Good Friday
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
Jesus makes his way toward Jerusalem and the cross that we might have undeserved forgiveness for our sins.
Theme For The Day
Calvary's cross works for us an atonement with God.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Suffering Servant
This "suffering servant" passage is read in all three cycles (A, B, and C) on God's Friday. Here is a great theme of the servant of God who suffers, is rejected, and atones for the people's sins. It is a marvelous example of the work of Jesus on the cross today. The translation "startle" in verse 15 is fascinating. After the way this servant is degraded, he astonishes all that one so humiliated could be exalted as described in verse 13. In this regard, also note verse 53:3, which describes his rejection.
Verses 10-12 describe the results on the servant because of his obedience to God.
A. "He shall see his offspring."
B. "He shall prolong his life."
C. "... the will of the Lord shall prosper" through him.
D. "Out of his anguish he shall see light."
E. "... he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge."
One more benefit of the suffering servant's sacrificial death: He will be given a great portion because he gave himself in death. These last three verses crescendo in the prophecy of the suffering servant who we can connect toward the Christ crucified today.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:16-25
Because Jesus Sacrificed, We Must Act
This passage is also read in Cycles A and C. There seems to be a cause and effect in this reading. Verses 16-18 say that God is establishing a new covenant with God's people by forgiving them their sins. The result is that no longer are offerings for sins required (v. 18). We can enter the sanctuary which Jesus opened for us. We can approach God with a "true heart" (v. 22). And we can persevere with hope because God is faithful and keeps God's promises (v. 23). We must encourage each other to do good deeds and come together regularly giving encouragement to each other. The above is the practical implication for the writer's claims about the work of Christ. We are encouraged to apply our faith in all out concern for others. And the writer says this is even more important because of the shortness of time (v. 25b).
The Gospel
John 18:1--19:42
The Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion, And Burial Of Jesus
It's God's Friday and we now move to John's account of the terrible acts by the religious and political powers of the day, which led to his crucifixion and death. I think a simple listing of the story according to the New Revised Standard Edition paragraph headers will be helpful:
The events
The betrayal and arrest (18:1-11)
Jesus before the High Priest (18:12-13)
Peter denies him (18:15-18 and again 25:27)
High priest questions Jesus (18:19-24)
Jesus before Pilate (18:28--19:16)
Jesus is crucified (19:17-37)
The burial of Jesus (19:38-42)
A teaching
We can betray him, also.
Our religion can persecute, also.
We disciples deny, too.
Religion can be cruel, too.
Power can corrupt us, as well.
The crucifixion was for us, also.
Like Nicodemus, we, too, can bury Jesus.
I have used the above seven as a seven-part sermon for a three-hour Good Friday service instead of the traditional words from the cross.
Preaching Possibilities
There are many possibilities for this day. One good one would be to take the Old Testament description of the suffering servant and relate it to the crucifixion of Jesus:
Verse 52:13 -- Jesus is "lifted up" on the cross.
Verse 52:15 -- Jesus "startles many nations" still. He was exalted in spite of the degradation of crucifixion.
Verse 53:3 -- Jesus was "despised" and beaten by soldiers and Annas.
Verse 53:4 -- Jesus "has born our infirmities" (our sins) on the cross.
Verse 53:7 -- Jesus "did not open his mouth" at the trial or on the cross.
Verse 53:11b -- Jesus, God's servant, by his crucifixion "made us righteous."
Verse 53:12 -- God has made Jesus "great" because he "poured himself out to death."
Verse 53:12b -- Jesus "bore the sin of many" and continues to make "intercession for us transgressors."
It's almost as if John wrote his account of the crucifixion to fit the well-known Jewish image of the suffering servant.
Another approach is to use the Hebrews reading and the outline provided in Comments on the Scripture, New Testament Reading. The sermon can be titled "Cause and Effect."
There are many ways to approach the crucifixion narrative of John's Gospel. One might be to look at the sign that Pilate had placed on the cross (v. 19:19) and imagine what sign we think ought to have been placed there.
