A warm welcome to our service, which has been prepared by our worship group.
It is suggested that whilst reading through the Bible readings, you might like to have background music playing. Each reading is accompanied by a YouTube video. If read slowly, you should find time to reflect whist the remainder of each piece of music plays.
Matthew 27:15-26: Jesus is sentenced to death
At every Passover Festival the Roman governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the crowd asked for. At that time there was a well-known prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to set free for you? Jesus Barabbas or Jesus called the Messiah?” He knew very well that the Jewish authorities had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.
While Pilate was sitting in the judgement hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night I suffered much on account of him.”
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask Pilate to set Barabbas free and have Jesus put to death. But Pilate asked the crowd, “Which one of these two do you want me to set free for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
“What, then, shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?” Pilate asked them.
“Crucify him!” they all answered.
But Pilate asked, “What crime has he committed?”
Then they started shouting at the top of their voices: “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that it was no use to go on, but that a riot might break out, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am not responsible for the death of this man! This is your doing!”
The whole crowd answered, “Let the responsibility for his death fall on us and our children!”
Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified.
While Pilate was sitting in the judgement hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night I suffered much on account of him.”
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask Pilate to set Barabbas free and have Jesus put to death. But Pilate asked the crowd, “Which one of these two do you want me to set free for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
“What, then, shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?” Pilate asked them.
“Crucify him!” they all answered.
But Pilate asked, “What crime has he committed?”
Then they started shouting at the top of their voices: “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that it was no use to go on, but that a riot might break out, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am not responsible for the death of this man! This is your doing!”
The whole crowd answered, “Let the responsibility for his death fall on us and our children!”
Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified.
John 19:4-6: Jesus is sentenced to death
Pilate went out once more and said to the crowd, “Look, I will bring him out here to you to let you see that I cannot find any reason to condemn him.”
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!”
When the chief priests and the temple guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take him, then, and crucify him. I find no reason to condemn him.”
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!”
When the chief priests and the temple guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take him, then, and crucify him. I find no reason to condemn him.”
Luke 23:32-38: Jesus is mocked
Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. When they came to the place called “The Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”
They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.
The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”
They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.
The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Mark 15:22-26, 33-34 Jesus is crucified
They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of the Skull”.There they tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it.
Then they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to see who would get which piece of clothing.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.
The notice of the accusation against him said: “The King of the Jews”.
At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours.
At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”
Then they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to see who would get which piece of clothing.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.
The notice of the accusation against him said: “The King of the Jews”.
At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours.
At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”
John 19:25, 28-30:The death of Jesus
Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips.
Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!”
Then he bowed his head and died.
Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips.
Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!”
Then he bowed his head and died.
Reflection
Today's readings cover quite a lot of situations and emotions. From the crowd asking for Barabbas to be let free, a known criminal. How twisted can man be to do this against a person who was going about doing good and healing everybody who came to him?
Then we move onto Pilate's decision based on fear. Fear of upsetting the apple cart, maybe losing his position. Though he could find no fault in Jesus, he gave in to popular demand knowing it was wrong.
Then there's the cross, on either side of Jesus are criminals. But the two are so different. One is oblivious to what is happening and is hard hearted. The other is repentant and realises that there is something special about this man next to him on the cross.
Then we move to Jesus, he cries "Why Have You Forsaken Me ", crying out from his human side and his divine spiritual side. On the human side he is in agony, pain beyond belief. But on the spirit side, he knows what is coming: he's about to be made the Passover sacrifice.
Then his final statement on the cross: "It Is Finished". To many it made no sense, it looked like another religious fanatic had died. But what is happening is Father God is cutting a covenant with God the Son. He has fulfilled the law, he is to become the curse."He who knew no sin, became sin", so we can go free.
Unknown to everyone he will rise and seal this covenant, so that we can now believe and receive eternal forgiveness from sin (separation from God) and all the benefits that it brings, Hallelujah.
Stay In, Stay Safe, keep praying, asking the Father in Jesus name. The Name above all other names.
Remember JESUS is LORD, not the virus.
Then we move onto Pilate's decision based on fear. Fear of upsetting the apple cart, maybe losing his position. Though he could find no fault in Jesus, he gave in to popular demand knowing it was wrong.
