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Good Friday Resources
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Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12,  Psalm 22,   Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9,  John 18:1 - 19:42

Notes:  The Good Friday service is the most somber of all the church's observances when we are confronted with the incredible mystery of the cross.  The beginning of the Lenten journey for many Christians included the imposition of ashes and the words, "Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return."

Now on Good Friday, Jesus himself comes to share in our human lot and fully embrace the suffering and death that plague the human race. But in this death there is a transformation of hopelessness into hope because the bad outcome of death is transformed into the good outcome of resurrection.

Suggestion for a Service:

The Texts

The "Song of the Suffering Servant" Isa. 52:13ff. is one of the most familiar O.T. texts to Christian people.  Perhaps only Psalm 23 is more familiar to the ears.  The original hearers, of course, would not have known about Jesus Christ, but would have thought of the "Servant" as Israel. (Isa.41:8-10 and other Isa. passages specifically refer to Israel as God's Servant.) In Isa. 50:4-10 and other texts, Isaiah points to a coming Servant / Redeemer.

Yet, no other text outside of the New Testament takes us so close to the image of the crucified and redeeming Christ than the current text from Isaiah. Isaiah is a proclaimer of the "Good News" in this text.  Yet this is good news which comes through the "Bad News" of the Servant of God who was made "an offering for sin."

Psalm 22  Has become a part of the passion story through its use in Matthew and Mark ( Mt 27:39-46; Mk 15:29-34) in the passion narrative.

Our Hebrews Texts invite us to "approach the throne of grace with boldness" because of the ministry of our High Priest, Jesus Christ. The suffering of our High Priest and his obedience to God has, in the deepest possible spiritual mystery, won "eternal salvation" for those who trust him.

Using the Texts

Hearing and Understanding
Almost every Christian person has heard the words, "Jesus died for our sins" -- few could articulate exactly what that means.  Indeed theories of the "atonement" abound, but there is something about a purely rational explanation of atonement that leaves the spirit less than satisfied.

Music may come a bit bit closer when the congregations sings, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" or something similar and the heart moves closer to understanding.  In my own experience, "Substitutionary atonement,"  "Moral Example", "Vicarious Suffering" and other concepts in attempting to help, end up creating spiritual distance for most people.

Yet, to say, "Jesus dies for me" is part and parcel of my Christian experience.  How he died for me and why he died for me and how that makes it possible for me to be reconciled with God is (as an old sage put it) "A mystery to my mind, but music to my soul."   (I promise -- I've done my homework on atonement theology.)  Most Christian folk I've talked with about this have something of the sense of the elder who said, "I can not say for sure how, but I know I am implicated in Jesus being there on that cross.   And I know he's there for me!"

Reading and Participating
This elder helped come up with a reading and participation that offered a way for people to embrace the suffering of the Servant Jesus Christ on their behalf.  Every one who came to the service was given a nail (a good sized concrete nail works well).

The Isaiah, Psalm 22 and Hebrews readings were divided up between six seasoned readers. Isaiah 53:5-6, 10-11;   Psalm 22:1, 7, 18 and 26-27, Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:7 are read by the entire chorus of readers to emphasize the salvific portions of these texts which carry special meaning for Christian persons.

While the readings are being done, the people of the congregation come forward with the nails (in single or double file -- depending on size of congregation) and deposits the nails in an offering plate(s). (Remove the padding -- the nails should be heard as they drop.  The people continue back to their seats.  A period of silent reflection ensues and the time is closed with the singing of "When I survey the Wondrous Cross" -- or another appropriate hymn of the cross.

The Gospel Reading

One focus you might use is the denial of Peter in John 18:15-27.  After the scripture is read, do a brief reflection on Peter's Denial asking the people to join you in imagining how Peter might speak of his experience.

When The Rooster Crowed
(As Told by Simon Peter)

I can not tell you what crushing grief comes over my heart to this day when I remember the sound of that Rooster!   It crashed through my sleepy mind and exhausted body like thunder. I was jolted wide awake and I remembered as though Jesus was whispering the accusing words right into my ear.

"I tell you the truth Peter.  Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will disown me three times!"

I could not believe my ears.   With all of my heart I was certain that no matter whatever happened, I would never deny him. I loved him!  "I will lay down my life for you if need be," I told him. And I can tell you this -- I was not alone.  Every one of us, except for Judas, said the same.  We were ready to die with him.

After the Passover meal, we went to the Garden of Gesthemane where we frequently went with Jesus to pray. James and John and I went with him deep into the garden to his favorite spot. We were so tired -- it had been a long and difficult night and Jesus himself was so burdened.  I don't think I can recall ever seeing him in that kind of anguish.

Then it happened!  That betrayer Judas came into our place of prayer with a band of soldiers and priests.   The coward!  He came to Jesus with a phony kiss and his friends the temple authorities.  Hypocrites and frauds all of them I tell you. I was ready to defend the man who had called me away from my boats and the sea.  His words gave life to my spirit, his touch brought hope and healing to the poor and his smile lit up our dark worlds. I drew my short sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, that smug little assistant to the priests.

Then I was shocked.  Do you know what Jesus did?  I thought he might begin the struggle to win back our homeland from the Romans right then and there.  Perhaps we would finally throw out the temple hypocrites and Jesus would restore dignity and freedom to Jerusalem and the rest of our land.

But no!  Not only did the revolution not begin -- Jesus touched Malchus and restored his ear. Not the kingdom mind you, but Malchus' ear!  "Put your sward away," he yelled at me.   "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

What cup?  The cup from the meal that he said was his blood?  The cup of God's wrath?  It was all so hard to understand and we were all so confused and tired.  They bound Jesus, arrested him and took him away.

I didn't know what to think.   It looked as though it had all come to naught.  I followed along and watched everything from a distance.  "Why would God let this all happen?"  He was the Messiah of God.  Messiah was to come and set us free." And while all this was spinning around in my mind, that silly servant girl who was keeping the door asked if I was one of his disciples.

What was I supposed to say?  "I am not!" I told the girl.  It was a cold night.  Cold in more ways than one.  I stood there with the servants and some of the temple officials around a fire, trying to keep warm.  Then one of them said I was one of Jesus' disciples.  What business was it of theirs?  "No," I said again, "I am not!"

Everything was falling apart.   The night wore on.  It got more and more cold. As luck would have it one of the witless relatives of Malchus was standing there challenging me saying he had seen me with Jesus.  I'd had enough.  I didn't want to talk with them or anybody else. "I am not his disciple!" I yelled.

The night was just beginning to give up its darkness.  And somewhere off in the distance -- a rooster crowed.

The words shot like an arrow through my soul, "I tell you the truth Peter.  Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will disown me three times!"

Across the High Priest's courtyard, Jesus, exhausted and beaten looked up and caught my eye.

And my heart broke!    I can not tell you how, but in that moment, I knew that he was still the Christ -- the Messiah of God. I could remember some ancient words from the prophet.

"...He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."  [Isa. 53:5-6]

***

Somewhere in Peter's experience a rooster crows for me too.  It awakens in me a new sense of how it is that in some mysterious way, Christ is in that garden of prayer, that courtyard and on that cross for me.  As you listen to the scriptures and allow the images of the prophets and psalms and gospels to move about your mind, you too may hear a rooster crow.

Previous Sermonhelp.Com Good Friday Resources:

Meditation:  "Night is Darkest Before the Dawn"
Dramatic Reading: "Who Was That They Killed Last Friday?"