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| John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; |
Good Friday Vespers, 2024
7 PM Central Daylight Time
Bethany Lutheran Worship,
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Zoom link ->
The saved YouTube>Good Friday Service 2024
The hymn tunes are linked to the name of the hymn.
The words are linked to the the hymn number,
using the TLH hymnal blog.
Hymn # 172:1-5 O Sacred Head
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 22 p. 128
Psalm 22 KJV
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. The Lections
Sermon Hymn #143:1-5 O Dearest Jesus
Sermon Hymn #143:1-5 O Dearest Jesus
Because They Believed Not - The Crucial Issue
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace p. 45
Hymn #153 Stricken Smitten
Prayers and Announcements
Hymn #153 Stricken Smitten
Prayers and Announcements
- Dr. Kermit Way, Randy Anderson, Lori Howell, Sarah Buck, Pastor and Mrs. Jim Shrader.
- Those who are dealing with medical issues, loss, and emotional stress.
- Our country, duly elected leaders, and military.
Because They Believed Not - The Crucial Issue
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The world is awash in sin, and will not give away its secrets, continuing to do more of the same. A vast army has ordered people of all religions to make themselves holy by the works they must perform, and it is never enough, whether it is pagan law or papal law. We have been in the era of feelings for a long time. Feelings are often good and also bad. Jesus is not condemning the world of sin because of feelings.
This is a short message from Jesus but it is all-encompassing, answering the questions dodged by so many people. It starts with the assurance of Jesus sending the Holy Spirit to the world to teach the Gospel to people through the New and Old Testaments. The Spirit is to be at work remember everything important to the apostles - to guide a unique set of 27 books that are based upon the Old Testament, from Creation onward.
Today I was writing about Abraham because someone wanted to know more about Justification by Faith versus Objective Faithless Justification. Abraham is called the Father of Faith because he believed God's Promises and they were counted (reckoned) as righteousness. I looked up opinions about Abraham's career - his time on earth was about 4,000 years ago, roughly 2,000 years before Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire.
Abraham did not only believe in the impossible, his firstborn of the Promise, but also believed in the uncountable people who would be enrolled as believers in Christ and multiply beyond any person's imagination. He is Father of all those who sincerely believe in Christ.
Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ is the connection between the Savior and those who feel their need to be forgiven. Hardened hearts turn away from the cross, the miracles, and the empty tomb.
The cross is the all-encompassing destruction of Satan and his works. The message of the cross and empty tomb is this - We have proof everlasting of His death for our sins and His resurrection, assurance of eternal life. Above all,
Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Access by faith, into this grace. This is all-important, but I experience just the opposite in these dark days. But ancient history teaches us it was always like that, a bit of light shining through the darkness - people led by the True Light that enlightens the world.
The crucifixion was the worst of time for everyone connected to Jesus, horrifying, frightening, and anxious. It was so horrible that no one could accept the truth at first. They were not going door to door to share their faith. They locked the door and doubled the security with a stout wooden bar to prevent entering the room. Just as He left the tomb without help, so He entered the room without help or an invitation. Many things were done and said to encourage the disciples and build them up - as apostles sent into the world.
Jesus the Son of God is central in all of this, but not without the Father or Holy Spirit. Jesus is our best possible understanding of God's plan for all people. Those who faith in the Son also have faith in the Father and guidance from the Spirit. The problem is not too much sin and weakness, but not enough trust in the Gospel peace of the Good Shepherd. He is both the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sin of the world and the Good Shepherd protecting, feeding, and guiding us in all the trials of life.