A. Our Suffering Servant
B. The Prince of Peace
C. The one who is present in our communion meal
D. An innocent man dying for our sins
E. God's gift to God's family
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: People Around The Cross
Text: John 18:1--19:42
Moves:
A. Peter who denied him. How do we deny him in our discipleship?
B. Annas who was threatened by him. How can the religious threaten us?
C. Mary Magdalene who stuck with him to the end. How might we stick with Jesus to the end?
D. Joseph of Arimathea who was a secret disciple.
E. Nicodemus, also a secret disciple. How might our discipleship be more than secret?
Prayer For The Day
Let us not take part in your crucifixion again, dear God, by the language we use or the things we do and think that pain you. We give you thanks this day for working our forgiveness from your cross and pray we might live a life worthy of such a sacrificial love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
At the funeral of James Simmons I attended, the Reverend Parish said, "I did not come today to preach a funeral -- for we all preach our own funerals by the lives we live here. I came to share these few moments of tragedy with this family."
What a sobering idea that we prepare our own funeral sermons by the lives we live! But we also have a cross and Easter grace and a returned spirit to be with us now to get us through.
I remember the hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas. I wonder what a hearing for a Christian would be like who was nominated to be a disciple.
Joel and I were out to "bless the fields" with a little pheasant hunting. We came to an electric fence. Joel commented that it wasn't "hot." But I insisted he go across first. Throwing one leg over the fence, he came astraddle it, and he discovered it was "hot." So he jumped first on one leg then the other trying to get over or back. It's painful to straddle the fence and yet we often encourage it with a halfhearted following of the Christ and living in the world.
A university student who vandalized St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio, is now a member of the congregation. According to the pastor, my friend, the Reverend Dale Schaefer, Bowling Green State University student Gerard Guhde was found in the church after a day of drinking. He has helped to restore the sanctuary and has been forgiven by the congregation and has joined the church.
Jesus makes his way toward Jerusalem and the cross that we might have undeserved forgiveness for our sins.
Theme For The Day
Calvary's cross works for us an atonement with God.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Suffering Servant
This "suffering servant" passage is read in all three cycles (A, B, and C) on God's Friday. Here is a great theme of the servant of God who suffers, is rejected, and atones for the people's sins. It is a marvelous example of the work of Jesus on the cross today. The translation "startle" in verse 15 is fascinating. After the way this servant is degraded, he astonishes all that one so humiliated could be exalted as described in verse 13. In this regard, also note verse 53:3, which describes his rejection.
Verses 10-12 describe the results on the servant because of his obedience to God.
A. "He shall see his offspring."
B. "He shall prolong his life."
C. "... the will of the Lord shall prosper" through him.
D. "Out of his anguish he shall see light."
E. "... he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge."
One more benefit of the suffering servant's sacrificial death: He will be given a great portion because he gave himself in death. These last three verses crescendo in the prophecy of the suffering servant who we can connect toward the Christ crucified today.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:16-25
Because Jesus Sacrificed, We Must Act
This passage is also read in Cycles A and C. There seems to be a cause and effect in this reading. Verses 16-18 say that God is establishing a new covenant with God's people by forgiving them their sins. The result is that no longer are offerings for sins required (v. 18). We can enter the sanctuary which Jesus opened for us. We can approach God with a "true heart" (v. 22). And we can persevere with hope because God is faithful and keeps God's promises (v. 23). We must encourage each other to do good deeds and come together regularly giving encouragement to each other. The above is the practical implication for the writer's claims about the work of Christ. We are encouraged to apply our faith in all out concern for others. And the writer says this is even more important because of the shortness of time (v. 25b).
