March 28, 2024 - Holy Thursday | Theme: God on Trial - Respite | By St. John Lutheran Church and School Redwood Falls | Good evening. Welcome to our worship on this Maundy Thursday. Time for us to come together with our Lord. Our Lord who looked at us, called us this common union of saints. Through Jesus, we are saints. We are holy in his sight. We have this common union. It's all centered on Christ. It's all in Christ. Thank the Lord. For in Jesus, he covers us. He covers our sins. He covers everything. Our everything is in Christ. As we begin this, this service it goes into Good Friday and into into Easter Sunday. Remember the certainty that is ours. And we take this respite this respite to be with our Lord is where he comes to us in the most special way. With his holy supper. His body and blood. We begin our service with the instruction for the end of Lent. It's printed in your bulletin or on the screen. In this Lenten season we have heard again our Lord walked the path of suffering which led him to the cross for our salvation. We've also heard our Lord's call to intensify our struggle against sin. And the devil, all that keeps us from loving god and one another. This is the struggle to which we were committed at baptism. god's forgiveness, and the power of his spirit to amend our lives, continue with us because of his love for us in Jesus, our savior. Within the family of the church, god never wearies of giving peace and new life. In the absolution we receive forgiveness, this absolution, we should not doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thus forgiven before god in heaven for it comes to us in the name and by the command of our lord. We who receive god's love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other, as Jesus became our servant. In holy communion, the members of Christ's body participate most intimately in his love. Remembering our lord's last supper with his disciples, we eat the bread and drink the cup of this meal. Together we receive the Lord's gift of his body and blood for forgiveness and participate in that new covenant that makes us one with him and one another. The Lord's supper is the promise of the great banquet we will share with all the faithful when our Lord returns. The joyous culmination of a reconciliation with God and each other. We continue with the first hymn, The Lamb. Hymn 525 will sing stanzas one through four. Continue with our services printed on the screen or in the bulletin. The grace of our lord Jesus Christ and the love of god and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. The lord almighty grant us a it now and it is good to give thanks to the praise to your name brought your love in the of Please be seated for the readings. First lesson is from Exodus chapter 21 or 12, beginning at verse twenty-one as we hear the lord giving this direction through Moses of the Passover. Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the door frame. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood in the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe the ceremony. And when your children ask you, what does this ceremony mean to you? Then tell them, it is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians. Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt. From the firstborn of pharaoh who sat on the throne to the firstborn of the prisoner was in the dungeon and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his official and all the Egyptians got up during the night and there was a loud wailing in Egypt for there was not a house without someone dead. The word of our lord. We continue with the Psalm of the day, Psalm 100sixteen, B, I will walk in the presence of the lord, printed in your bulletin or on the screen. Cry. Faithful servant in the the Lord Jesus, as I face death, turn my thoughts to your body, broken for me and your blood spilled for me. Let me rise as you have risen from the dead, to walk with you forever in the land of the living. I call on your name, for you have promised to be with me. Amen. Second lesson is taken from first Corinthians chapter ten. Apostle Paul's words is reminds us of something as far beyond what we can even begin to imagine but that we actually participate with the body and blood of Christ as we eat the bread and drink the wine. Is not the cup of Thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ. It is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ because there's one loaf. We who are many are one body, for we all the one loaf. The word of the Lord. Gospel reading is taken from Saint Mark chapter fourteen beginning at verse twelve. This is the gospel of our lord. Please rise. On the first day of the festival of unleavened bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover? So, he went, sent two of his disciples telling them, go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters. The teacher asked, where is my guest room? Where I may eat the Passover with my disciples. He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished, and ready. Make preparations for us there. The disciples left and went into the city and found things just as Jesus had had told them. So, they prepared the Pas over. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. They were saddened and one by one, they said to him, surely, you don't mean me. It is the one of the twelve, he replied, one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The son of man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the son of man. It would be better for him if he had not been born. While they were eating Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and he gave it to his disciples saying, take it, this is my body. Then he took a cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. This is my blood, the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them, truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine, until that day, when I drink it new in the kingdom of God, when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Word of the lord. We continue with the next hymn, hymn 4seventeen. It was a dark and dismal night. Please be seated. But peace is ours, especially remember maybe the Psalm twenty-three, those words as if Jesus spoke these words on the cross, what a reminder, you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows, in Christ, that certainty is ours. Dear friends in Christ, we look at the reading from Luke twenty-two. This is