[A Message for Good Friday. Bulletin outline found below.]
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see.
Early in his Galilean ministry, Jesus invited Philip to follow him. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth." Nathanael responded somewhat sarcastically, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip's simple answer was the challenge that is still given to skeptics; "Come and see."
That was the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Today we remember the end of that ministry. I wonder if Nathanael remembered his question on the dark afternoon of Good Friday. I wonder if he still asked himself, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Nathanael had seen Jesus in action. He had seen the water turned to wine; he had seen the lepers healed, the blind and the deaf able to see and hear; he had seen the demons cast out; the five thousand fed; and Lazarus come forth from the tomb. And now, was it all over? Whatever good there had been in Jesus' ministry appeared to have come to a bitter end.
One can imagine Nathanael and the other disciples huddled together on that terrible afternoon, helpless against the Establishment. Their minds must have been racing with all the "If onlys ..." "If only we had an army ... If only Jesus had used his power ... If only we hadn't come to this place ... If only we had left before this happened ...
It seemed as though Jesus had let them down. Was it all for nothing? Nathanael's question was immaterial now; "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
What seemed to the disciples as one of the worst days in their lives is to us a very special and sacred day. We call this day Good Friday, even though we remember it for the miscarriage of justice that put an innocent man to death. No one called it Good Friday then. In fact, the term "Good Friday" does not appear in the Scriptures. It was only later, in retrospect, that Christians began to see the full significance of what had happened on Calvary.
Friday is still a significant day. Many of you know the saying that is associated with Friday. "T.G.I.F.!" Thank God it's Friday! (For some people, it's Thank Goodness it's Friday!) This phrase was probably originated by someone tired of working and anxious for the weekend. After a busy week of problems and pressure on the job, hassle and headaches, Friday is a welcome day because it means a break ... a chance to get away for a day or two until the week begins again in earnest on Monday.
Today, we can thank God it's Friday - not just because we're looking to the weekend; not just because we can leave our place of work and forget about it for a while; but we can thank God for all that this Friday stands for. This particular Friday is a symbol for the world of the amazing and inexpressible gift of God. The cross that stands on Calvary is a vivid reminder of the One who loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.
1. Today we thank God it's Friday, for once again, we can see HOW DEEP IS GOD'S LOVE.
In a different context some years ago, the singing group, known as the "Bee Gees." recorded a song that became popular, titled, "How Deep is Your Love?"
Lovers have pondered that same question for ages. Husbands and wives have reflected on it. Love that is not very deep presents problems in a lot of human relationships. A typical imaginary letter to Ann Landers would bear this out:
Dear Ann, My boyfriend left me for another girl. How can I get him back? Signed, Lonely.Dear Lonely, Are you sure you want him back? You may be better off without him.
Shallow love is common. It's like a person who offers to help, but never shows up. It's a person who vows, "You can count on me," then finds a hundred excuses. True love becomes evident throughperformance, dependability, and faithfulness.
Think of a man who has a deep love for farming. lf he is committed to farming, he will have to give a good part of his life to it. He knows the risks involved. He knows there will be bad years, but he loves the land and he loves the livestoc_esermonsk. He is willing to adjust his life sacrificially to the demands of the farm.
Having a deep love for anything means that you are willing to give yourself to it. It means you are willing to sacrifice for it. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, you are willing to do it or to pay it.
Today, we see how deep the love of God is. "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33) God's love is deep enough to come from highest heaven and to reach the lowliest of sinners.
2. Today we thank God it's Friday, for once again, we can see HOW WIDE IS GOD'S LOVE.
The Apostles' Creed uses the word "catholic" or "Christian" to describe the all-inclusiveness of God's love. His love is universal, worldwide, spanning time and generations. No one is excluded. We draw circles to keep people out; but love draws a larger circle to bring more people in.
Many of us have problems with inclusiveness. We talk a lot about extending the kingdom of God, but when it comes right down to it, we are uneasy about extending it to people that we feel are different than we are. Do you remember the hymn:
In Christ there is no east or west,In him no south or north,But one great fellowship of loveThroughout the whole wide earth.(No. 359, LBW)
We may sing those words enthusiastically, but in the words of George Gershwin's song from Porgy and Bess, "It ain't necessarily so."
