Holy Saturday and the Vigil of Easter

Today is Holy Saturday, the day in which Jesus Christ’s body was resting in the tomb.  Tonight is the Third Service of the Triduum – the Vigil of Easter.  The Triduum consists of the services that run over the course of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.   In the Triduum we pass through the three days of Christ’s Passover and remember that through Holy Baptism we have shared in Christ’s saving death and will also share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Tonight’s service focuses on how we have been buried with Christ into His saving death and resurrection.  Following the Jewish reckoning of time, a new day in the liturgical practice of the Church begins at sundown.  Thus the Vigil of Easter is also the first service of Resurrection of Our Lord.

Scripture reading:

            When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

            The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.  (Matthew 27:57-66)

Collect of the Day:

O God, creator of heaven and earth, grant that as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the coming of the third day, and rise with Him to newness of life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sermon for Good Friday - Jn 18:1-19:42

                                                                                                Good Friday

                                                                                                Jn 18:1-19:42

                                                                                                3/30/18

            As we listen to our Gospel lesson tonight, one can almost feel sorry for Pontius Pilate.  For starters, Pilate didn’t even want to be in Jerusalem.  His residence as prefect of the Roman province of Judea was at the palace that Herod the Great had built in Caesarea, a city on the Mediterranean Sea. 

            Pilate wanted to be at the beach. The last place he wanted to be that week was in Jerusalem.  Jerusalem during the Passover was a city crowded with Jews.  Pilate was not a fan of the Jews – more on that in a moment.  He didn’t want to be surrounded by them in their city.  But a large gathering of Jews celebrating God’s rescue of Israel from a foreign oppressor was a dangerous situation, and so each year the prefect came to Jerusalem with extra troops to make sure that nothing unexpected happened.

            Pilate didn’t want to be in Jerusalem.  And now in the morning when the prefect did business, the Jewish religious leaders summoned Pilate to come out to them. They didn’t want to defile themselves by entering into that Gentile setting. 

            No doubt Pilate wanted to ignore their summons.  He didn’t like the Jews and treated them with contempt.  When he arrived as the prefect in 26 A.D. he had the Roman standards that were embossed with figures of the emperor taken into Jerusalem.  Previous prefects had avoided doing this since they didn’t want to incite the Jews by bringing a sign of emperor worship into the holy city.  Pilate didn’t care … until he realized that he had stirred up trouble that could easily turn into a revolt.  So he was forced to back down and remove the standards. It was an incident that produced animosity between Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders from the start.

            Pilate didn’t want trouble.  There were Jews who had connections back in Rome.  An embassy sent by them to the emperor with charges against Pilate could result in his removal.  So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” Their response was less than forthcoming as they said, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

            Pilate was no fool.  He knew that they wanted this man Jesus dead.  But they couldn’t do it themselves. Like other areas of the empire, the Romans allowed the local leaders to run daily affairs.  In this case, the Jews were able to administer their religious laws.  However, the Romans were in charge and so the Jews were not allowed to execute anyone.

            Pilate had to play along with the Jewish leaders.  But he was going to remind them who was the conqueror and who was the conquered.  He said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” Grudgingly the Jews had to say to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

            John tells us that this happened for a reason.  He says, “This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”  When Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” Then later he added, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John explains, “He said this to show – literally ‘to sign’ - by what kind of death he was going to die.”  Jesus had declared that his saving action would take place on the cross.  That was the reason Pontius Pilate was involved.

            It didn’t take long for Pilate to conclude that the accusation was about the leaders’ hatred of Jesus and not about anything Jesus had done.  Pilate found nothing more than a deluded Jew who said he was the king of a kingdom that was not in this world – a king who had come to this world to bear witness to the truth.