printed. Then came the day of unleavened bread in which the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John saying, go and make preparations for us to eat the past over. Where do you want us to prepare for it? They asked. He replied, as you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, the teacher asked, where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished, make preparations there. They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So, they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus his apostles reclined at the table and he said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of god. After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, take this and divide it among you for I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of god comes and he took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them saying, this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper, he took the cup saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. The word of our lord, dear friends in Christ, Outside the walls of that upper room in Jerusalem, the enemies of Jesus were getting ready, getting ready to to take this enemy out. The the high priest, the teachers of the law, they had, they had wanted to kill him a long time ago and then when when Lazarus was raised from the dead, they even added him to the list of people they wanted to kill because this was getting in their way. Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He just added urgency to what they needed to do and to their scheming But they didn't haven't had a chance to do it. As we can see. It was all in Jesus' hands. He was in control of the situation. But now as they're drawing near to the Passover Festival, they had had one of his inners inner ones on their payroll. Jude, Judas, and the opportunity could come at any time for them to get their hands on Jesus. Here they were lurking outside waiting. Outside the city, wondering when they could get in. Soon it all come to a head. Their plots. We see god's plan. The next twenty-four hours, there are going to be a whirlwind. We know that arrested in Gethsemane before Caiaphas and Anas and the trials before Pilate, before Herod, before Pilate, and then crucifixion. And then death and the burial in the tomb but not yet, not here. Here was Jesus with his disciples in this upper room. What do you say? He longed for this time with them. This time with his disciples was so precious. He enjoyed, he looked for those times to be with his his brothers. Like someone in their own family. He saw them. He even calls us part of his father's family. His ministry. Remember how often he spoke of having time with them with just the disciples. Maybe with those women. Little later this Thursday evening, when Jesus is going there by himself to pray, even brings those those three along. Peter, James, and John. To be with him. And we know how disappointed when they still didn't stay awake. They they fell asleep on Jesus. Get outside the upper room. His enemies were in wait. But here, Jesus is with his disciples. It's more than that though. Jesus, they're not just hanging out. They're not just having some time together. They had gathered to celebrate the Passover. As we start to think of this, you know the Passover, right? Remember the Passover that for 1500 years, was celebrated every single year. They would remember what happened. Remember the promises of God. Remember what God told them to do. To prepare for meal. They were to slaughter this young lamb without defect and they were to take it and roast it specially. They would eat it together in haste ready to depart. They were to especially take that blood and put it on their doorpost so that then when the angel the Lord came through Egypt he would pass over and not bring that destruction on that home. Inside their homes. Protected by add blood and gather around that special meal. God's people were safe. The Lord led them out of Egypt, out of slavery. The Lord kept his promise. And so every year, God's faithful people, they would remember the story. They would tell their children, they would remember how God had delivered them, and they would prepare that lamb. They would take the blood all pointing ahead, not only of God's promises that had been done, but of the one that special lamb of god that would come and that flawless lamb that they would prepare was pointing ahead to the perfect lamb of god which god has made clear, hasn't he to us? We think of John the Baptist. Look, the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world Helps us see. Here was the culmination of all this preparation that people had remembering and now in this generation, how different it was for they had the very son of god, the very lamb god that would fulfill these promises there with them in the flesh celebrating with his disciples that blood would protect them from god's wrath. That blood gave them freedom from slavery to sin and from death and from the power of the devil. This meal had been celebrated for thousands of years. Even so, that wasn't the best part of the night. The next was coming. What Jesus did with his disciples, it's not a new twist and an old tradition. It's something never been seen before. On this night, for the first time, Jesus gives to his his people. His real body and blood, the very things that he'll give in death for the sin of the world and this night, he gives this down payment on the new covenant that we call the new covenant in his blood, this new pack that god would make with sinners, sealed with Jesus blood on the cross for us. Think of that that promise of forgiveness that he said he was giving that promises for his people, for you and I. It's ours through faith. What certainty is ours. In this room, Jesus instituted that night, that meal that will be celebrated not just every year, but every week, and more for the next 2000 years, people would continue to celebrate and proclaim what the Lord has done. In this meal, he gives us disciples. Something would strengthen them for the dreadful events that were coming and the work that they would carry out the rest of their lives. No wonder, Jesus eagerly desired to eat this meal with his disciples before he would suffer and make it all happen and say, it is finished. Yes, even as Jesus is looking forward to this moment, he's also looking ahead as we hear him speak of what's going to happen. He tells his disciples that he's not going to eat