Many of us are choosy when it comes to loving others. Our loving just doesn't reach very far. Our perception of the kingdom of God is limited. Jesus urged his listeners to stretch their love beyond their circle of friends and acquaintances. He said, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:32)
God meant his kingdom on earth to be wide enough to be all-inclusive, but we manage to find restrictions and limitations.
Someone has said that it is easier to love people in general terms than in person. It's like the man who had just finished pouring and smoothing fresh concrete in his driveway. A neighbor girl, running home, wasn't watching where she was going, and tracked several steps in the fresh concrete. The man became infuriated and angrily scolded the girl. A friend who witnessed this, said to him a little while afterwards, "I thought you liked children." The owner of the driveway said, "I do, but not in the concrete."
That's the way it is. It is much easier to love people ui general. and not in the concrete.
3. Today we thank God it's Friday, for once again, we can see HOW GREAT IS GOD'S LOVE.
In this country, we are always interested in great things. Americans are impressed with what is the greatest, the largest, the highest, the fastest. the longest, the most expensive or the most productive of anything. Nor are we alone in this fascinatiort with great things.
Someone counted how many jars of water were changed into wine; (John 2:6) Someone estimated that two thousand swine with unclean spirits dashed headlong into the sea; (Mark 5:13) Someone figured there were three thousand baptisms in response to Peter's sermon in Acts 2; Someone counted five thousand at the feeding of the multitude; (Mark 6:44) And the Book of Revelation is full of descriptions of impressive numbers, even the multitude which no man could number, depicting glory and greatness.
Today we can see the great love of God.The cross wasn't that high;The hill wasn't that big;The crowd wasn't that large;The whole series of events - the arrest, the trial, the scourging, and the crucifixion, didn't take very long.It wasn't that unusual. Such an execution has happened before and it would happen again.In today's newspaper, it might be a news item on page three.
Yet this event had the potential to begin to turn the world upside down. This death would not be forgotten. It would not just be another obscure entry in a Centurion's diary: "Friday's orders carried out: Jesus of Nazareth crucified."
Christians see the great love of God focused on Calvary. Here is enough love for the whole world. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Some residents of Cambridge, New York, still remember the stranger whose body was carried from a nearby field over twenty years ago. Many believed that if he had chosen to live, some of them might have died.
At the town hall, a marker was dedicated in his memory. The inscription read: "In Memory of Carl E. Evankovich, Captain USAF, who gave his life during an Air Force training mission in February, 1962, when his jet fighter crashed in Cambridge."
The thirty-one year old pilot's body was found near a barbed wire fence within sight of the town hall. It is believed that he stayed with his plane long enough to guide it to an open field, instead of letting it crash in a residential area. He died because he ejected too late for his parachute to open.
The people of Cambridge knew that this was something they had to remember, and something they wanted to remember. It was only right to honor the memory of this brave Air Force Captain, who died, in a sense, that others could live.
This particular Friday is a symbol for the world of the amazing and inexpressible love of God.
Today we can see how deep, how wide, and how great is God's love. Today we can thank God it's Friday ... Good Friday.
Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Nathanael finally got his answer. What came out of Nazareth was the most important person this world has ever known. We see his love most clearly on Good Friday.
This service, with the accompanying message, "T.G.I.F.," can be used for the afternoon or evening of Good Friday. It is an alternate to the Tenebrae.
The Confession is provided because this is a day when penitence is in order. Normally, the minister will lead the Confession, the Questions, and the Absolution. Lay persons may be asked to read the First and Second Lessons and the Gospel if desired.
The "Calvary Credo" is used in place of the Apostles' Creed. The purpose of the Credo is to affirm our belief in Christ from a slightly different perspective. While the Credo is being read by two assigned Readers, use soft background music of familiar hymns, such as, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," or "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," if desired.
As another option, the Credo may be printed in the bulletin and used as a statement of Faith by the congregation.
The closing Prayer uses silent petitions of worshipers, with a suggested spoken theme for each petition. Allow time between each "Let us pray for ..." for persons to pray silently.
If the service is held in the evening, a rustic cross, or a Good Friday banner, spotlighted, may help to set the tone for this service. Altar paraments should be removed, as well as flowers. Some churches customarily cover the main cross in the chancel with a thin dark veil on this day.
