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Good Friday Service and Holy Communion
EBCC Delhi, Dwarka
Friday, 29th March
The service began with the reading of a pledge by the Pastor and the congregation, followed by the songs of praise; “Ka hinna kumpipa thupi”, “Aw Kalvari tang gal in ka don a,” “Khrist sisan pha vanga”, “Sian lemgel hinkhua”. The offertory prayer was said by Upa T. Kaithang. Special numbers were presented by the Baptist Dorcas Fellowship, Sangpui and Hlunboi, the Munirka Male Voice and the Worship Team.
Pastor V. Nenglian began the Good Friday message with a recapitulation of the previous years’ Good Friday sermons. The Pastor highlighted the events from when Jesus was captured to when He was died on the Cross into the following time-frame:
a) Jesus was caught late at night after the pass-over meal
b) He was brought to the High Priests Anna and Caiapha at around 3:00 am
c) He was brought to the Sanhedrin and declared guilty
d) Brought to Pontius Pilate and tried at around 6:00 am
e) Brought to Herod around 7:00 am
f) Pontius Pilate’s verdict at around 7:30 am
g) Tortured by the Roman soldiers and led to Calvary at around 8:00 am
h) Crucified on the cross at around 9:00 am
i) Great mist at around 12:00-3:00 pm
Taking Derek Prince’s, “The Seven Wonders of the Cross”, he highlights four wonders on the cross. The first miracle was Forgiveness; Luke 23:34. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.”. It was God’s will that He should be persecuted and Jesus obeyed God’s command. Likewise, we should be ready to follow the path God set for us and follow it according to His principles and not conform to worldly principles. Forgiveness does not come easy and true forgiveness has to come from within. Such forgiveness can be found on the cross and this forgiveness is one of the miracles on the Cross.
The second miracle was the separation with God. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) When Jesus was in Gethsemane praying.. “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 20:42), His fear was not physical persecution but to meet God with all the sins of mankind .
The third miracle was commending the spirit to God. “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). We can commend our spirit unto God through the Cross.
The fourth miracle was Salvation. “And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). There is eternal redemption in the Cross and none shall partake of it except through the Cross. None shall be resurrected except through the Cross and none shall be denied resurrection by the Cross for those who die in Christ gain from it. In his conclusion, the Pastor gave a reference of Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life” where he asks the fundamental question of what our purpose in life is. Jesus walked in the path set for Him, though it was perilous and fulfilled the tasks set for him. Do we know the path set for us and if we did, are we walking in it? And if we do not, we should ask God. The Pastor ended his sermon with a prayer and then presided over the Holy Communion with the help of the church elders. After the Holy Communion was concluded, the congregation sang the hymn “The precious, precious blood” and the service with a benediction by the Pastor.
# The coming Sunday, the 31st of March, is Easter Sunday and service will be held at the usual time (11:00 am). There will be special numbers by the BYF and TBSUC and the Easter message will be given by the Pastor. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate, the victorious resurrection of our Christ. May God’s blessing be upon us all!
