Good Friday

Caleb

I. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

The first word from the cross was the word, “Father.” And the last word will begin with the simple word, “Father.” It shows us the ‘ relationship’ that the Father had with the Son. It is also the kind of relationship God the Father desires with us, the kind that Jesus provides for us by His sacrifice on the cross.

Love forgives – “Forgive them” – Those who crucified Jesus were guilty, but it was through His heart that they would find forgiveness. It was our sins—my sins and your sins also that put Jesus on that cross and He offers us His forgiveness. …for they know not what they do. Even though his enemies did not recognize Him as the Messiah, Christ displays his limitless compassion.

It is said that we are never more like Jesus than when we forgive those who have wronged us. The Bible admonishes us to … Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ).

Britni

II. “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23: 39-43)

This passage recounts one of the most amazing prayers and promises in the entire Bible. Hanging on crosses at Jesus' right and left hand are two criminals, evildoers, also called robbers. While one criminal was hanging there with just a few minutes left of life, hurled abuse and rejection at Jesus. He blasphemed Him all the way to his dying breath. He rejected the only hope he had in the world that was right next to him.

The other was also a criminal. The last thing he did was throw himself on the mercy of God. He admitted Jesus was the only hope he had and asked Him to remember him. He encountered Jesus and he confessed his sin and cried out to Him for mercy. Jesus forgave him and offered him eternal life. Jesus not only forgave those who were crucifying Him, but He also forgave a criminal hanging next to Him.

Two of the seven last sayings Jesus made on the cross, deals particularly with the subject of forgiveness. God, through His great love and forgiveness, is able to forgive even the worst of sinners. This is a beautiful picture of God’s grace. If there’s any story in the Bible that teaches us our salvation is by grace alone, through faith, and is not by works that anybody should boast and a gift of God, it is this story.

God knows how deeply we struggle with the idea and concept of forgiveness. I believe the reason God spent two of the seven sayings on the cross on forgiveness is because God knows how hard it is for us to forgive people, but also because He knows how hard it is for many of us to believe He would actually forgive us.

III. Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother (John 19:26-27)

Standing beside her was his beloved disciple, John. In his last moments, Jesus called to her and said, "Woman, behold your son." Then he called to John and said, "Behold, your mother!" It was His final act of devotion, to entrust the care of his mother to a close friend. He knew that John would provide for her and protect her in his absence.

Jesus' first two statements reveal His divine side — His power to forgive sin and to grant eternal salvation. His third statement reveals His human side --- fully God and fully man. Jesus' concern for Mary was not just as a Savior, but also as a son.

Jesus’ words were words of care and compassion! Compassion for His earthly mother reminds us that Jesus also cares for our well being and direction in life, even when we don't understand God's plans. And as Jesus asked John to care for Mary, He asks us to care for others on His behalf. Do you see the selflessness of Jesus, in His hour of greatest need, He thought of others. On this occasion, the need was His mother.

Here's the great lesson of the third saying from the cross. Jesus cares. The apostle Peter reminds us: (1:Peter 5:7) …casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matt

IV. I am thirsty (John 19:28)

This is the shortest of the seven last words. In English, it is two words. In the Greek language, it is only one word. Questions arise to whether this is a physical or spiritual statement. Is He simply dehydrated and in need of a drink, or is he making a spiritual statement of his soul?

As a physical man, Jesus became thirsty. Jesus, the fountain of living water - the one who says that if you come to him, you will never thirst again - this one got thirsty. He needed water. This again demonstrates His physical suffering and He therefore understands our suffering also.

Think on Jesus’ statement, “I am thirsty,” Think of your own thirst. Am I thirsty for him? Does my soul yearn for the living water that Jesus supplies? Am I thankful for the fact that he suffered physical thirst on the cross so that my spiritual thirst for the water of life might be quenched.

The living water that satisfies eternally is offered freely to us by the grace of Him who thirsted in our place! And nothing outside of Him will ever satisfy that thirst. Come and drink deeply from Christ. He thirsted for you so that you will never thirst again!

Kenny

V. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34)

These words of Jesus from the cross may be the most astounding in all the Bible.

As Jesus was dying on the cross, He confirmed the beginning of King David’s prophetic Psalm 22, where David expressed these words centuries before: Why had God abandoned him? Why did His Father turn his back on Him in his moment of greatest agony?

Jesus our savior has made it forever unnecessary for us to experience or understand the depths of these words from the cross. The reality of sin and holiness reveals the reason for the sacrifice. These words reveal the horrific cost paid by Jesus for the putting away of our sin.

In His life Jesus had felt pain and suffering physically and emotionally, but He had never known separation from His Father; until now. There was a critical sense in which Jesus rightly felt forsaken by the Father at this moment. Because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Tim Keller said,

“When Jesus looked down from the cross, he didn't think "I am giving myself to you because you are so attractive to me." No, he was in agony, separated from his father and he looked down at us - denying him, abandoning him, and betraying him - and in the greatest act of love in history, he STAYED. He was abandoned by the Father on the cross for us, not because we were lovely to him, but to make us lovely.”

Today you may feel like God has forsaken you in a similar way, but you need to understand as David says in the very next Psalm, Psalm 23 “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Because of what Jesus endured, Sometimes God might take away from a Christian their comfort, but He never takes away His sustaining presence.

Lyndale

VI. It is finished (John 19:30)

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” surely he was expressing relief that his suffering was over. “It is finished”, I believe meant, in part, and “This is finally done!” But the Greek word translated as “It is finished”, means more than just this. “It’s done . . . complete.” Jesus had accomplished his mission. He had announced and inaugurated the kingdom of God. He had shown the love and grace of God. He exemplified that love and grace by dying for the sin of the world, thus opening up the way for all to live under the reign of God. He had finished, accomplished His Father’s will.

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. (John 17:4)

“What does God’s love look like?” The prophets of the Old Testament tried to answer it. Isaiah gave us the picture of the suffering Servant and Jeremiah drew a picture of the divine Potter remaking the marred vessel. Yet these did not adequately express to us His love. That question was never answered until Jesus hanging on a cross, in unimaginable suffering, beaten and bruised…Jesus providing our redemption. You cannot look at that scene without seeing God’s love … but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

VII. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)

Jesus, as a child probably memorized those words. They are taken from (Psalm 31:5). “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.” Jesus didn’t use the words “redeem me”; it was necessary for David to say, “redeem me, O Lord”. Jesus had no need for redemption because he was the redeemer. Only one word is added to this verse, "Father." It tells us how our Lord died: willingly, and victoriously.

Jesus here reveals that God was even in this moment; still His Father and He trusted the Father to receive His spirit. We see Jesus dying as He lived, in complete dependence upon the Father, and submitted to His will. This final word of Jesus reveals to us how to die well: What a wonderful way to think of death— committing oneself into the hands of the Father.

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”