The Gospel
John 18:1--19:42
The Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion, And Burial Of Jesus
It's God's Friday and we now move to John's account of the terrible acts by the religious and political powers of the day, which led to his crucifixion and death. I think a simple listing of the story according to the New Revised Standard Edition paragraph headers will be helpful:
The events
The betrayal and arrest (18:1-11)
Jesus before the High Priest (18:12-13)
Peter denies him (18:15-18 and again 25:27)
High priest questions Jesus (18:19-24)
Jesus before Pilate (18:28--19:16)
Jesus is crucified (19:17-37)
The burial of Jesus (19:38-42)
A teaching
We can betray him, also.
Our religion can persecute, also.
We disciples deny, too.
Religion can be cruel, too.
Power can corrupt us, as well.
The crucifixion was for us, also.
Like Nicodemus, we, too, can bury Jesus.
I have used the above seven as a seven-part sermon for a three-hour Good Friday service instead of the traditional words from the cross.
Preaching Possibilities
There are many possibilities for this day. One good one would be to take the Old Testament description of the suffering servant and relate it to the crucifixion of Jesus:
Verse 52:13 -- Jesus is "lifted up" on the cross.
Verse 52:15 -- Jesus "startles many nations" still. He was exalted in spite of the degradation of crucifixion.
Verse 53:3 -- Jesus was "despised" and beaten by soldiers and Annas.
Verse 53:4 -- Jesus "has born our infirmities" (our sins) on the cross.
Verse 53:7 -- Jesus "did not open his mouth" at the trial or on the cross.
Verse 53:11b -- Jesus, God's servant, by his crucifixion "made us righteous."
Verse 53:12 -- God has made Jesus "great" because he "poured himself out to death."
Verse 53:12b -- Jesus "bore the sin of many" and continues to make "intercession for us transgressors."
It's almost as if John wrote his account of the crucifixion to fit the well-known Jewish image of the suffering servant.
Another approach is to use the Hebrews reading and the outline provided in Comments on the Scripture, New Testament Reading. The sermon can be titled "Cause and Effect."
There are many ways to approach the crucifixion narrative of John's Gospel. One might be to look at the sign that Pilate had placed on the cross (v. 19:19) and imagine what sign we think ought to have been placed there.
A. Our Suffering Servant
B. The Prince of Peace
C. The one who is present in our communion meal
D. An innocent man dying for our sins
E. God's gift to God's family
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Title: People Around The Cross
Text: John 18:1--19:42
Moves:
A. Peter who denied him. How do we deny him in our discipleship?
B. Annas who was threatened by him. How can the religious threaten us?
C. Mary Magdalene who stuck with him to the end. How might we stick with Jesus to the end?
D. Joseph of Arimathea who was a secret disciple.
E. Nicodemus, also a secret disciple. How might our discipleship be more than secret?
Prayer For The Day
Let us not take part in your crucifixion again, dear God, by the language we use or the things we do and think that pain you. We give you thanks this day for working our forgiveness from your cross and pray we might live a life worthy of such a sacrificial love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
At the funeral of James Simmons I attended, the Reverend Parish said, "I did not come today to preach a funeral -- for we all preach our own funerals by the lives we live here. I came to share these few moments of tragedy with this family."
What a sobering idea that we prepare our own funeral sermons by the lives we live! But we also have a cross and Easter grace and a returned spirit to be with us now to get us through.
I remember the hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas. I wonder what a hearing for a Christian would be like who was nominated to be a disciple.
Joel and I were out to "bless the fields" with a little pheasant hunting. We came to an electric fence. Joel commented that it wasn't "hot." But I insisted he go across first. Throwing one leg over the fence, he came astraddle it, and he discovered it was "hot." So he jumped first on one leg then the other trying to get over or back. It's painful to straddle the fence and yet we often encourage it with a halfhearted following of the Christ and living in the world.
A university student who vandalized St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio, is now a member of the congregation. According to the pastor, my friend, the Reverend Dale Schaefer, Bowling Green State University student Gerard Guhde was found in the church after a day of drinking. He has helped to restore the sanctuary and has been forgiven by the congregation and has joined the church.