            Jesus had done nothing worthy of death and he told the leaders this: “I find no guilt in him.”  He hoped to use a Passover custom of releasing a prisoner to take care of the matter.  But instead the leaders demanded Barabbas, a robber.  So Pilate had Jesus flogged and then brought Jesus out dressed mockingly in a crown of thorns and a purple robe.  He said, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” The leaders cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”  Pilate responded, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”  

            John tells us that Pilate was trying to release Jesus. But finally the Jewish leaders pushed him into a corner by playing the political card. They said, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  Pontius Pilate wasn’t going to risk his position over some Jew. So he delivered Jesus over to be crucified.

            Again and again John’s Gospel tells us that even Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. Though by no means a paragon of virtue, Pilate really tries to prevent Jesus from being killed.  He finally gives up when that effort threatens himself.

            Of course, Pilate did not fully understand how innocent Jesus was.  He did not understand that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He did not understand that Jesus is God in the flesh.  The Son of God took on flesh in order to be like us in all ways except for sin.  Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.  He was conceived and born without sin.  And then he lived without sin. He lived in order to do the Father’s will.  Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

            Jesus did this because we aren’t.  We aren’t conceived and born without sin.  Instead, as Jesus said, “flesh gives birth to flesh.”  Sinful fallen nature produces more sinful fallen nature.  That’s why no one has ever had to teach their child to be angry or jealous or to lie.  It’s already inside each one of us from the moment we are conceived.  And as our abilities and powers grow, so do our sins. We find new and inventive ways to reject God and harm our neighbor.

            Tonight we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us.  At the beginning of this Gospel, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  John compares Jesus to a sacrifice commanded by the Torah.  God had made a covenant with Israel and had given the sacrifices as the means by which he dealt with sin and gave forgiveness.  Yet all of those sacrifices pointed forward.  The deaths of all those animals and the shedding of their blood pointed to the cross of Good Friday.  Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice for you, and not just for you but also for all people.  The judgment of God against all sin fell upon Jesus as he hung upon the cross.

            This is what the Son of God entered our world to do.  This is why he became man.  He became flesh to be nailed to a cross.  In the Gospel lesson we learn that at Jesus’ death he said, “It is finished.”  John records this in Greek using a form that indicates the present result of a past action.  Jesus’ saving work on the cross stands completed.  His death occurred two thousand years ago, but its benefits continue now in the present.  You are the forgiven child of God because of his suffering and death.

            Death by crucifixion was a slow process.  It was a long, painful and humiliating death.  It was not uncommon for it to last more than day.  Typically the Romans left the body on the cross to be eaten by birds.  It was a billboard that said to all who passed by: “Don’t mess with us.”

            One thing that could hasten the process was to shatter the legs of the victim so that they could no longer bear any weight.  Instead the arms and the chest received all the stress and this led to asphyxiation as the person could no longer gasp for breath.

            John tells us that on Friday afternoon the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on Saturday, the Sabbath.  The soldiers did this to the two criminals.  John tells us, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe.”

            In death, blood and water issued forth from Jesus’ body.  The Church has always been reminded by this that the water of Holy Baptism and the blood of the Sacrament of the Altar find their origin in Jesus crucified on Good Friday.  The death of Jesus on the cross is the source of the forgiveness delivered by these Means of Grace.  Through them there is certainty that the salvation won on the cross by Jesus is yours.      

    

           

           

           

           

             

             

 

                            

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for our sins.  Our Lord was on the cross from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m., and from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. there was darkness over the land.  Tonight is the Second Service of the Triduum. The Triduum consists of the services that run over the course of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.   In the Triduum we pass through the three days of Christ’s Passover and remember that through Holy Baptism we have shared in Christ’s saving death and will also share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Tonight’s service focuses on the suffering and death of our Lord on the cross.  The Gospel lesson for Good Friday is the Passion of our Lord according to St. John (John 18:1-19:42).

Scripture reading:

            When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

            So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

            Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

            The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

            Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

            Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

            So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

            After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

            Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

            From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

            So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

            When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

            “They divided my garments among them,

                        and for my clothing they cast lots.”

            So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

            After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

            Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

            After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 18:1-19:42)

Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever.