Good Friday
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The Passion of Jesus leading up to Easter.
Theme For The Day
The crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Servant Of God
There are five sections (or strophes) to this poem of triumph about the suffering, sin-bearing servant.
1. 52:13-15 -- Ahead the servant will succeed and be admired
2. 53:1-3 -- This servant of God will live a life of suffering
3. 53:4-6 -- A confessional portion admitting the servant's suffering for us
4. 53:7-9 -- The suffering was without complaint and continued, was in death as well as life
5. 53:10-12 -- What the reason for suffering was and what will be the future of the servant
It is a rich passage and begs for poetry, passion, proclamation, and positive outlook on this life because of the suffering of the servant for us. If we see the servant as a nation rather than an individual (i.e., the Christ) it takes on yet another dimension of meaning.
We must pay attention to the contrast in this poem between suffering and humiliation on the one hand and exaltation and triumph on the other. Jesus and his disciples no doubt found 53:12 and Psalm 22 fit vehicles of expression for what they were saying. Too literal a reading of it as Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament material may not be honest interpretation. But it's there and we can use it! The poet, second Isaiah, would applaud... I think!
The meaning of verse 52:15 has been debated for years because of the unclear Hebrew for the word "sprinkle" or "startle." More traditional has been the interpretation that this servant will purify as a priest (Leviticus 4:6), thus sprinkle. That fits with the New Testament Lesson, Hebrews 10:22. The rendering of the word in the New Revised Standard Version as "startle" is interesting. The new coming event of deliverance and exaltation will indeed "startle" many nations and rulers. One could preach on what startles us about the gospel today.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:16-25
The New Covenant
Jeremiah's vision of the new covenant (31:33-34) seems to be influencing the first portion of this reading. When God gave the new covenant, religion became more a matter of the inward person -- still forgiveness is needed. And now because of the work Christ did on the cross, we need no longer work at ways of receiving forgiveness from God.
Then comes a wonderful passage of encouragement and admonition to "hang in there." It takes three forms:
1. 10:19 -- We are reminded what Christ did for us.
2. 10:26-31 -- We are warned against moving into unbelief.
3. 10:32-39 -- We are asked to recall past encounters with God as a motivation to persevere.
Unfortunately the reading recommended truncates the completeness of the message. I'll take it to verse 39 anyway. Verse 22 is a gem! "Approach" is the word for "draw near" or "come to worship." So we are invited to come with the atonement and forgiveness which cleans an evil conscience and our bodies washed (baptized). They are nice metaphors of how we come to this worship because of what took place on our behalf this very day. See following on the Preaching Possibilities.
The Gospel
John 18:1--19:42
The Passion Of Jesus
Of all John's writing, the passion narrative comes the closest to the Synoptic Gospels in agreement both in order of the events and in the details. There is enough difference to make it distinctive. More than the Synoptics, it magnifies the "kingly" role of Jesus. He goes to his death not in weakness but as a hero fulfilling his destiny in victory.
In John's account, it is Jesus who is in control of what happens. He doesn't keep quiet about himself and his ministry and teachings. For instance, in his trial before Pilate, it is the governor who is judged; at death, Jesus cries out a sentence of task completed: "It is finished" (9:30). Perhaps an outline will be helpful for this reading:
18:1-11 -- The arrest at Gethesemane
18:12-14 and 25-27 -- He goes before Annas, the High Priest
18:15-18 and 25-27 -- Peter's behavior (courage or denial)
18:28--19:16 -- He goes before Governor Pilate
19:17-22 -- He carries his cross to Golgotha
19:23-24 -- The soldiers gamble for his clothing
19:25-27 -- Others on the hill
19:28-37 -- The end comes
19:38-42 -- He is buried in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb
Preaching Possibilities
A. Using all three readings, we might use an outline like this:
1. The suffering servant he had to be for us (Isaiah 52 and 53).
2. What Christ did for us on the cross (Hebrews 10).
3. John's narrative of how it all happened (John 18 and 19).
B. Another approach would be to explain the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 53 and illustrate it with John's account of the crucifixion. Then move to the Hebrew passage about the New Covenant and the benefits of Jesus' crucifixion for us now. Again illustrate it with John's narrative of how it happened.
C. Yet another approach would be to use the John account of Jesus' passion re-telling portions and telling how this made come true what Second Isaiah had promised and what Hebrews explained the real significance to be. It might look like this.
John's Account
19:1-3 -- Jesus abused and flogged
19:34-37 -- His side is pierced
19:28-30 -- He finishes his mission
19:34 -- His blood is shed
Isaiah Promised It
53:3 -- Despised and rejected
53:4-5 -- Wounded for our iniquities
53:13 -- Bore the sin of many
Hebrews 10:19 -- His blood a new way
Finish with the promise we have:
Isaiah 53:13 -- He will be lifted up
Hebrews 10:23-24 -- Hold fast to our hope and love and do good things
John 20:42 -- He is buried but not for long
D. The passion narrative of John is so compelling that we must include it in our preaching. I don't believe a sermon on the Old Testament or New Testament Lessons by themselves, no matter how rich they are, would be acceptable to our Good Friday listeners.
E. "Good Friday" is probably a distortion of the original name for this day, God's Friday. Nevertheless we could develop a theme of "What's Good About This Friday?" -- TGIF -- "Thank God It's Friday" will be familiar and can enhance the theme. Thank God it's this Friday for:
1. On this Friday we have a warning of how ugly our sins can be -- even so-called religious people!
2. On this Friday we have an example of how much God loves us anyway.
3. On this Friday we have complete unearned forgiveness from our creator God.
4. On this Friday the cross became central to our faith and spiritual lives.
5. Now close with the story of Joseph of Arimathea giving up his grave for Jesus -- and there he remains until we return to look for him Sunday, a different Sunday than the world has ever known.
F. Also a possibility for this Good Friday would be the use of the ancient Tenebrae Service of Shadows. Use the hymn, "Jesus, In The Dying Woes," by Thomas B. Pollock, reading a portion of the Gospel between each part and extinguishing one candle on the altar each time. Lower the lights in the sanctuary each time a candle is extinguished until the church is in darkness. Make a cymbal crash representing the tomb being opened and then bring out the lighted paschal candle. Bring up the lights enough so people can leave the church in silence.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. The narrative is so strong, why not preach a classic narrative sermon? The moves might go like this:
1. (John 18:1-11) Begin by retelling in your own words the story of Jesus' arrest in Gethesemane garden. Begin by saying the reading will start where we left off last night at the Last Supper in the upper room.
2. Explain how this part of the story tells us about the authority and courage of Jesus. He chose to die. He was concerned for the others (v. 8). We also learn of the courage of Peter as he tries to protect Jesus.
3. (John 18:14-27) Resume the story of Jesus before Annas' and Peter's betrayal. Annas arranged for Jesus' arrest because Jesus had attacked Annas' vested interests. The sellers in the Temple were called "The Bazaars of Annas." His family ran and profited from them. So here was a mockery of justice. He was guilty before he was tried.
4. (John 18:25-27) Tell of Peter's denial. Then explain we see both sides of Peter here: his courage in the garden and his cowardice in the courtyard... unless he lied here to stay close to Jesus hoping for a chance to rescue him while all the rest of the disciples had run away. The "cockcrow" was probably the trumpet call at 3:00 a.m. of the Roman military nicknamed "the cockcrow." What bugle calls remind us of our denials of Jesus?
5. (John 18:26--19:16) Relate how Jesus now goes before the Roman Governor Pilate. Explain that Jesus had to die a Roman death because he had to be "lifted up" (John 12:32). There is a madness reflected here crowds can work themselves into. The Jews hated him so much they were willing to twist their charge against him. Hatred is like that. Barclay writes: "The Jews were prepared to abandon every principle they had in order to eliminate Jesus." It's also sad to note Pilate crucified Jesus in order to keep his job.
6. (John 19:17-22) Now back to the story where Jesus is forced to take up his own cross to carry it to the place of the cross, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (Calvary is the Latin name.) It was a miserable walk.
7. Relate how the soldiers gambled for his robe. John believes this is fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy found in Psalm 22:18.
8. (John 19:28-37) Move to Jesus' suffering and death. And why? In order to take our sins upon him, he became a sacrifice for us that we might have forgiveness. He also became an example of how much we are loved by God. When he exhaled the words, "It is finished," it was. He had come to be that sacrifice and prove God's love and now his mission was done! Whoopee!
