Good Friday

We have seen this evening the scriptures foretell the future in Isaiah and Psalms.

Hebrews told us why Jesus was coming—because the imperfect blood of bulls and goats could never forgive sin, but only delay wrath.

But Jesus was the perfect law keeper on our behalf. He was the light of the world—the living bread and water—amongst the people.

As we saw last Sunday He is the true King.

And the gospels—eye witness accounts of the life of Jesus—tell us that our King did not sit on a throne before he hung on a cross.

John MacArthur produced a work a number of years ago called One Perfect Life that takes the 4 gospels and unites them together in one time line. Let me briefly read to you this account and comment along the way.

(Turn the lights out. Candle is burning on the table by the pulpit)

“Now front he sixth hour until the ninth hour, the sun was darkened and there was darkness over all the land.”

Colossians 1:16, says “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

Here we see as the light of the world grows dim on the cross—the creation itself darkens with Him. The creator of the universe—infinite in power and might—hangs willingly pierced by the ones that he came to save. For three hours he hung there—in the stillness and the darkness.

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, ‘Look, this man is calling for Elijah!’ And after this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures were fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’”

Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?!”

Friends, do not miss the significance of this. Of everything that happened to Jesus leading up to this moment—the the mocking, the beating, the whip that tore his flesh, the nails that pierced him and hung him on a rugged cross...

Of all these things this cry of Jesus reveals the moment of most pain for Him.

Jesus felt forsaken by God. Abandoned. Deserted. This was not a feeling that God the Son had ever felt before and will never feel again. In this moment Jesus felt the weight of what Isaiah prophesied.

It was because of our transgressions that Jesus was pierced. Every barb of the whip—every tear of thorn into flesh—the nails that held him to the cross—the spear into his side—this was because of us.

He was crushed for our iniquities, our sins, our rebellion.

Our sin is far more serious than we often take it. Jesus died because you and I sinned many times against the Lord. There would have been no reason for him to die were it not for you and I.

The need for a savior arose out of our rebellion. Because we have failed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Becasue we fail to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

The one who did love God with every part of his being. The one who did love others as himself was tortured and killed.

And my aim this evening is not to make you feel guilty. Although you may feel guilt.

My goal is for you and I to connect—with the death of Jesus personally because it was personal.

If you have trusted Jesus as your savior you are not a faceless name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Who do you think wrote your name there?

The death of Jesus was personal—your sin—and the wrath earned because of it poured out on the Son and in that moment and Jesus felt the separation from God that was due you and I. And so he cried out, “I have been deserted and abandoned—I feel the separation of sin that I have never known.”

I am thirsty for God…and my thirst cannot be quenched.

“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father into your hands I commit My Spirit.’ Having said this and bowing His head, He breathed His last and yielded up His spirit.” (Blow out the candle.)

This evening and this weekend leading up to glorious Easter Sunday what should we do with the death of Jesus?

Feel it. Don’t run away from feeling the sorrow of the cross. Don’t run away from understanding more and more the personal nature of Jesus’ death for you. Great worship of God and thankfulness for salvation comes from seeing more and more clearly your own great need for Jesus.

Confess your sin. Conviction of sin is a great gift from God. But it is one that we often run away from. Your time would be well spent some time before Sunday asking God to show you your sin and to grant you repentance over it. The finished and complete nature of Jesus work on our behalf should not lead us to rarely consider our sins. Consider them, confess them, repent of them. This is a gift from God you should seek.

Rejoice in the gospel. Our focus tonight has been to dwell on the sorrow of the cross. To feel the despair of Good Friday. But friends, I urge you to come Sunday with the joy of the gospel in your hearts. Feel your sin. Confess your sin. And rejoice in your sin being forgiven. Because though in our text tonight Jesus dies. We know that he does not stay dead.

Pray and have Lord’s Supper.