Welcome and Opening Prayer
Good morning and welcome everyone
Today is Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death.
You may like to light a candle as a reminder that Christ is present and say a prayer:
‘Almighty God, maker of the heavens and earth, giver of life and meaning. Your goodness is inexhaustible. Your presence is uncontainable. Your peace is unflappable. Your integrity is unimpeachable. Your word is unbreakable. Your glory is incomparable. Your power is undefeatable. Your truth is undeniable. Your wisdom is indispensable. Your grace is immeasurable. Your kingdom is inevitable. Your joy is unimaginable. Your love is eternal. Occupy our hearts and minds by your Spirit we pray, through Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – on YouTube or Spotify.
- Ascribe greatness to our God the rock
- Light of the world you stepped down into darkness (Here I am to worship)
Gospel Reading Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word.
Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following song on YouTube or download on Spotify
- Above all powers, above all kings
Gospel Reading Matthew 27:27-54
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and 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. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s 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 rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
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!”
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word.
Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs on YouTube or download on Spotify
- How deep the Father’s love for us
- It’s your blood that cleanses me
Responsive Prayer
Nominate one person in your bubble to be the leader of this prayer with everyone else giving the response, “Lord have mercy”. If you are alone then you can pray both parts.
Loving Father, you understand sacrifice and loss. We bring before you those who have suffered loss recently. We pray for those who have lost work and income. Give us this day our daily bread.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost their health. Grant them healing in accordance with your will.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones. We think especially of Cathy Glanville’s family. Comfort all those who mourn we ask.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost their home. Be their security and prepare a place for them.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost faith. Sow in their hearts the mustard seed which moves mountains.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost perspective. Restore unto them the joy of your salvation.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost peace. Bring your justice and forgiveness into their situations.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray for those who have lost their way. Bring them to their senses and shine your light on their path.
- Lord have mercy.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus, who lost his life and received it back again.
- Amen.
Reflection – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
You can either read the notes attached to this email. Or, listen to an audio recording of the sermon via the following link. (This is shorter than the usual Sunday sermon)…
Song
Listen and/or sing along to ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ on YouTube or Spotify
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.
Forbid it, 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.
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?
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.
Benediction / Blessing
Proclaim the following blessing…
‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace. Amen.’
Tawa Baptist 