9. (John 19:38-42) Then tell your people of the burial in Joseph's tomb. A powerful conclusion might be something like this. But wait, is this really the end? I think I hear in the distance some women coming to embalm the body very early Sunday morning. They may discover something that still has us mouth agape and eyes wide open!! Thus the end of this narrative sermon.
B. If you must preach a second time this day, how about using the theme: "Others on the hill that day." Let it be a study of the personalities around the cross of Christ. They were:
1. The soldiers who gambled for his robe (v. 23).
2. The disciples, young John who stayed with him to the end (v. 27).
3. Jesus' mother, who was hurt and bitterly disappointed (v. 25).
4. The criminal who cursed him and the one who asked to be saved (v. 40).
5. The crowd who made fun and ridiculed him (v. 20).
They all have a message for us.
Prayer Of The Day
Savior God, who went to the cruel cross of Calvary for our sins, forgive us when we deny and desert you. Accept our thanksgiving for demonstrating you live for us on that cross which remains a precious symbol of that love and sacrifice for all Christians around the world still today. In your name. Amen.
Possible Stories
While the scripture narrative is loaded with personalities and metaphors for today's preaching, here are a few contemporary ones.
My students from Nepal told me that in their language "persecution" means to give birth to a new church. So this persecution of Jesus gave birth to the church of Jesus Christ.
A letter from missionary friends Barry and Alice Lang in Madan, Papua New Guinea, said, "Bilum is what people here use to carry all their personal possessions. The color and so forth indicate membership in a particular tribe. Mothers put their babies in them and hang them from a tree branch. The breeze rocks the infant to sleep. Jesus Christ carries his bilum of our heavy loads, mistakes, sins, worries, and problems. In many of our Lutheran churches a bilum is carved on the inside or outside as a constant reminder that Jesus carried our cross. We ought to help carry one another's burdens."
While serving as a guest professor at the seminary on top of a mountain named Tau Fong Shan, I learned that the Chinese living at the foot of the mountain placed mirrors in their windows to reflect away the power of the large white cross on the seminary campus. These non-believers may have more faith in the power of the cross than we Christians do.
The Passion of Jesus leading up to Easter.
Theme For The Day
The crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Servant Of God
There are five sections (or strophes) to this poem of triumph about the suffering, sin-bearing servant.
1. 52:13-15 -- Ahead the servant will succeed and be admired
2. 53:1-3 -- This servant of God will live a life of suffering
3. 53:4-6 -- A confessional portion admitting the servant's suffering for us
4. 53:7-9 -- The suffering was without complaint and continued, was in death as well as life
5. 53:10-12 -- What the reason for suffering was and what will be the future of the servant
It is a rich passage and begs for poetry, passion, proclamation, and positive outlook on this life because of the suffering of the servant for us. If we see the servant as a nation rather than an individual (i.e., the Christ) it takes on yet another dimension of meaning.
We must pay attention to the contrast in this poem between suffering and humiliation on the one hand and exaltation and triumph on the other. Jesus and his disciples no doubt found 53:12 and Psalm 22 fit vehicles of expression for what they were saying. Too literal a reading of it as Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament material may not be honest interpretation. But it's there and we can use it! The poet, second Isaiah, would applaud... I think!
The meaning of verse 52:15 has been debated for years because of the unclear Hebrew for the word "sprinkle" or "startle." More traditional has been the interpretation that this servant will purify as a priest (Leviticus 4:6), thus sprinkle. That fits with the New Testament Lesson, Hebrews 10:22. The rendering of the word in the New Revised Standard Version as "startle" is interesting. The new coming event of deliverance and exaltation will indeed "startle" many nations and rulers. One could preach on what startles us about the gospel today.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:16-25
The New Covenant
Jeremiah's vision of the new covenant (31:33-34) seems to be influencing the first portion of this reading. When God gave the new covenant, religion became more a matter of the inward person -- still forgiveness is needed. And now because of the work Christ did on the cross, we need no longer work at ways of receiving forgiveness from God.
Then comes a wonderful passage of encouragement and admonition to "hang in there." It takes three forms:
1. 10:19 -- We are reminded what Christ did for us.
2. 10:26-31 -- We are warned against moving into unbelief.
