INVOCATION & CALL TO WORSHIP
(Based on Job 19:23–27)
L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
L: Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,
C: That they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!
L: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
C: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
L: I myself will see him with my own eyes, I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
ALL: I know that my Redeemer lives!
HYMN No 423
“Jesus Refuge of the Weary” (vss. 1 & 2 )
Jesus, refuge of the weary,
Blest redeemer, whom we love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above:
Often have Your eyes, offended,
Gazed upon the sinner’s fall;
Yet upon the cross extended,
You have borne the pain of all.
Do we pass that cross unheeding,
Breathing no repentant vow,
Though we see You wounded, bleeding,
See Your thorn encircled brow?
Yet Your sinless death has brought us
Life eternal, peace, and rest;
Only what Your grace has taught us
Calms the sinner’s deep distress.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
P: Loving Father, like the people who greeted Jesus as he entered Jerusalem and later pronounced, “Crucify him,” we are fickle people who often deny Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Remembering the events of Holy Week helps us see ourselves for what we are: sinners in need of a Savior.
C: O King of Glory, we confess that our praise of your majesty has often been faint, our performance as citizens of your kingdom treasonous. For we have surrendered to the enemy by our secret and our known sins. For our treason you died, Lord Jesus. For our restoration, you rose again. Draw us closer to you in this Holy Week, that our eyes may catch the vision of your tears, and our hearts, the wonder of your grace.
P: God’s mighty power is shown chiefly in the weakness of Jesus—his riding upon a donkey on Palm Sunday, his bitter agony in Gethsemane, as well as in his bloody sweat on Good Friday. And his resurrection assures you that his promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation are yours, now and indeed, forevermore!
ALL: I know that my Redeemer lives!
HYMN No 423
“Jesus Refuge of the Weary” (vss. 3)
Jesus, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for you;
May our eyes be ever turning
To behold your cross anew
Till in glory, parted never
From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever,
Dwell the cross, the Crucified.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
L: Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, since you sent your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, to take our nature upon himself, and to suffer death upon the cross, mercifully grant that we may patiently follow the example of his great humility, and share in his resurrection, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT
Job 41:20-34 (On earth there is not His like)
Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke,
as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
His breath kindles coals,
and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
In his neck abides strength,
and terror dances before him.
The folds of his flesh stick together,
firmly cast on him and immovable.
His heart is hard as a stone,
hard as the lower millstone.
When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
at the crashing they are beside themselves.
Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
He counts iron as straw,
and bronze as rotten wood.
The arrow cannot make him flee;
for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
Clubs are counted as stubble;
he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
He makes the deep boil like a pot;
he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
Behind him he leaves a shining wake;
one would think the deep to be white-haired.
On earth there is not his like,
a creature without fear.
He sees everything that is high;
he is king over all the sons of pride.”
P: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE
2 Corinthians 12:1–10 (Paul’s Visions and His Thorn)
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
P: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL
Luke 22:14–20 (Institution of the Lord’s Supper)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 22nd Chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ!
HYMN No. 657
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God, A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe.
With craft and dreadful might He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might. We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is He,
Christ Jesus mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the land All threat’ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot overpow’r us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage; In battle we’ll engage.
His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
God’s Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!
MESSAGE
“Job: Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” On Earth is Not His Equal
Pastor Matt (Job 41:2-34)
OFFERING
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
We continue to believe God will provide for the needs of our church through the generosity of His people. What a joy to see God working in this fashion. We thank you all for your faithfulness during this time of insecurity and instability. If you find yourself in need, please contact the church office for assistance.
PRAYERS
L: Heavenly Father, we admit that we are in a battle with a crafty and cunning enemy.
C: Your word calls him Satan or Accuser.
L: He seeks to kill, steal and destroy.
C: In fact, he is likened to a monster called Leviathan,
L: Who is connected with death,
C: Who is a deceiving serpent,
L: And who is even a deadly dragon.
C: On earth is not his equal! Yet we believe this devil is under your control.
L: He has fallen from heaven like lightning.
C: Indeed, the day is coming when he will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.
L: We claim this victory—our victory—on Palm Sunday,
C: Secured when Jesus died,
L: And sealed when he rose on the third day.
ALL: I know that my Redeemer lives!
+ Moment of silence to remember those whom God has laid on our hearts +
P: Lord God heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for Your great goodness in bringing Luke Maher to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and, yesterday confirming the gift of faith You gave him at his baptism. Grant that bringing forth the fruits of faith, he may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
P: Lord of life, we ask that you watch over all Your children afflicted by the Corona virus. Be merciful to the sick and spare the lives You have given. Relieve their pain, guard from all danger, and restore them according to Your gracious will. Be present with those who live with underlying conditions which make them more susceptible to the virus. Grant wisdom to the doctors and researchers who are working tirelessly to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Make us all more aware that You give life and sustain that life so that we may live as Your faithful children and witnesses to Your work of Salvation for all.
L: Hear these, and all our prayers, loving Father, for we pray in the matchless name of Jesus who taught and enables us to pray saying;
LORD’S PRAYER
(Matthew 6:9-13)
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN No. 512
“At the Name of Jesus” (1, 3 & 5)
At the name of Jesus Ev’ry knee shall bow,
Ev’ry tongue confess Him King of glory now.
‘Tis the Father’s pleasure We should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning Was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season, To receive a name
From the lips of sinners Unto whom He came,
Faithfully He bore it Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious When from death He passed;
In your hearts enthrone Him; There let Him subdue
All that is not holy, All that is not true;
Crown Him as your captain In temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you In its light and pow’r.
STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR
video: Psalm 22 – The Psalm Project
Jesus, in a blessed way, prays Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” so that we can pray Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me!”
As we wait to observe Good Friday tomorrow night, let us remind ourselves of all Jesus endured for our sake.
SILENT PRAYER
“Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill.” Amen.
For Good Friday
Read Job 42:7–9 and answer these questions:
1. Both Job (while still sitting in the ash heap) and Jesus (while being spiked to a cross) prayed for their enemies. Who are the enemies you need to pray for?
2. Why is Job’s restoration linked to his forgiveness of others? How is your restoration connected to your forgiveness toward people who have hurt you?