this meal again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of god and he adds that he not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of god comes The new, this kingdom of god, god's rule in the hearts of his people and with his people in grace now and in glory forever to come. Old Testament prophets and even Jesus and spoke of spoke of that relationship between god's people and his people or god and his people in his kingdom and they often times speak of this festival meal with his people this communion. It's made possible through Jesus' life and his death and it culminates in what the Bible describes as his heavenly banquet beyond what we can even imagine The ultimate Passover feast, an eternal feast of joy and peace where no enemies will ever be found, just God and his people forever. That's ours. There's another promise that Jesus gives. What respite is ours in Christ. How we long to take our place at that table. To sit in that eternal feast and we look forward to that. Because of what Jesus done Right now though? Right now enemies are everywhere. The people the world rise up to put God and his people on trial. They stand in judgement over God's good gifts. They ridicule the words that God has given us. They say what? What kind of words what kind of thing are you celebrating here? They try to take us down. They try to influence us, our culture, our children. They judge us to be out of touch with the world. They're happy to exclude us or to include us in their sins. Worst of all, the devil. The devil who is always working as Peter says, this wild, this lion that wants to destroy you and I, prowling, going around every corner, ready to pounce, all around us. Hostile forces lurk, conspire. We've been hurt by it, haven't we? We've heard our Lord by our own sin. That's why it's so good. So good for us to be in this room, in God's house, with God's people, with our Lord himself who says, I am there, where two or three are gathered in my name. Not that we don't bring our own sin in here, do we? These doors are not some kind of airlock that kind of keep spiritual contaminants out. Not at all. Where there are sinners and I don't need to look at you. You're looking at one here. There's sin. And we all have it. Sin was in that upper room with those disciples around Jesus. In the hearts of those who dined with Jesus. Including the one who had betray him. But the others too. And drag our guilt in here too, don't we? For all the times we've been such easy prey for our greatest enemy, we carry in our doubts, our fears, our worries, There's things we want to kind of hide too. Which is why we need to be here. In this room, Jesus gathers us together to assure us that his blood covers everyone of those sins. And think of what it does. It shields us from god's anger. It takes that anger away. It takes that hell away. It takes that guilt away and assures us you are holy. You are saints. You are this communion of saints. You are this common union. He reminds us the kingdom belongs to him. And if it belongs to him, he has perfect control over all events and power over all his enemies. and when you hear god's word here, Jesus is speaking. He's speaking to your hearts. As if he's sitting across the table like he was with those disciples He wants you to hear of his concern. His love for you. This one who is going to the cross because he knew you. And he knows me. But Jesus doesn't just speak across the table. Now we hear he invites us to the table. Here he gives you the very body that he took when he came into the world. The body in which he served as father perfectly. The body gave into death on the cross. He gives the blood he shed, the blood that established a new covenant. This isn't the covenant like the lord made with the Israelites in Mount Sinai. When he sealed it with the blood of bulls, a contract that the people broke. Now, this is an unbreakable pact and covenant, a promise of forgiveness through faith, sealed with the blood of the lamb of god. god made upon himself for us and so tonight Jesus invites you. Come with me to a quiet room. Come and recline at the table. Let's celebrate that special meal together. He says, I've already made preparations. There's nothing you need to do. The food is ready. The drink is prepared. It's my body. It's my blood. Let me serve you. Let me strengthen you for the struggle of tomorrow. How eagerly I desire to eat meal with you, Jesus said, let your enemies rage all around you here. Here in this moment, at this table, it's just you and Jesus. Of course, it's not just you individually but all of us. this common union that we have with our lord, this common union that we have with one another together as Jesus gathers us. He gathers us together in this one body. Rich or poor, Whatever we look like, we all come together with all of our sins and our guilt but in Jesus, we are holy. We are righteous. It's all because of our lord. It's all because of what he has done. To your right, to your left, alongside you are your brothers and sisters who are fighting the same enemies that need the same divine strength and receive the same forgiveness as with you. If the perfect son of god in the flesh valued fellowship with his disciples and with his people with you. How we desire that fellowship with him and with one another as our lord desired. Treasure it If this, if this life is like a courtroom, where the world puts god and his people on trial, think of the supper. It's a recess, a respite. A rest with our lord. Jesus ushers you into this quiet room. Where there are no accusations, no prosecutors, no hostile witnesses, only faithful supporters in the promise of a victorious outcome How we eagerly desire this meal. Here we find peace. Here we stand in the presence of God. Here we are surrounded by his people. Here it's almost like heaven. Amen. To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be praised and honor and glory and power forever and ever. Amen. We continue with the offering. Please rise for prayer. In prayers, we include Stacey Dickman who is in at the Mayo Clinic and receiving beginning radiation for cancer treatments. We keep her in our prayers. Let us pray. Gracious lord, according to will and promise, you sent your son into our world to atone for sin and restore eternal life. You planned his path to the cross and he followed it perfectly. Your spirit led him to endure temptations of Satan but he triumphed. Your own people rejected his message