3. 10:32-39 -- We are asked to recall past encounters with God as a motivation to persevere.
Unfortunately the reading recommended truncates the completeness of the message. I'll take it to verse 39 anyway. Verse 22 is a gem! "Approach" is the word for "draw near" or "come to worship." So we are invited to come with the atonement and forgiveness which cleans an evil conscience and our bodies washed (baptized). They are nice metaphors of how we come to this worship because of what took place on our behalf this very day. See following on the Preaching Possibilities.
The Gospel
John 18:1--19:42
The Passion Of Jesus
Of all John's writing, the passion narrative comes the closest to the Synoptic Gospels in agreement both in order of the events and in the details. There is enough difference to make it distinctive. More than the Synoptics, it magnifies the "kingly" role of Jesus. He goes to his death not in weakness but as a hero fulfilling his destiny in victory.
In John's account, it is Jesus who is in control of what happens. He doesn't keep quiet about himself and his ministry and teachings. For instance, in his trial before Pilate, it is the governor who is judged; at death, Jesus cries out a sentence of task completed: "It is finished" (9:30). Perhaps an outline will be helpful for this reading:
18:1-11 -- The arrest at Gethesemane
18:12-14 and 25-27 -- He goes before Annas, the High Priest
18:15-18 and 25-27 -- Peter's behavior (courage or denial)
18:28--19:16 -- He goes before Governor Pilate
19:17-22 -- He carries his cross to Golgotha
19:23-24 -- The soldiers gamble for his clothing
19:25-27 -- Others on the hill
19:28-37 -- The end comes
19:38-42 -- He is buried in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb
Preaching Possibilities
A. Using all three readings, we might use an outline like this:
1. The suffering servant he had to be for us (Isaiah 52 and 53).
2. What Christ did for us on the cross (Hebrews 10).
3. John's narrative of how it all happened (John 18 and 19).
B. Another approach would be to explain the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 53 and illustrate it with John's account of the crucifixion. Then move to the Hebrew passage about the New Covenant and the benefits of Jesus' crucifixion for us now. Again illustrate it with John's narrative of how it happened.
C. Yet another approach would be to use the John account of Jesus' passion re-telling portions and telling how this made come true what Second Isaiah had promised and what Hebrews explained the real significance to be. It might look like this.
John's Account
19:1-3 -- Jesus abused and flogged
19:34-37 -- His side is pierced
19:28-30 -- He finishes his mission
19:34 -- His blood is shed
Isaiah Promised It
53:3 -- Despised and rejected
53:4-5 -- Wounded for our iniquities
53:13 -- Bore the sin of many
Hebrews 10:19 -- His blood a new way
Finish with the promise we have:
Isaiah 53:13 -- He will be lifted up
Hebrews 10:23-24 -- Hold fast to our hope and love and do good things
John 20:42 -- He is buried but not for long
D. The passion narrative of John is so compelling that we must include it in our preaching. I don't believe a sermon on the Old Testament or New Testament Lessons by themselves, no matter how rich they are, would be acceptable to our Good Friday listeners.
E. "Good Friday" is probably a distortion of the original name for this day, God's Friday. Nevertheless we could develop a theme of "What's Good About This Friday?" -- TGIF -- "Thank God It's Friday" will be familiar and can enhance the theme. Thank God it's this Friday for:
1. On this Friday we have a warning of how ugly our sins can be -- even so-called religious people!
2. On this Friday we have an example of how much God loves us anyway.
3. On this Friday we have complete unearned forgiveness from our creator God.
4. On this Friday the cross became central to our faith and spiritual lives.
5. Now close with the story of Joseph of Arimathea giving up his grave for Jesus -- and there he remains until we return to look for him Sunday, a different Sunday than the world has ever known.
F. Also a possibility for this Good Friday would be the use of the ancient Tenebrae Service of Shadows. Use the hymn, "Jesus, In The Dying Woes," by Thomas B. Pollock, reading a portion of the Gospel between each part and extinguishing one candle on the altar each time. Lower the lights in the sanctuary each time a candle is extinguished until the church is in darkness. Make a cymbal crash representing the tomb being opened and then bring out the lighted paschal candle. Bring up the lights enough so people can leave the church in silence.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. The narrative is so strong, why not preach a classic narrative sermon? The moves might go like this:
1. (John 18:1-11) Begin by retelling in your own words the story of Jesus' arrest in Gethesemane garden. Begin by saying the reading will start where we left off last night at the Last Supper in the upper room.
