Were You There?

This morning's service is going to be a little different than our usual service.

We are going to be coming to the Lord's table and observing that.

We're not going to have a message like we usually do, a sermon per se,

but we will be listening to the story of Jesus that relates to the Lord's table.

So there'll be kind of singing interspersed with scripture reading.

And so I invite you just to sing when the singing starts.

Just join right in. Most of it you can remain seated.

And for the parts where we'll stand, I'll let you know when that is.

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 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 asks,

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, went into the city,

and found things just as Jesus had told them.

So they prepared the Passover.

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 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 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 of 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.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise him all creatures.

here below.

Praise him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

You will all fall away,

Jesus told them.

For it is written,

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.

But after I have risen,

I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

Peter declared,

Even if all fall away,

I will not.

Truly,

I tell you,

Jesus answered,

Today,

yes,

tonight,

before the rooster crows twice,

you yourself will disown me three times.

But Peter insisted emphatically,

Even if I have to die with you,

I will never disown you.

And all the others said the same.

They went to a place called Gethsemane,

and Jesus said to his disciples,

Sit here while I pray.

He took Peter, James, and John along with him,

and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow.

To the point of death,

he said to them,

Stay here and keep watch.

Going a little farther,

he fell to the ground

and prayed that if possible,

the hour might pass from him.

Abba,

Father,

he said,

everything is possible for you.

Take this cup from me,

yet not what I will,

but what you will.

Then he returned to his disciples

and found them sleeping.

Simon,

he said to Peter,

are you asleep?

Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?

Watch and pray

so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing,

but the flesh is weak.

Once more,

he went away

and prayed the same thing.

When he came back,

he again found them sleeping

because their eyes were heavy.

They did not know

what to say to him.

Returning the third time,

he said to them,

Are you still sleeping and resting?

Enough!

The hour has come.

Look!

The Son of Man is delivered

into the hands of sinners.

Rise!

Let us go.

Here comes my betrayer.

Just as he was speaking,

Judas,

one of the twelve,

appeared.

With him was a crowd

armed with swords

and clubs

sent from the chief priests,

the teachers of the law,

and the elders.

Now the betrayer

had arranged a signal with them.

The one I kiss

is the man.

Arrest him

and lead him away

under guard.

Going at once

to Jesus,

Judas said,

Rabbi!

And kissed him.

The men

seized Jesus

and arrested him.

Then one of those

standing near

drew his sword

and struck the servant

of the high priest,

cutting off his ear.

Am I leading a rebellion,

said Jesus,

that you have come out

with swords

and clubs

to capture me?

Every day

I was with you,

teaching in the temple courts,

and you did not arrest me.

But the scriptures

must be fulfilled.

Then everyone

deserted him

and fled.

man of sorrows,

lamb of God,

by his own betrayed.

The sin of man

and wrath of God

has been on Jesus' grave.

Silent as he stirred,

accused, beaten, mocked,

and scored.

Bowing to the Father's will,

He took a crown of thorns.

Oh, that rugged cross,

my salvation,

where your love poured out

over me.

Now my soul cries out,

hallelujah,

praise and honor

unto thee.

Very early in the morning,

the chief priests

with the elders,

the teachers of the law,

and the whole Sanhedrin

made their plans.

So they bound Jesus,

led him away,

and handed him over to Pilate.

Are you the king of the Jews?

asked Pilate.

You have said so,

Jesus replied.

The chief priests

accused him of many things.

So again,

Pilate asked him,

aren't you going to answer?

See how many things

they are accusing you of.

But Jesus still made no reply,

and Pilate was amazed.

Now,

it was the custom at the festival

to release a prisoner

whom the people requested.

A man called Barabbas

was in prison

with the insurrectionists

who had committed murder

in the uprising.

The crowd came up

and asked Pilate

to do for them

what he usually did.

Do you want me to release to you

the king of the Jews?

asked Pilate,

knowing that it was

out of self-interest

that the chief priests

had handed Jesus over to him.

But the chief priests

stirred up the crowd

to have Pilate

release Barabbas instead.

What shall I do then

with the one you call

the king of the Jews?

Pilate asked them.

Crucify him!

They shouted.

Why?

What crime has he committed?

asked Pilate.

But they shouted

all the louder.

Crucify him!

Wanting to satisfy the crowd,

Pilate released Barabbas to them.

He had Jesus flogged

and handed him over

to be crucified.

The soldiers

led Jesus away

into the palace

that is the praetorium

and called together

the whole company of soldiers.

