Opening Prayer: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Merciful and sovereign God, on this solemn day we stand before the mystery of the cross. Your Son Jesus entered the garden knowing all that would come upon Him. Open our hearts to the depth of your love shown in Christ’s suffering and death. Silence our distractions, humble our pride, and fix our gaze on Jesus, lifted up that we might have life in His name. Through Him who loved us and gave himself for us, we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture Reading: John 18:1 – 19:30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.\u00a0So Judas came to the garden, guiding\u00a0a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.\u00a0They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him,\u00a0went out and asked them,\u00a0\u201cWho is it you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJesus of Nazareth,\u201d\u00a0they replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am he,\u201d\u00a0Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)\u00a0When Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cI am he,\u201d\u00a0they drew back and fell to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again he asked them,\u00a0\u201cWho is it you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJesus of Nazareth,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus answered,\u00a0\u201cI told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.\u201d\u00a0This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled:\u00a0\u201cI have not lost one of those you gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest\u2019s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant\u2019s name was Malchus.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus commanded Peter,\u00a0\u201cPut your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup\u00a0the Father has given me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials\u00a0arrested Jesus. They bound him\u00a0and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,\u00a0the high priest that year.\u00a0Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,\u00a0he went with Jesus into the high priest\u2019s courtyard,\u00a0but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou aren\u2019t one of this man\u2019s disciples too, are you?\u201d she asked Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He replied, \u201cI am not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire\u00a0they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have spoken openly to the world,\u201d\u00a0Jesus replied.\u00a0\u201cI always taught in synagogues\u00a0or at the temple,\u00a0where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.\u00a0Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus said this, one of the officials\u00a0nearby slapped him in the face.\u00a0\u201cIs this the way you answer the high priest?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf I said something wrong,\u201d\u00a0Jesus replied,\u00a0\u201ctestify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?\u201d\u00a0Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas\u00a0the high priest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.\u00a0So they asked him, \u201cYou aren\u2019t one of his disciples too, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He denied it, saying, \u201cI am not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the high priest\u2019s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,\u00a0challenged him, \u201cDidn\u2019t I see you with him in the garden?\u201d\u00a0Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.\u00a0By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,\u00a0because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So Pilate came out to them and asked, \u201cWhat charges are you bringing against this man?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf he were not a criminal,\u201d they replied, \u201cwe would not have handed him over to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pilate said, \u201cTake him yourselves and judge him by your own law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut we have no right to execute anyone,\u201d they objected.\u00a0This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pilate then went back inside the palace,\u00a0summoned Jesus and asked him, \u201cAre you the king of the Jews?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs that your own idea,\u201d\u00a0Jesus asked,\u00a0\u201cor did others talk to you about me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAm I a Jew?\u201d Pilate replied. \u201cYour own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cMy kingdom\u00a0is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.\u00a0But now my kingdom is from another place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are a king, then!\u201d said Pilate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus answered, \u201cYou say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, \u201cI find no basis for a charge against him.\u00a0<\/sup>But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release \u2018the king of the Jews\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They shouted back, \u201cNo, not him! Give us Barabbas!\u201d Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.\u00a0The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup>and went up to him again and again, saying, \u201cHail, king of the Jews!\u201d\u00a0And they slapped him in the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, \u201cLook, I am bringing him out\u00a0to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.\u201d\u00a0When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,\u00a0Pilate said to them, \u201cHere is the man!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, \u201cCrucify! Crucify!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Pilate answered, \u201cYou take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Jewish leaders insisted, \u201cWe have a law, and according to that law he must die,\u00a0because he claimed to be the Son of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,\u00a0and he went back inside the palace.