2. Explain how this part of the story tells us about the authority and courage of Jesus. He chose to die. He was concerned for the others (v. 8). We also learn of the courage of Peter as he tries to protect Jesus.
3. (John 18:14-27) Resume the story of Jesus before Annas' and Peter's betrayal. Annas arranged for Jesus' arrest because Jesus had attacked Annas' vested interests. The sellers in the Temple were called "The Bazaars of Annas." His family ran and profited from them. So here was a mockery of justice. He was guilty before he was tried.
4. (John 18:25-27) Tell of Peter's denial. Then explain we see both sides of Peter here: his courage in the garden and his cowardice in the courtyard... unless he lied here to stay close to Jesus hoping for a chance to rescue him while all the rest of the disciples had run away. The "cockcrow" was probably the trumpet call at 3:00 a.m. of the Roman military nicknamed "the cockcrow." What bugle calls remind us of our denials of Jesus?
5. (John 18:26--19:16) Relate how Jesus now goes before the Roman Governor Pilate. Explain that Jesus had to die a Roman death because he had to be "lifted up" (John 12:32). There is a madness reflected here crowds can work themselves into. The Jews hated him so much they were willing to twist their charge against him. Hatred is like that. Barclay writes: "The Jews were prepared to abandon every principle they had in order to eliminate Jesus." It's also sad to note Pilate crucified Jesus in order to keep his job.
6. (John 19:17-22) Now back to the story where Jesus is forced to take up his own cross to carry it to the place of the cross, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (Calvary is the Latin name.) It was a miserable walk.
7. Relate how the soldiers gambled for his robe. John believes this is fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy found in Psalm 22:18.
8. (John 19:28-37) Move to Jesus' suffering and death. And why? In order to take our sins upon him, he became a sacrifice for us that we might have forgiveness. He also became an example of how much we are loved by God. When he exhaled the words, "It is finished," it was. He had come to be that sacrifice and prove God's love and now his mission was done! Whoopee!
9. (John 19:38-42) Then tell your people of the burial in Joseph's tomb. A powerful conclusion might be something like this. But wait, is this really the end? I think I hear in the distance some women coming to embalm the body very early Sunday morning. They may discover something that still has us mouth agape and eyes wide open!! Thus the end of this narrative sermon.
B. If you must preach a second time this day, how about using the theme: "Others on the hill that day." Let it be a study of the personalities around the cross of Christ. They were:
1. The soldiers who gambled for his robe (v. 23).
2. The disciples, young John who stayed with him to the end (v. 27).
3. Jesus' mother, who was hurt and bitterly disappointed (v. 25).
4. The criminal who cursed him and the one who asked to be saved (v. 40).
5. The crowd who made fun and ridiculed him (v. 20).
They all have a message for us.
Prayer Of The Day
Savior God, who went to the cruel cross of Calvary for our sins, forgive us when we deny and desert you. Accept our thanksgiving for demonstrating you live for us on that cross which remains a precious symbol of that love and sacrifice for all Christians around the world still today. In your name. Amen.
Possible Stories
While the scripture narrative is loaded with personalities and metaphors for today's preaching, here are a few contemporary ones.
My students from Nepal told me that in their language "persecution" means to give birth to a new church. So this persecution of Jesus gave birth to the church of Jesus Christ.
A letter from missionary friends Barry and Alice Lang in Madan, Papua New Guinea, said, "Bilum is what people here use to carry all their personal possessions. The color and so forth indicate membership in a particular tribe. Mothers put their babies in them and hang them from a tree branch. The breeze rocks the infant to sleep. Jesus Christ carries his bilum of our heavy loads, mistakes, sins, worries, and problems. In many of our Lutheran churches a bilum is carved on the inside or outside as a constant reminder that Jesus carried our cross. We ought to help carry one another's burdens."
While serving as a guest professor at the seminary on top of a mountain named Tau Fong Shan, I learned that the Chinese living at the foot of the mountain placed mirrors in their windows to reflect away the power of the large white cross on the seminary campus. These non-believers may have more faith in the power of the cross than we Christians do.
