This is part of the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”IntroductionLetter of Invitation | Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 Lent 5 | Palm Sunday | Good Friday | Easter Sunday | Communion LiturgyPrayer Path: A Journey in the WildernessGood FridayBiblical figure: Jesus on the crossGod’s wilderness provision: wine vinegar Scripture: Mark 15Call to WorshipAs a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When shall I come and behold the face of God?My tears have been my food day and night,while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:how I went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God,with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall again praise him,my help and my God.My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember youfrom the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your torrents;all your waves and your billows have gone over me.By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?”As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me,while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.—Psalm 42Children’s Scripture Summary [for three readers]Narrator: At noon, darkness covered the whole land. It lasted three hours. At three o’clock in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Jesus: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” Narrator: This means “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” Some of those standing nearby heard Jesus cry out. They said, Speaker: “Listen! He’s calling for Elijah.” Narrator: Someone ran and filled a sponge with wine vinegar. He put it on a stick. He offered it to Jesus to drink. Speaker: “[Now] leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Narrator: With a loud cry, Jesus took his last breath. The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. A Roman commander was standing there in front of Jesus. He saw how Jesus died. Then he said, Speaker: “This man was surely the Son of God!—Mark 15:33–39, NIRVSermon“A Table in the Wilderness for Our Savior”Sermon NotesIt isn’t a table of sustenance that Jesus is being offered, but a sponge dipped in vinegar with a drug mixed in to dull the senses. Some might have seen this as a gracious act, but others saw it as a way to extend Jesus’ suffering to see if he would be miraculously saved. But despite Jesus’ thirst (John 19:28) he did not drink (Matthew 27:34). Neither was he rescued. Nothing could be as bleak as this darkest time, this most profound loneliness. But still, somehow, God’s glory broke through and the Roman guard understood: “This man was surely the Son of God!” What light do we see in the wilderness?—RWMusic Suggestions “Christ Jesus Knew a Wilderness” Huber“Were You There” arr. Leavitt, SATB“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” ClephanePrayer StationSee station 7 in "Journey in the Wilderness" for a prayer station connected to this Sunday's service.Revised Common LectionaryYear B: Lent—Liturgy of the Passion