\u00a0\u201cWhere do you come from?\u201d he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.\u00a0\u201cDo you refuse to speak to me?\u201d Pilate said. \u201cDon\u2019t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus answered,\u00a0\u201cYou would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.\u00a0Therefore the one who handed me over to you\u00a0is guilty of a greater sin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, \u201cIf you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king\u00a0opposes Caesar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge\u2019s seat\u00a0at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic\u00a0is Gabbatha).\u00a0It was the day of Preparation\u00a0of the Passover; it was about noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere is your king,\u201d Pilate said to the Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But they shouted, \u201cTake him away! Take him away! Crucify him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShall I crucify your king?\u201d Pilate asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have no king but Caesar,\u201d the chief priests answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.\u00a0Carrying his own cross,\u00a0he went out to the place of the Skull\u00a0(which in Aramaic\u00a0is called Golgotha).\u00a0There they crucified him, and with him two others\u2014one on each side and Jesus in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:\u00a0Jesus of Nazareth,\u00a0the king of the jews.\u00a0Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,\u00a0and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.\u00a0The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, \u201cDo not write \u2018The King of the Jews,\u2019 but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pilate answered, \u201cWhat I have written, I have written.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0<\/sup>\u201cLet\u2019s not tear it,\u201d they said to one another. \u201cLet\u2019s decide by lot who will get it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey divided my clothes among them So this is what the soldiers did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near the cross\u00a0of Jesus stood his mother,\u00a0his mother\u2019s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.\u00a0When Jesus saw his mother\u00a0there, and the disciple whom he loved\u00a0standing nearby, he said to her,\u00a0\u201cWoman, here is your son,\u201d\u00a0<\/sup>and to the disciple,\u00a0\u201cHere is your mother.\u201d\u00a0From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0<\/sup>Later, knowing that everything had now been finished,\u00a0and so that Scripture would be fulfilled,\u00a0Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cI am thirsty.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup>A jar of wine vinegar\u00a0was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus\u2019 lips.\u00a0When he had received the drink, Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cIt is finished.\u201d\u00a0With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflection: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today we have turn to scripture which speaks of the final hours of our Lord\u2019s earthly ministry. John 18:1 through 19:30 is not just history; it is a mirror. In these verses we watch a mob, a governor, and a religious elite do three things that people still do today. They try to shackle the Way because His way is not their way. They question Truth because lies are easier to live with. And they kill Life rather than submit their own lives to God\u2019s will. Let\u2019s walk through the garden, the palace, and the cross together, and ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we might be doing the very same things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First: They tried to shackle the Way\u2014because His way was not their way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 18 opens in the Kidron Valley, \u201cacross the brook,\u201d where Jesus has often met with His disciples. But this night is different. A detachment of soldiers, temple police, and Judas arrive with lanterns, torches, and weapons\u2014like they\u2019re hunting a dangerous criminal. The irony is thick. They are coming for the Light of the world with lanterns. They are arresting the Prince of Peace with swords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus steps forward and asks a simple question: \u201cWhom do you seek?\u201d (v. 4). They answer, \u201cJesus of Nazareth.\u201d And when He replies, \u201cI am he,\u201d the Bible says they drew back and fell to the ground (v. 6). The very name of God\u2014I AM\u2014knocks trained soldiers flat. Yet what do they do next? They bind Him. They put chains on the hands that had healed the blind and raised the dead. They shackle the Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why? Because Jesus refused to be the Messiah they wanted. They wanted a king who would drive out Rome with an army. Jesus came to drive sin out of the human heart with a cross. Their way was power; His way was surrender. Their way was revenge; His way was forgiveness. So they did what people still do\u2014they tried to handcuff God to their own agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How often do we do the same? We say we want God\u2019s will\u2026 as long as it looks like our will. We sing \u201cI surrender all\u201d but secretly add footnotes: \u201cexcept my career\u2026 except my politics\u2026 except my comfort.\u201d We try to shackle the Way because the Way is narrow and the world is wide. But Jesus will not be bound by our preferences. He is the Way, whether we like it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second: They questioned Truth\u2014because lies were easier to believe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now they drag Jesus to Annas, then Caiaphas, then to the Roman governor Pilate. In John 18:33 Pilate asks, \u201cAre you the King of the Jews?