Good Friday 2024

Introduction: READ MATTHEW 27:45-54

Matthew 27:45–54 ESV

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

The Sky Turned to Darkness (v.45)

Matthew 27:45 ESV

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

We know that Christ spent around 6 hours on the cross - for three of those hours the sky turned to darkness

This was no solar eclipse. It was a sign of God’s displeasure with these people for crucifying His Son.

It was believed by ancient poets that the light of the sun was withdrawn when a crime was perpetrated

God darkened the sky to show his ultimate displeasement and to get their attention.

Yet did they listen? Will you listen today?

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (v.46)

Matthew 27:46 ESV

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Christ did not cry out from mere physical pain - though he endured much physical pain:

Physical Pain - the crucifixion

Crucifixion was reserved for slaves and outcast criminals

Stages of the crucifixion - Physical

Torture before the cross

Whipped with a cat of 9 tails

Crown of thorns was placed upon his head

Ridiculement

Carrying the cross to the point of failure

The Crucifixion itself

Nails in the hands and feet

Naked and bloodied in front of all

Mother had to watch

Hung for 6 hours until death

Spiritual Pain - Separation from the Father

Endured the dreadful wrath of God upon the cross

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ESV

22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Christ became sin - God’s wrath poured out upon Him!

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ bears our sin and sorrows

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

The sponge and the mockery (v.47-49)

Matthew 27:47–49 ESV

47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

These people mocked the King of Glory on the cross

The death of death in the death of Christ (v.50-51)

Matthew 27:50–53 ESV

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Yielded Up His Spirit (v.50)

Matthew 27:50 ESV

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

Christ surrendered Himself - He gave it over - it was not taken from Him

The curtain of the temple was torn in two (v.51)

Matthew 27:51 ESV

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Chapter 27

The curtain of the temple separates the Most Holy Place from the outer chamber, in which priests serve daily. This curtain symbolizes God’s unapproachable holiness, since the high priest alone can pass through it, and only on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 9:7, 8). Jesus’ death is His sacrifice at the heavenly altar (Heb. 9:12, 24, 25), which opens the way for believers to approach God (Heb. 10:19, 20). Heaven has been opened through the royal priesthood and conscience-purifying sacrifice of Christ (1 Pet. 2:9).

Through the death of Christ, we now have direct access to God through Christ.

We no longer have an earthly priest who intercedes for us but rather a heavenly one

The tearing of the veil represents that the old sacrificial system is gone - it has been fulfilled by the final sacrifice.

Out of the tombs… (v.52-53)

Matthew 27:52–53 ESV

52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

This happens after the ressurection and is a strange passage to say the least, but it is a foreshadowing of what is to come at the second coming

Surely this was the Son of God (v.54)

Matthew 27:54 ESV

54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

This man - after seeing all these things - recognized who Jesus was!

This man who more than likely would have been part of crucifying hundreds saw who Christ was.

The offer because of the Cross

Romans 3:21–25 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Conclusion: Who will you be today? Mocker OR Follower

Will you be one of these mockers?

Or will you be like this centurion see Christ and turn to Him

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.