Good Friday
Hymn: "In the Cross of Christ I Glory"
Invocation: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! In the name of the triune God. Amen (Psalm 139:23-24, RSV)
(An invitation to God's people to confess their sins.)
Friends in Christ: From the time we are born, until the day when we leave this earth, we live in the midst of trouble and sin. We live with the effects of other people's sins, and we live with the effects of our own. Others fail us, and we in turn, fail them. We can see prejudice and pride, greed and injustice in others, and, if we are honest, we can also see them in ourselves.
We believe God has entered human history to reveal his will, which is a will of love and grace and hope. Through his Holy Spirit he urges and invites people of this world to respond to his love.
This is a day for us to be truthful with ourselves and with God. Pretense and insincerity have no place here. Let us be utterly open and honest to the Lord who sees our hearts, and confess to him how we have failed to live according to what is right and what is loving.
Let us speak to the Lord silently, and confess our sins.
Silent pause for confession(Silence)I now ask you in God's presence:Do you confess your need for God's forgiveness and grace?If so, declare it by saying, I DO SO CONFESS.
Do you trust in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus?
If so, declare it by saying, I DO SO TRUST.
Do you intend to serve Christ to the best of your ability as his disciple in the world today?
If so, declare it by saying, I DO WITH THE HELP OF GOD.
Absolution
If you confess your sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. You do not need to bear your guilt any longer; God's pardon is real! He accepts you as you are, as his child. He forgives you through his Son, Jesus Christ. Take this promise of God, and let it give you strength and confidence for the days to come. Amen
Hymn: "I Lay My Sins on Jesus" or "Amazing Grace"
First Lesson
Reader: One of the dramatic incidents in the Old Testament is when God tested Abraham. This account is strangely appropriate for Good Friday, as the question is asked: Is a Father willing to give up his son?Genesis 22:1-14
Second Lesson
Reader: The writer to the Hebrews describes Jesus as a high priest who is able to identify with us in every way.Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-10
Gospel
Reader: Luke describes the deep emotion Jesus experienced while in Gethsemane. Just before this, we hear Peter's vow of faithfulness.Luke 22:33-46
Hymn: "My Faith Looks Up to Thee"
Sermon
The Offering May be Received
Calvary Credo
Reader 1: I believe that almost two thousand years ago, there lived a man such as the world had never seen before and has never seen since. This man was a master teacher, who displayed an intense power for good, and showed genuine concern for all people.
Reader 2: I believe that his power was feared by some, and misunderstood by others. The distinct spiritual quality of his life made it inevitable that opposition should mount against him.
Reader 1: I believe that he was put through the mockery of a trial, sentenced without justification, and hurriedly put to death in order to get him out of the way.
Reader 2: I believe that he did indeed die on a cross, between two thieves, with some of his friends and his enemies watching. His body was laid in a borrowed tomb which was then sealed and guarded.
Reader 1: I believe that on the morning of the third day following his death - his friends came, intending to take care of his lifeless body, but instead found an empty tomb.
Reader 2: I believe that he showed himself alive again to his followers on a number of occasions enough to convince them beyond a doubt that it was he.
Reader 1: I believe that he is the Son of God, and that his death paid the price of reconciliation, and that his resurrection has opened the door of eternal life to all who believe in him.
Reader 2: I believe that Jesus Christ lives now and is my Lord forever, and that the overwhelming love of God is clearly seen once again, on Good Friday, 20__.
Closing Prayer
We ask that today's closing prayer consist of silent petitions, which God can hear, petitions expressed from your heart.
Let us pray, giving thanks to God, for sending his Son to be our Lord and Savior: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for the Church, Christ's body on earth, that it may witness effectively to the Gospel: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for the leaders of this country and other countries, that they may work for justice and for peace: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for those suffering poverty or want; and the innocent victims of war and oppression: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for those whose lives and neighborhoods are tormented by violence and conflict: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for our loved ones, both near and far away: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for the children of the church, that they may discover the riches of the Gospel for themselves: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for those who mourn the loss of loved ones, and those for whom life is lonely and difficult: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray for the sick, especially ... Show yourself a very present help to them in their trouble: (Silent Prayer)
Let us pray in the words our Lord Jesus taught us, Our Father, who art in heaven ...
Benediction
Hymn: "There is a Green Hill" or "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"