CALL TO WORSHIP [psalm 3]
salvation belongs to only You God
arise, O Lord… arise, O Lord…
RUMINATE [The Procession to Calvary]
Notice that the crosses of the two criminals who are being crucified with Christ are already erected within the circle designated as the area of crucifixion.
Notice also that the criminals are riding in a cart on their way to their execution. Meanwhile, Christ bears the weight of carrying his own cross to his crucifixion.
What do you think
is trying to be communicated
through the juxtaposition of
Christ's burden
and that of the criminals?
ECCLESIASTES [chapters 3 & 4]
3:1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is vanity. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
4:1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.
2 And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
3 But better than both
is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.
4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is vanity, a chasing after the wind.
5 Fools fold their hands
and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquility
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.
7 Again I saw something vain under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is vanity—
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is vanity, a chasing after the wind.
RESPONSE
What word, verse, or phrase grabbed the attention of your heart, mind, or imagination?
PRAYER
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. [Psalm 143:8]
BENEDICTION [luke 24:44-49]
Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
REFRAIN
Jesus, I'm sorry 'bout last night
Jesus, we both know I tried
Jesus, feels like the world's in pieces
I'm sure You've got Your reasons
But I have my doubts
Jesus, I have my doubts
When everything that's right feels wrong
And all of my belief feels gone
And the darkness in my heart is so strong
Can You reach me here in the silence?
Singing these broken songs
Looking for the light for so long
But the pain goes on and on and on
Can You reach me here in the silence?
Jesus, what a week we've had?
Jesus, has the world gone mad?
Jesus, feels like the world's in pieces
I'm sure You've got Your reasons
But I've got my doubts
Jesus, I've got my doubts
Jesus, I've got my doubts
Are You there? Can You hear me?
Do You care? Are You near me?
'Cause I'm scared and I'm weary
Are You there? Can You hear me?
Are You there? Can You hear me?
Do You care? Are You near me?
'Cause I'm scared and I'm weary
Are You there?
Can You reach me here in the silence?
I have my doubts