"It Is Finished"
Good Friday is one of the darkest moments in human history. As the years go on it becomes obvious that the majority of our Western Civilization have rejected the story about the life and work of Jesus. Though Christ shines the light of God without interruption, many continue to prefer the darkness of those who rule in service to power and profit. This has led us into the valley of decision. We will choose the way of life or the way of death. This not as an abstraction, but as the decision to live in the way of God and resist the way of the world.
These are trying times and we all need encouragement as the uncertain future comes our way. Never forget that God is with us, even when we walk through the valley of death's dark shadow. Hopefully, the recorded service below will support and encourage you as the days lead us into an uncertain future.
Our Good Friday service is rooted in these scriptures:
Isaiah 52:1-7 - Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
John 18:33-37 - Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."