The suffering substitute
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This Fourth Servant Song is not without its difficulties, not the least of which is the identity of the servant (the prophet? the Messiah? Israel?). In any case, the Servant is innocent, and yet bears all these afflictions and those of all others as well, to their redemption. Whether or not this passage predicted Jesus' Passion, or shaped his attitude toward it, since the early Church, Christians have seen in it the 9ssence of that event.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
May God be not far from us!
People:
MAY GOD HASTEN TO HELP US!
Leader:
May God deliver us!
People:
MAY GOD SAVE US!
Collect
Holy God, you sent one who was innocent to suffer in our stead for our sin. Make us deeply aware and appreciative of his sacrifice: that, taking to heart that wondrous gift, we may become the kind of people that his death enables us to be. In his precious name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we confess that we deny, ignore, and disguise our sin and guilt, and expend a great deal of energy feigning innocence and goodness, when in fact we know how truly sin-riddled our lives are. Forgive us, we pray, and open us to the tremendous gift of love and mercy that the suffering of Christ Jesus brought. Convince us once and for all that he suffered so that we don't have to, and that we are righteous in your eyes only because he was indeed. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Good Friday
Second Lesson: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
Theme:
Offering obedience
Exegetical note: This passage builds on a central theme of the high priesthood of Christ Jesus. In that capacity, he did what humanity was expected to do, but because of sin could not do, namely, offer to God (in addition to prayers, supplications, cries, and tears) perfect obedience. In so doing, he redeemed all who then would offer him obedience, which is, if not perfect, at least now acceptable.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to God!
People:
LET ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS WORSHIP BEFORE HIM!
Leader:
For dominion belongs to God!
People:
GOD RULES OVER THE NATIONS!
Collect
Most glorious God, you gave us in Christ Jesus one who could make the acceptable offering for sin that we could not. Make us deeply grateful for his work and your mercy: that, touched by the enormity of his act, we may be moved to live lives that reflect its redemptive effects in obedience to your will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most gracious God, it troubles us to admit, to you or ourselves, just how self-righteous we are, trusting in our basic human goodness rather than your divine grace, and how we continue to wallow in sin as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and turn our attention back to the holy work of Christ Jesus, our perfect high priest, and his offering to you. Convince us at last that, if we are worthy and acceptable in your eyes, it is only because he was. In his name we trust and pray. Amen
Good Friday
Gospel:
John 18:1--19:42 or John 19:17-30
Theme:
The Christ's ultimate victory
Exegetical note: With these two chapters John's peculiar slant on the crucifixion as a glorification reaches its climax, and produces a singularly passionless Passion! Jesus is in quasi-regal control throughout the narrative and discourses, and many details attest or suggest his royal stature. At the end, he gives orders from the cross, and even commands his own expiration. This is not the tormented, anguished, writhing Jesus depicted by the mystical or liberation traditions, but a triumphant Christus victor.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
God is holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel!
People:
IN GOD DID OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS TRUST!
Leader:
They trusted in God and were not disappointed!
People:
THEY TRUSTED IN GOD AND WERE SAVED!
Collect
God of all mystery, you sent one of a strange kind of royalty to bring us from sin to salvation. Help us now to contemplate his cross: that, seeing there a victory rather than a defeat, we may be moved again by his tragedy and inspired by his triumph. In his redemptive name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all mercy, we confess how hard it is, despite all of our pious claims, for us to feel deeply the death of one person so many centuries ago, or to take seriously the impact that it is supposed to have on our lives. Forgive our scepticism, O God, and touch our thoughts and feelings with the great drama of Jesus' crucifixion. Make us to see and to remember always that whatever righteousness we have, it is because of this one's victory on the cross over the powers of sin and death. In the name of Jesus and the confidence of othe cross we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
May God be not far from us!
People:
MAY GOD HASTEN TO HELP US!
Leader:
May God deliver us!
People:
MAY GOD SAVE US!
Collect
Holy God, you sent one who was innocent to suffer in our stead for our sin. Make us deeply aware and appreciative of his sacrifice: that, taking to heart that wondrous gift, we may become the kind of people that his death enables us to be. In his precious name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we confess that we deny, ignore, and disguise our sin and guilt, and expend a great deal of energy feigning innocence and goodness, when in fact we know how truly sin-riddled our lives are. Forgive us, we pray, and open us to the tremendous gift of love and mercy that the suffering of Christ Jesus brought. Convince us once and for all that he suffered so that we don't have to, and that we are righteous in your eyes only because he was indeed. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Good Friday
Second Lesson: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
Theme:
Offering obedience
Exegetical note: This passage builds on a central theme of the high priesthood of Christ Jesus. In that capacity, he did what humanity was expected to do, but because of sin could not do, namely, offer to God (in addition to prayers, supplications, cries, and tears) perfect obedience. In so doing, he redeemed all who then would offer him obedience, which is, if not perfect, at least now acceptable.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to God!
People:
LET ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS WORSHIP BEFORE HIM!
Leader:
For dominion belongs to God!
People:
GOD RULES OVER THE NATIONS!
Collect
Most glorious God, you gave us in Christ Jesus one who could make the acceptable offering for sin that we could not. Make us deeply grateful for his work and your mercy: that, touched by the enormity of his act, we may be moved to live lives that reflect its redemptive effects in obedience to your will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most gracious God, it troubles us to admit, to you or ourselves, just how self-righteous we are, trusting in our basic human goodness rather than your divine grace, and how we continue to wallow in sin as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and turn our attention back to the holy work of Christ Jesus, our perfect high priest, and his offering to you. Convince us at last that, if we are worthy and acceptable in your eyes, it is only because he was. In his name we trust and pray. Amen
Good Friday
Gospel:
John 18:1--19:42 or John 19:17-30
Theme:
The Christ's ultimate victory
Exegetical note: With these two chapters John's peculiar slant on the crucifixion as a glorification reaches its climax, and produces a singularly passionless Passion! Jesus is in quasi-regal control throughout the narrative and discourses, and many details attest or suggest his royal stature. At the end, he gives orders from the cross, and even commands his own expiration. This is not the tormented, anguished, writhing Jesus depicted by the mystical or liberation traditions, but a triumphant Christus victor.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 22)
Leader:
God is holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel!
People:
IN GOD DID OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS TRUST!
Leader:
They trusted in God and were not disappointed!
People:
THEY TRUSTED IN GOD AND WERE SAVED!
Collect
God of all mystery, you sent one of a strange kind of royalty to bring us from sin to salvation. Help us now to contemplate his cross: that, seeing there a victory rather than a defeat, we may be moved again by his tragedy and inspired by his triumph. In his redemptive name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all mercy, we confess how hard it is, despite all of our pious claims, for us to feel deeply the death of one person so many centuries ago, or to take seriously the impact that it is supposed to have on our lives. Forgive our scepticism, O God, and touch our thoughts and feelings with the great drama of Jesus' crucifixion. Make us to see and to remember always that whatever righteousness we have, it is because of this one's victory on the cross over the powers of sin and death. In the name of Jesus and the confidence of othe cross we pray. Amen