\u201d Jesus answers with a question of His own: \u201cDo you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you?\u201d (v. 34). In other words, \u201cAre you seeking truth, or just repeating the party line?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pilate\u2019s response has echoed through history: \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d (v. 38). He says it with a shrug, then walks away. He doesn\u2019t wait for an answer. He doesn\u2019t want one. The religious leaders had already fed the crowd a lie\u2014that Jesus was a threat to Caesar. The crowd preferred Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, over the sinless Son of God. Why? Because the lie let them stay comfortable. The lie let them keep their power. The lie let them avoid the cost of following Truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends, we live in a world that still shrugs and asks, \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d\u2014then scrolls past it for whatever feels good. We question absolute Truth because absolute Truth demands absolute surrender. It\u2019s easier to believe the lie that \u201cmy truth\u201d is enough. It\u2019s easier to believe the lie that success matters more than holiness. It\u2019s easier to believe the lie that I can have Jesus and the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Jesus told Pilate, \u201cEveryone who is of the truth listens to my voice\u201d (v. 37). The question is not \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d The question is \u201cAre you seeking God\u2019s truth. And when you hear it, when you find it, will you listen?\u201d Will you stop questioning long enough to obey?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third: They killed Life\u2014rather than submit their own lives to God\u2019s will.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By chapter 19 the pressure has mounted. Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus\u2014three times he declares it. Yet the crowd shouts, \u201cCrucify him! Crucify him!\u201d (19:6, 15). When Pilate tries one last time\u2014\u201cShall I crucify your King?\u201d\u2014they answer with blasphemy: \u201cWe have no king but Caesar!\u201d (v. 15). They nailed the Author of Life to a Roman cross rather than bend their knee to God\u2019s will. They preferred a dead Messiah to a living Lord. They preferred their own kingdom to the kingdom of heaven. And in one of the most haunting moments in Scripture, they chose Barabbas\u2014literally \u201cson of the father\u201d\u2014over the true Son of the Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But watch Jesus. Even as they kill Life, He submits. He carries His own cross. He refuses the drugged wine so He can feel every ounce of the cost. And at the end, with blood and breath failing, He declares, \u201cIt is finished\u201d (19:30). The work of redemption is complete. The Father\u2019s will is done. And thank Lord of Heaven He did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the terrible truth: every time we refuse to submit our lives to God, we are choosing crucifixion over surrender. We \u201ckill\u201d the life God wants to give us\u2014joy, peace, purpose\u2014because we would rather keep control. We would rather stay dead in our sins than be made alive in Christ. So, what does this passage demand of us today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My friends, the garden is still here. The choice is still here. Will you arrest Jesus and keep Him at a distance? Or will you fall at His feet and say, \u201cLord You are the Way, the Truth and the Life, Your will be done not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us pray….<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavenly Father, forgive us for every time we have tried to bind Your Son to our plans, questioned Your Word because it cost too much, or chosen death over life. By Your Spirit, break every chain, silence every lie, and raise us to new life in Christ. In the name of the Way, the Truth, and the Life\u2014Jesus our Lord\u2014amen. Go in peace. The cross is empty. The tomb is empty. And the Way is open. Follow Him. Homework: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold the reality of Good Friday with mourning and hope. Know Easter is coming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need help on this reflective journey email: minister@mountainviewunited.ca<\/p>\n\n\n\n Closing Prayer:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n May the God of steadfast love, who gave his only Son to be lifted up for our salvation, bless you and keep you. May the face of Christ, who said \u201cIt is finished\u201d, shine upon you with mercy and grace. May the Spirit of truth, whom Jesus came to testify, lead you in paths of peace and justice all your days. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you for joining us this week. If you have any thoughts, feelings, or prayers, feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Please be respectful of others’ posts and make room for all those joining us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Way, the Truth and the Life (Good Friday Worship Service) Abridged Worship Provided By: Rev. Jacob Shaw (Please note that this is not a verbatim account of our Sunday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-message"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2864,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2862\/revisions\/2864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainviewunited.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Peter\u2019s First Denial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The High Priest Questions Jesus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Peter\u2019s Second and Third Denials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jesus Before Pilate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Crucifixion of Jesus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and cast lots for my garment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Death of Jesus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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