but he persevered. He confronted the blindness of unbelief, the confusion of doubt, and the hurt of death was not deterred as he proclaimed your kingdom to the least the last and the lost. Guide us to follow Christ by faith as we walk the road of temptation and trial. Spare us from Satan's traps and steal a resolve as his partner's confront us. Teach us to use your word as a weapon to fight against all devilish lies and deceptions and when we fall, we surely will lift us up again with your forgiveness and grace. Dear lord, we thank you for giving us your holy supper. Use this for our good. strengthen our faith, and lift our eyes to know that we look forward to this, to this eternal banquet with you in your kingdom forever and even now, you have given us this faith, faith to know that are your people, faith that we can live for you. Help us follow your commands. Help us to to in a way wash each other's feet to care for one another. What a privilege it is Lord that we can come to you with our needs. And so we ask that you would be with those who are having struggles in life. Whether it's health or sickness. Be with Stacey Dickman as she goes through and begins treatment for her cancer. Um house how shocking this can be at times. But you are the one that goes with us and even through these struggles, finally, we know everything will lead finally to eternal kingdom, a paradise without pain or any suffering. So, lift your eyes to know the future is taken care of and even now, you are her strength. You are our strength. We pray this all in your dear name, dear Jesus. To you, the father and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen. We continue with our service Alright, let us confess our sins in the presence of god and of one another. We'll join in confessing our sins using the lord, have mercy. Hymn six fifty-two. What we have Almighty god, the father of our lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of sinners, but rather that they turn from their wickedness and live. He sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ, and by his authority, I forgive you all of your sins. In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. The Lord be with you. Lift up your hearts Let us give thanks to the lord, our god. It is right to give him thanks and praise. It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places, give you thanks, oh lord, holy father, almighty and everlasting god, through Jesus Christ, our lord, who who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death and the tree of the cross, so that the devil who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and the host of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song. Blessed are you, lord god, eternal king and gracious father. In love, you made us the crown of your creation. In mercy, you planned our salvation. In grace, you sent your son to redeem us from sin. We remember and give you thanks that your eternal son, Jesus Christ, became flesh and made his dwelling among us, that he willingly placed himself under law to redeem those under law and that he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross and that he has destroyed death and has brought life and the immortality to light through the gospel. Bless us as we receive your son's body and blood in this sacrament. Forgive our sins, increase our faith, strengthen our fellowship, and deepen our longing for the day when Christ will welcome us to his eternal feast. Praise and thanks and honor and glory be to you, oh god, our father, and to your son, and to the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. We pray as the lord has taught us. Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. In our lord Jesus Christ, in the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, take and eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then, he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me and the peace of the lord be with you always Please be seated. The table is now ready. Invite you to now come forward to receive the Lord's supper. For those who are a guest, we just ask that you take note of our our communion practice as we want all to understand what they're receiving and for their good and to God's glory. As we please take note of our that in our bulletin. We'll join in singing the song together during the distribution. Lord, strengthen, preserve in the true faith to eternal life. Mister body and blood of your lord Please rise. We continue with the song of Simeon. Hide us waking oh lord not asleep awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace in peace lord let your servant now depart according to your eyes have seen your salvation have prepared for every people and the glory of your people live us waking oh lord that awake we may watch with and asleep we may rest in peace Let us praise the lord. Thanks be to god. The almighty and merciful lord, the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. Bless us and keep us. Please be seated. We close with him nine twenty-four. Abide, oh dearest Jesus. And good evening to all of you. It's great to see each of you. Just two notes. We have our meal a meal this evening yet. And that is in the basement. You're welcome to that. But also we have a call meeting for seventh grade teacher and a fifth grade teacher. We'll be having that here in the sanctuary right after the service too. So you're welcome to stay for that. Or to go down to the meal. Or go on a separate way. But may the Lord bless you in that tomorrow evening. We also have Good Friday service. Um as we come kind of the culmination where Jesus it is finished for us in the cross what certainty is ours and that. One of the most important days we remember in an Easter Sunday, the celebration at seven and ten o'clock on Easter Sunday. You're all welcome to that too with a meal in between. Believe that's all. Let us just let us just have a prayer for the the meal that we have been before us. Gracious lord, we ask your blessing that you would bless the food that you have provided. Especially we thank you that you have fed our souls with your word and now fill our bodies too. You continue to provide in so many ways. We thank you Lord for these gifts. Come Lord Jesus be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Oh give thanks unto the lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Again, call meeting will be in just a few minute, few minutes up here. Lord be with you. Thank you.