Then there's the cross, on either side of Jesus are criminals. But the two are so different. One is oblivious to what is happening and is hard hearted. The other is repentant and realises that there is something special about this man next to him on the cross.
Then we move to Jesus, he cries "Why Have You Forsaken Me ", crying out from his human side and his divine spiritual side. On the human side he is in agony, pain beyond belief. But on the spirit side, he knows what is coming: he's about to be made the Passover sacrifice.
Then his final statement on the cross: "It Is Finished". To many it made no sense, it looked like another religious fanatic had died. But what is happening is Father God is cutting a covenant with God the Son. He has fulfilled the law, he is to become the curse."He who knew no sin, became sin", so we can go free.
Unknown to everyone he will rise and seal this covenant, so that we can now believe and receive eternal forgiveness from sin (separation from God) and all the benefits that it brings, Hallelujah.
Stay In, Stay Safe, keep praying, asking the Father in Jesus name. The Name above all other names.
Remember JESUS is LORD, not the virus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
These past few weeks have seen us all go through a series of events where it seemed the goalposts changed every day or so in relation to the lockdown due to covid-19.
Throughout these events it was difficult to see how good would come because so many have lost their lives and continue to do so. And still, for many people, breathtaking moments can be difficult, especially those seriously ill struggling with the virus. But, you are the God of all comfort who lets us rest within Your circle of love and unchanging peace, through Jesus Christ who came show us that life eternal is possible through Him.
Whilst we are aware that this virus has no boundaries and no respect for age, class, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender or faith, we give thanks that we are reminded (Romans 8:38-39) that nothing can separate us from Your love and that in Jesus, we learn so much about dignity and respect for every person. We pray this will continue in our common goodness for all.
Meantime, amid the circumstances that are crucifying many people who are struggling, we thank you that you are a God that is not willing to remain distant from Your people. Good Friday focuses on Your Son, Jesus, crucified on a cross, who gave up His life for a broken hurting world, opening the way, untwisting evil, sin and death for us to have a new way of life.
So, we praise you for showing us how to be full of hope, joy and promise. We give thanks because Jesus gave His life for us, became poor that we might become rich showing us that beyond Good Friday lies Easter Sunday.
Lord, when we are confused and our best efforts fail, when breath taking moments frighten us, and we don’t understand restricted events, remind us that there is great hope beyond Good Friday. In our moments of feeling isolated, may we know in our hearts that nothing can separate us from Your love neither the present nor the future.
Amen
These past few weeks have seen us all go through a series of events where it seemed the goalposts changed every day or so in relation to the lockdown due to covid-19.
Throughout these events it was difficult to see how good would come because so many have lost their lives and continue to do so. And still, for many people, breathtaking moments can be difficult, especially those seriously ill struggling with the virus. But, you are the God of all comfort who lets us rest within Your circle of love and unchanging peace, through Jesus Christ who came show us that life eternal is possible through Him.
Whilst we are aware that this virus has no boundaries and no respect for age, class, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender or faith, we give thanks that we are reminded (Romans 8:38-39) that nothing can separate us from Your love and that in Jesus, we learn so much about dignity and respect for every person. We pray this will continue in our common goodness for all.
Meantime, amid the circumstances that are crucifying many people who are struggling, we thank you that you are a God that is not willing to remain distant from Your people. Good Friday focuses on Your Son, Jesus, crucified on a cross, who gave up His life for a broken hurting world, opening the way, untwisting evil, sin and death for us to have a new way of life.
So, we praise you for showing us how to be full of hope, joy and promise. We give thanks because Jesus gave His life for us, became poor that we might become rich showing us that beyond Good Friday lies Easter Sunday.
Lord, when we are confused and our best efforts fail, when breath taking moments frighten us, and we don’t understand restricted events, remind us that there is great hope beyond Good Friday. In our moments of feeling isolated, may we know in our hearts that nothing can separate us from Your love neither the present nor the future.
Amen
Thank you for journeying with us today. There will be further reflections for Holy Saturday tomorrow, and worship live from St Ninian's, here and on our Facebook page, at 10.30am on Easter Day.
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Scottish Charity Number SC007453
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
