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you. 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. This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken. To show by what kind of death he was going to die. So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me? Pilate answered, am I a jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done? 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 this world. 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. 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. 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? They cried out again, not this man, but Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 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 guilt in him. 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. Crucify him. Pilate said to them, take him yourselves and crucify him. For I find no guilt in him. 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. When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. [00:31:39] Speaker C: Stricken, smitten and afflicted. See him dying on the tree. Tis the Christ by men rejected. Yes, my soul. [00:31:55] Speaker A: Tis he. Tis he. [00:31:58] Speaker C: Tis the long expected prophet, David's son. [00:32:05] Speaker A: Yet David's son hash proofs. I see sufficient of it. [00:32:13] Speaker C: Tis the true and faithful words. [00:32:19] Speaker A: Tell me, who fear him croning was there ever grief like his friends through fear is caused. Dishonoring was insulting his distress. Many hands were raised to hold him. God would endure me to say, but the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke and justice gave those in the lightning. [00:33:06] Speaker C: Nor supposedly here make you its nature. [00:33:15] Speaker A: Idly hear its guilt may estimate. [00:33:22] Speaker C: Mark the sacrifice. Anointed. [00:33:27] Speaker A: See who mercy of the Lord. Tis the word of anointed. Son of man and son of God. Here we have our nation. Hear the refuge of the lost Christ. The rock of our salvation is the name of which we know sacrifice. None shall ever be confounded. [00:34:36] Speaker D: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted. Yet he opened not his mouth. Mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep and before its shearers is silent. And so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. And as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. [00:35:13] Speaker B: 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? 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. Thus says the Lord, what have I done to you, o my people? And wherein have I offended you? Answer. Though I have raised you up out of the prison house of sin and death, you have delivered up your redeemer to be scourged. I have redeemed you from the house of bondage. And you have nailed your savior to the cross. O my people. Holy Lord. God. Holy and mighty God. Holy and most merciful redeemer, God eternal. Leave us not to bitter death. O Lord, have mercy. Thus says the Lord. What have I done to you, o my people? And wherein have I offended you? Answer me, for I have conquered all your foes. But you have given me over and delivered me to those who persecute me. For I have fed you with my word and refreshed you with living water. And you have given me gall and vinegar to drink. O my people, holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful redeemer God eternal, allow us not to lose hope in the face of death and hell. O Lord, have mercy. Thus says the Lord. What have I done to you, o my people? And wherein have I offended you? Answer me. What more could have been done for you for my vineyard. Than I have done for it when I looked for good grapes? Why did it yield only bad? My people, is this how you thank your God? O my people, holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful redeemer, God eternal, keep us steadfast in the true faith. O Lord, have mercy. This time I invite you to come forward to nail your name to the cross. 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. So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at the place called the stone pavement. And in Aramaic, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about the 6th hour. He said to the Jews, behold your king. 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. So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and went out. And he went out bearing his own cross. To the place called the place of the skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. 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. 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. Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written. [00:47:19] Speaker C: With grief and shame, weighed down now scornfully surrounded with thorns thine only crown. O sacred had what glory, what lit. [00:47:46] Speaker A: Till now was thine. [00:47:51] Speaker C: Let all this rise and glory. [00:47:58] Speaker A: I joy to holy high out of thy face the language that once was bright. As one great at the lead of my life. Wash as was my neighbor. Hash, my strength in this as Christ what my lord has over. Wash all your sinners. My mind was of transgression. All I call my savior I fail. Hash, deliverance to thee thy grace. [00:50:02] Speaker D: My God. My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer. And by night but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted. They trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued. In you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man. Scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads. He trusts in the Lord. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, for he delights in him. Yet you are he who took me from the womb. You made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help. [00:51:25] Speaker B: 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. 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. But standing by the cross of jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, woman, behold your son. And he said to the disciple, behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. [00:52:57] Speaker C: My guardian on me, thine. [00:53:04] Speaker A: Great as he lifts up in me with words of truth and love I spirit and led me to heavenly joy. Which shall I borrow to thank the dearest breath for is I dying so you forever? And should I faint in me? For let me out forever. Come with my love for thee, my savior. Without you, when death is at my lord and I rest. [00:55:16] Speaker C: Only. [00:55:22] Speaker A: But take away my name. When you are, I know be all where I sal in my passion. When I last I was high. When I shall be, shall my heart. [00:56:40] Speaker D: Many bulls encompass me. Strong bulls of Bashan surround me. They open wide their mouths at me like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, it is melted within my breast. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws. You lay me in the dust of death, for dogs encompass me. A company of evildoers encircles me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me. [00:57:35] Speaker B: After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the scripture, I thirst. 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. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, it is finished. And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [00:58:33] Speaker A: When I survey our for me in the death of Christ, my God, all the main things that I charged I sacrificed to his love. See from his head his hand is free. Sorrow and love. [01:01:06] Speaker D: And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death. Although he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth, yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief. When his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring. He shall prolong his days, and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. [01:01:46] Speaker B: 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. 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. 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. His testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth that you also may believe. For these things took place, that the scripture might be fulfilled. Not one of his bones will be broken. And again another scripture says, they will look on him whom they have pierced after these things. Joseph of Arimathea, who was 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 away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night. Came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus. And bound it in linen cloths with the spices. As is the burial custom of the Jews. Now, in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden. And in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the jewish day of preparation since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. [01:04:59] Speaker A: It. [01:05:56] Speaker B: Almighty God, graciously behold this, your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed. And delivered into the hands of sinful men. To suffer death upon the cross. Through the same Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. [01:06:17] Speaker A: It it.