Preached at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on March 29, 2013, Good Friday, Tenebrae Vespers by Pastor Todd Peperkorn.

Sermon Theme: "Darkness"
Sermon Text: John 19:28-42

Passion Readings:
John 19:1-15
John 19:16-27
John 19:28-42

Behold the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World

Jesus, the Lamb of God, is led to the slaughter of His cross as the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world. "Despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3), He is the righteous Servant who justifies many by His innocent suffering and death. He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows; He is wounded for our transgressions; He is crushed for our iniquities; He suffers our chastisement, so that "with his stripes we are healed" (Is. 53:4--5). As the Son of God, He fulfills the Law for us in human flesh, and so fulfills the Scriptures (John 19:7, 24). In perfect faith and faithfulness, He shares all our weaknesses and temptations, "yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15), and as our merciful High Priest He brings us to the Father in peace.