Witnesses to Christ: Judas Iscariot
Betrayed by Judas, one of His twelve disciples. Betrayed by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. Betrayed by Judas with a kiss—imagine that, a kiss! After betraying Jesus, Judas plunges into the depths of despair. He does not return to Jesus to seek forgiveness. But this Thursday, the night Jesus is betrayed, reminds us of the forgiveness, life, and salvation that Jesus provides for us in the Lord’s Supper. May we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we journey ever closer to the cross.
Service for Maundy Thursday
Rev. Gregory Mech, pastor | April 14, 2022 | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 7:00 pm
Be a witness to the Resurrection.
Watch Christ’s resurrection through the Gospel of John and each biblical figure’s point of view. As you move through each account, you, too, can begin to understand the full picture of Christ’s sacrifice for all.
Please join us on the evenings of Holy Week of Lent 2022 for the powerful conclusion of Pastor Mech’s sermon series — Witnesses to Christ: People from His Passion.
Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, Altar Guild, Board of Elders, and all of our volunteers!
Psalm 116:12-19
What shall I render to the LORD
for all His benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of His saints.
O LORD, I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
HOLY GOSPEL John 13:21-30
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the thirteenth chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in His spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke. One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom He was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is He to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why He said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR
After He had instituted the Sacrament of His body and blood, fewer than twenty-four hours remained in the earthly life of our Lord. Jesus and the eleven disciples went out to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He knew Judas would come to set in motion the events leading to His crucifixion.
That night, Jesus was taken from their presence, and most of the disciples did not see Him again until He appeared among them Easter evening.
All the appointments in the chancel are symbols of our Lord. This evening, they are stripped from the altar – taken from our sight.
THE MISSAL STAND
The Missal Stand holds the Altar Book, which guides our worship as we sing praises to God and offer prayers in Jesus’ name.
As Jesus is arrested, tried and scourged, the Missal Stand and Altar Book are removed.
THE ELEMENTS AND VESSELS OF THE SACRAMENT
Jesus was taken from His disciples, His body broken, His blood spilled, and finally His body was laid to rest in the tomb,
So we remove the elements and vessels of the Sacrament.
THE CROSS
The cross is where Jesus took on our punishment, to be able to give us the gift of heaven.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
As this statement was fulfilled on His cross, our cross is removed from the sanctuary.
THE CANDLES
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The events of Golgotha extinguished the human life of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Creation was darkened during the hours of His suffering. The candles are taken from the altar.
OUR OFFERINGS
Our offerings represent one way of serving God and others. They reflect our thanksgiving of God’s greatest offering to the world in sending His Son, Jesus, in human form.
As the offered body of Jesus was removed from sight in burial, so we remove our offerings.
ALTAR CLOTHS AND PARAMENTS
The altar is the place where our Lord Jesus serves us as both host and meal at His banquet feast. The coverings and paraments are made of fine linen and brocade, and each has a name that reminds us of our Lord’s sacrifice. The large white cloth which covers the whole altar is the fair linen, reminding us of the linen in which our Lord was wrapped as He was laid to rest. The square section beneath the communion ware is called the corporal, a Latin word which means “the body.” Covering the communion ware is the veil, representing the linen napkin which covered Jesus’ face, and which was left neatly folded after His resurrection.
Our King’s body was stripped in crucifixion. Our altar is now stripped of all its coverings.
We leave the church in silence.
Learn More
- About Immanuel Lutheran Church
- What We Believe
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- Easter at Immanuel
- Lent 2022 Midweek Services
- Meet our Pastor, Rev. Gregory Mech
- Immanuel Responding to COVID-19
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