They put a purple robe on him

then twisted together

a crown of thorns

and set it on him.

And they began

to call out to him,

Hail!

King of the Jews!

Again

and again

they struck him

on the head

with a staff

and spit on him.

Falling on their knees

they paid homage to him

and when they had mocked him

they took off

the purple robe

and put his own clothes

on him.

Then they led him out

to crucify him.

A certain man

from Cyrene,

Simon,

the father of Alexander

and Rufus

was passing by

on his way

in from the country

and they forced him

to carry the cross.

They brought Jesus

to the place

called Golgotha

which means

the place of the skull.

Then they offered him

wine mixed with myrrh

but he did not take it

and they crucified him.

Dividing up his clothes

they cast lots

to see what each would get.

It was nine in the morning

when they crucified him.

The written notice

of the charge against him

read

The King of the Jews!

They crucified two rebels

with him

one on his right

and one on his left.

Those who passed by

hurled insults at him

shaking their heads

and saying

So

you who are going

to destroy the temple

and build it in three days

come down from the cross

and save yourself.

In the same way

the chief priests

and the teachers of the law

mocked him

among themselves.

He saved others

they said

but he can't save himself.

Let this Messiah

this King of Israel

come down now

from the cross

that we may see

and believe.

those crucified with him

also

heaped insults

on him.

were you there

when they

crucified

my Lord

were you there

when they

crucified

my Lord

oh

sometimes

it causes me

to tremble

tremble

tremble

tremble

were you there

when they

crucified

my Lord

were you there

were you there

when they

nailed him

to the tree

were you there

when they

nailed him

to the tree

oh

oh

sometimes

it

causes me

to tremble

tremble

tremble

tremble

were you there

when they

nailed him

to the tree

at noon

darkness

came over

the whole

land

until three

in the

afternoon

and at

three in

the afternoon

Jesus

cried out

in a loud

voice

Eloi

Eloi

lama

sabachthani

which means

my God

my God

why have

you forsaken

me

when some

of those

standing near

heard this

they said

listen

he's calling

Elijah

someone ran

filled a sponge

with wine

vinegar

put it on

his staff

and offered

it to

Jesus to

drink

now leave

him alone

let's see

if Elijah

comes to

take him

down

he said

with a

loud cry

Jesus

breathed

his last

the curtain

of the

temple

was torn

in two

from top

to bottom

and when

the centurion

who stood

there in

front of

Jesus

saw how

he died

he said

surely this

man was

the son

of God

sent of heaven

God's own

son to

purchase

and

redeem

and reconcile

style that

o hè

Where your love poured out over me.

Now my soul cries out, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, praise and honor unto thee.

Now my debt is paid.

It is paid in full.

By the precious blood that my Jesus spilled.

Now the curse of sin has no hold on me.

Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.

Now my debt is paid.

It is paid in full.

By the precious blood that my Jesus spilled.

Now the curse of sin has no hold on me.

Whom the Son sets free, O is free indeed.

Oh, that rugged cross my salvation.

Where your love poured out over me.

Now my soul cries out, Hallelujah.

Praise and honor unto thee.

Praise and honor unto thee.

Please stand.

Some women were watching from a distance.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, the younger, and of Joseph and Salome.

In Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs.

Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

It was preparation day.

It was preparation day.

That is the day before the Sabbath.

So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, prominent member of the council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead.

Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.

Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, saw where he was laid.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Oh, sometimes it's all that was now.

Oh, sometimes it's all that was now.

Oh, sometimes it's all that was now.

Oh, sometimes it's all that was now.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord.

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.

Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold

Threaten the soul with infinite loss

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide

What can avail to wash it away

Look, there is flowing a crimson tide

Brighter than snow you may be today

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace

Grace, grace, grace

Freely bestowed on all who believe

You that are longing to see His face

Will you this moment His grace receive

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace, grace, grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace

Grace, grace, grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Grace that is greater than all our sin

Grace that is greater than all our sin

You may be seated.

Well, you've just heard, again, the story behind this table

The story of Jesus

That story is precious to us

It tells us of the love that God has for us

Jesus explained that night that He was betrayed

When He was gathered around the table with His disciples

The meaning of all of this

He told them as He shared the cup around with them

That that cup represented His blood

Which is about to be poured out for them

Why?

For the forgiveness of sins

Do you know that you are a sinner?

