This evening’s service is a Tenebrae service, and it has its origins in the early church. This service recounts the events in the last week of Christ’s life and will focus on our Savior’s great love and sacrifice for us. One by one, we will extinguish each of the seven candles until we are in darkness. Tenebrae means “darkness,” and the darkness we will experience together at the end of the service is symbolic of the darkness that came over the earth as Jesus died on the cross.

Through the gospel story and song, we will get a vivid picture of the agony our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered on the cross in our place. Jesus experienced tremendous distress in the garden as he prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Our Savior was in such anguish that He sweat great drops of blood—and yet He still willingly went to the cross in obedience to the Father’s will.

Pastor Chase will be sharing from Scripture the events in the last few days of Jesus’ life. Listen carefully and imagine how these events unfolded. Envision how Jesus felt when He was betrayed, how He felt when all the disciples fled and left Him in the hands of the soldiers and religious leaders. See the wounds and scars Jesus endured as the soldiers mocked and beat Him. See Him humiliated on the cross and then remember how very much He loves you. He willingly took the punishment that should have been ours, and He suffered a brutal death on the cross so that we might have eternal life through repentance and faith in Him.

At the end of the service, there will be a period of darkness and silence. After that, the lights will come up just a little—enough for you to see to safely exit. Please leave in complete silence. 

Pastor Phil