Good Friday Tres Ore

+ The Seven Words of Jesus from the cross +

This is the hub of a 3 day (triduum) worship service. It has no beginning invocation or ending benediction.

+ Calvary: Introduction

+ Hymn: "Upon the Cross Extended" LBW453
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THE FIRST WORD

Christ was put to death as though He was a sinner, like you and me--but He was not. He was crucified for crimes He did not commit, yet justly so, since He willingly allowed the sin of all the world to be imputed into Him–in this he offered forgiveness to his tormentors, if only by faith they would receive it...

+ Hymn From Calvary's Cross... (Stanza 1) LW108

From Calvary's cross I heard Christ say
"Father, Forgive these men, for they
for they in truth know not what they do."
Forgive us too for often we in ignorance offend you.

+ The First Word: Luke 23:34

+ Extinguishing of the first light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part I (Stanzas 1-3) #447

Jesus, in your dying woes,

Even while your lifeblood flows,
Craving pardon from your foes:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Savior, for our pardon sue
When our sins your pangs renew,
For we know not what we do:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Oh, may we, who mercy need,
Be like you in heart and deed,
When with wrong our spirits bleed:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

+ Calvary: On the Cross

+ Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" LSB 450

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THE SECOND WORD

Christ Jesus was rebuked by all, even the two thieves crucified with him--yet He would not answer their taunts. One thief repented--and Jesus offers that day to his soul, paradise!...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." LW108

Now to the contrite theif He cries:
"You, truly, will in paradise meet me before tomorrow."
Lord, take us soon to heaven with You, who linger here in sorrow.

+ The Second Word: Luke 23:39-43

+ Extinguishing of the second light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part II (Stanzas 4-6) #447

Jesus, pitying the sighs
Of the thief, who near you dies,
Promising him paradise:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we in our guilt and shame
Still your love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on your name:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May our hearts to you incline
And their thoughts your cross entwine.
Cheer our souls with hope divine:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

THE THIRD WORD

Jesus must have felt totally humiliated, hanging on the cross in shame before his family and friends--yet His concern was not for himself, but for His own mother and friend...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 3) LW108

To weeping Mary standing by
"Behold your son," we hear Him cry;
to John, "Behold, your mother."
So when we die, let those we leave
in love befriend each other.

+ The Third Word: John 19:25-27

+ Extinguishing of the third light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part III (Stanzas 7-9) #447

Jesus, loving to the end
Her whose heart your sorrows rend,
And your dearest human friend:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we in your sorrows share,
For your sake all peril dare,
And enjoy your tender care:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we all your loved ones be,
All one holy family,
Loving, since your love we see:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

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THE FOURTH WORD

His friends abandoned Him in His hour of great need--surely His Father in Heaven would remain to comfort Him. He was perfect--what anger could God have against Him? Yet, what if God and His mercy should leave Jesus completely?...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 4) LW108

The fourth, "My God, My God, oh why
do you not hear my earnest cry?"
Lord, You were here forsaken
That we may never be so lost;
Let lively faith awaken.

+ The Fifth Word: Matthew 27:46-47

+ Extinguishing of the fifth light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part V (Stanzas 13-15) #447

Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown,
With our evil left alone,
While no light from heaven is shown:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

When we seem in vain to pray
And our hope seems far away,
In the darkness be our stay:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Though no Father seem to hear,
Though no light our spirits cheer,
May we know that God’s is near:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

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THE FIFTH WORD

Jesus, the Christ, came into the flesh for just this moment...and even on the cross He shows us his humanity. He who came to offer "living water" earnestly desired a drink to wet his lips...and to fulfil the words of scripture...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 5) LW108

The Savior's fifth word was, "I thirst!"
O Mighty Prince of Life, your thirst
yearns for myfull salvation.
Your love, your mercy's sacrifice
Compel my adoration.

+ The Fourth Word: John 19:28-29

+ Extinguishing of the fourth light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part IV (Stanzas 10-12) #447

Jesus, in your thirst and pain,
While you wounds your lifeblood drain,
Thirsting more our love to gain:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Thirst for us in mercy still;
All your holy work fulfill;
Satisfy your loving will:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we thirst your love to know;
Lead us in our sin and woe
Where the healing waters flow:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

THE SIXTH WORD

The task accomplished, Christ Jesus fulfilled the law completely--as we never could. He was a perfect sacrifice of sin--taking on Himself the punishment we fully deserved, that we receive the glories of heaven He earned for us...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 6) LW108

With "It is finished!" You have done,
The course Your Father set is run, the victory achieving.
For us now do Your work on earth. Your promises believing.

+ The Sixth Word: John 19:30

+ Extinguishing of the sixth light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part VI (Stanzas 16-18) #447

Jesus, all our ransom paid,
All your Father’s will obeyed;
By your sufferings perfect made:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Save us in our soul’s distress;
Be our help to cheer and bless
While we grow in holiness:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

Brighten all our heavenward way
With an ever holier ray
Till we pass to perfect day:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

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THE SEVENTH WORD

In control to the end, Jesus voluntarily gives up His Spirit to His Father in Heaven--even though He has abandoned His Son. Christ, our Lord, places Himself in the Father's hands with Scripture on His lips, submitting to His wrath out of love for us...

+ Hymn "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 7) LW108
At last, as light and suffering end;

"O God, My Father, I commend into Your hands My Spirit."
Be this, Dear Lord, my dying prayer: O Gracious Father hear it.

+ The Seventh Word: Luke 23:46a, Mark 15:37

+ Extinguishing of the eternal light & meditation

+ Hymn "Jesus in Your Dying Woes" Part VII (Stanzas 19-21) #447

Jesus, all your labor vast,
All your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up your soul at last:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

When the death shades round us lower,
Guard us from the tempter’s power,
Keep us in that trial hour:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

May your life and death supply
Grace to live and grace to die,
Grace to reach the home on high:
Hear us, holy Jesus.

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+ Calvary: Conclusion

+ The Reproaches

+ Hymn: "Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted" #451 or "Sing My Tongue, the Glorious Battle #454

+ The Bidding Prayer (LW p. 276; response to each petition: "Amen!")

+ The Lord's Prayer

+ "From Calvary's Cross..." (Stanza 8) LW108

Our Lord thus spoke these seven times when on His Cross, for all our crimes
He died that we not perish.
Let us His last dying Words in our remembrance cherish.

+ Closing of the Book

+ Silent Departure