That you have broken God's holy law

And done things that in His sight are wicked

Are wrong

God is just

And He can't just let us get away with that

He can't just let us off the hook

Just because

Something had to be done

So that we could be forgiven in a way that was right

In a way that was just

And that something

Was to send His Son, Jesus, into the world

Into the world

And for Him to die

In our place

On the cross

An amazing sacrifice

And gift of love

And as we just sang

A gracious gift

For all who will believe

It's not something we could earn

It's not something we could ever deserve

But because God is kind

And merciful

And loving

He sent Jesus

To do that for us

Do you know that?

Does your heart know that?

Have you made that decision?

To do what Jesus called all people to do

To repent

To turn to God

And acknowledge

That you have blown it

That you have done wrong by Him

And to seek His forgiveness

And have you put your faith and your trust in Jesus

The one that God sent to save

To save

It's the most important decision

That you could ever make in your life

As I said at the beginning of the service

There is a day coming when Jesus returns

And He will be the King

Of the Kingdom of God

Will you be ready for that day?

Will you have a way to be off the hook?

That the way that God has provided

For all the things that you have done

Jesus is the only way

And that's what we celebrate

And mark once a month

When we come to this table

And so if you are trusting in that

And your hope is in that

And you are someone who believes in Jesus

And belongs to Him

Then I invite you to participate with us

To take of the cup and the bread

In just a moment Charles is going to come up

And he's going to pass them out

And if that's you

You believe that

Then please take

And eat and drink with us

We'll wait until everybody has been served

And then at the end

We'll eat and drink together in unison

But before we do that

I just want to give us a couple minutes

Of quiet reflection

A couple moments for you

To think about

Where you are at with God right now

How's your relationship with Him going?

Where do you stand before God?

Where do you stand before God?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I invite you to stand as we sing to the Lord.

Thank you.

Amen.

You're the name above all names.

All our hope is in you.

All our hope is in you.

All the glory to God.

The light of the world.

Jesus, Jesus, name above all names.

Name above all names.

Our blessed Redeemer, our blessed Redeemer, the rescue for sinners.

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven.

The ransom from heaven.

Jesus, Jesus, Lord of all.

Jesus, Lord of all.

Jesus, Lord of all.

You may be seated.

You may be seated.

When the Sabbath was in you.

When the Sabbath was over.

Jesus, Jesus, Lord of all things.

And Salome bought spices.

And Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Very early on the first day of the day, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb.

And they asked each other,

Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side.

the right side and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus,

the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him,

but go. Tell his disciples and Peter. He is going ahead of you into Galilee.

There you will see him just as he told you.

I'll invite you to stand again.

Amen.

He arose with a mighty triumph for his foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He arose, he arose. Hallelujah. Christ arose.

He arose.

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior. Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose. With a mighty triumph for his foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He arose, he arose. Hallelujah. Christ arose.

Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus my Savior. He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose. He arose. He arose. He arose. He arose. Hallelujah. Christ arose. One more time.

He arose. He arose. He arose. Hallelujah. Christ arose.

I heard an old, old story. How a Savior came from glory. How he gave his life on Calvary.

To save a wretch like me. How he gave his life on Calvary. How he gave his life on Calvary.

To save a wretch like me. I heard about his groaning. Of his precious blood's atoning.

Then I repented of my sins and won the victory. Oh, victory in Jesus my Savior.

He was a Savior forever. He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood.

He loved me ere I knew him. And all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

I heard about his healing. Of his cleansing power revealing.

How he made the lane to walk again. And caused the blind to see.

And then I cried, Dear Jesus, Come and heal my broken spirit.

And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory. Oh, victory in Jesus my Savior forever.

He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew him. And all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory. Beneath the cleansing flood.

Beneath the cleansing flood. I heard about a mansion he has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

Beneath the cleansing blood. And the old redemption story. And some sweet day I'll sing up there that song of victory. Oh, victory in Jesus my Savior forever.

Beneath the cleansing blood.

He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood.

He loved me ere I knew him. And all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

Hallelujah. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we thank you so much

for your great love for us

and that through you, we, undeserving as we are,

can have victory,

can have life,

can have a relationship with you,

the God who created the world and everything in it.

We love you so much and we thank you

for all you've done for us.

We pray and ask that you would go with us

from here today and this week

and that you would put this message

and this hope and this life on our lips

that we would be able to share it

with our neighbors, friends, coworkers,

people we bump into.

Bless us all and go with us.

We ask this in your name, Jesus.

Amen.

You may be seated.