Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, March 15

As we walk with Jesus to the Cross we come to the final phase of Jesus’ trial, the phase where Jesus faces the Roman Governor Pilate.  In John 18: 28 – 19:16 we witness seven scenes that move from inside the Governor’s palace to outside where Jews stand accusing Jesus.  Back and forth from inside to outside move Pilate and Jesus.  In his own way John wants us to see eternal contrast illustrated by Pilate constantly going from inside with Jesus to outside with the world.  In the end Pilate will stand with the world opposed to Jesus.  And although Pilate is the only figure who appears in every scene, it is Jesus himself, and the nature of his kingdom, that occupy center stage.”(Carson, p.587)   Throughout His walk to the cross Jesus is in full control.  In John 10 Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd”, and “I lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn 10: 14-15).  He then further declared,  “I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (Jn 10:18)

We have been praying that as we walk with Jesus through His final hours we will be confronted again with the reality of our sin that put him there, be amazed by God's grace that sent Him to save us, and be filled with praise at the glory of the cross and resurrection.  As we will see in this week’s passage, the setting for these last hours of Jesus is life is the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, both of which remember and reflect God’s deliverance of his people out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  Unleavened bread is central to the celebration of these feasts and central in our observance of the Lord’s Supper.  In Deuteronomy 16:3 God calls this bread the bread of affliction.  “You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.”  The word affliction means, “to be afflicted” or to be humbled. (blb.com)  This is what Jesus did for us during the Passover and this feast of unleavened bread.  This suffering, this affliction, is what we seek to identify with as we witness the suffering of Jesus through his Word. 

Pray for this as you prepare for worship this week.   

This Sunday, and every Sunday between now and Resurrection Sunday, we will observe the Lord’s Supper as a part of our worship service.  Each week we will take an aspect of Jesus suffering and death and connect it to our participation in Communion.  We will read about Jesus suffering in the Word, we will hear it proclaimed in the sermon, and we will taste it in the bread and juice.  Partaking of this bread will be a way we identify with the suffering and affliction Jesus embraced on our behalf.  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:4-5 )

This week will sing Behold the Lamb, by Keith and Kristyn Getty.   Consider these lyrics  as you prayerfully prepare for worship.

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away; 

Slain for us and we remember;

The promise made that all who come in faith 

find forgiveness at the cross.

So we share in this Bread of Life, 

and we drink of His sacrifice;

As a sign of our bonds of peace, 

around the table of the King.

The body of our Savior Jesus Christ 

torn for you, eat and remember;

The wounds that heal the death that brings us life 

paid the price to make us one;

So we share in this Bread of Life, 

and we drink of His sacrifice;

As a sign of our bonds of love 

around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, 

Shed for you drink and remember;

He drained death's cup that all may enter in 

to receive the life of God

So we share in this Bread of Life, 

And we drink of His sacrifice;

As a sign of our bonds of grace 

around the table of the King.

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise 

to respond and to remember;

Our call to follow in the steps of Christ 

as His body here on earth;

As we share in His suffering 

we proclaim Christ will come again;

And we'll join in the feast of heaven 

around the table of the King.