Holy Week: Good Friday (2)

Introduction: Song - Man of Sorrow

Scene 1 - Judas’ Betrayal

Jesus and Disciples had finished their Passover meal, - now in the Garden.

Jesus had gone off to pray, to be alone with the our Heavenly Father, to ask.

If possible, let’s find another way. Seeing no other way, “Your will be done.”

Keep watch over and guard those who come in your name, so that they may be one.

Jesus’ prayer is astonishing. Why?

He knew what was coming and he remained faithful and focused on others.

After his prayer Jesus returns to the remaining disciples sleeping and Judas coming into the garden with soldiers.

Scripture (Mt. 26:47-56) “But all this has taken place . . .”

Matthew 26:47–56 ESV

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Point - “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

This was God’s Plan From The Beginning,

From the creation of everything seen and unseen,

From the creation of Israel and the church.

God’s plan was always to send his son to do what humanity could not.

Main Point - What is chaotic despair to us is the planned glorification of God.

Prayer

Fifty Prayers Good Friday

Lord our God, we are gathered here on this day to consider how you have carried out your good, firm will for the world and for all of us, by allowing our Lord Jesus Christ, your dear Son, to be captured that we might be free; to be found guilty that we might be found innocent; to suffer that we might rejoice; and to be given over to death that we might live forever.

Under our own power, we could only be lost. And we have not deserved such a rescue—no, not one of us. But in the inconceivable greatness of your mercy, you have shared in our sin and our poverty, in order to do such a great thing for us. How else could we thank you but to grasp, take up, and acknowledge this great thing? How else should this happen, but that the same living Savior who suffered for us, was crucified, died, was buried, and was also raised up, should now come into our midst, speak to our hearts and minds, open us to your love, and guide us to trust in it completely and to live by it and by it alone.

So we ask you in all humility, but also in all confidence, that this happen in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Song - #311 Hallelujah! What A Savior

Scene 2 - The Betrayal of Those Closest to Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75 -

The Disciples scatter and fear takes hold of their hearts.

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Main Point - Even those closest to Jesus, even those known as Christ-Followers can be overcome with fear.

Peter walked with Jesus and was taught by Jesus

Peter was sent out by Jesus and performed many signs and wonders in the name of Jesus (healing all manner of disease and casting out Demons)

Peter, even, declared Jesus to be the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ. And because of this Jesus says,

Blessed are you Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father, the one in Heaven.”

Peter’s betrayal - not a small matter!

Three times he denied Jesus

Peter doubles-down on his denial by invoking a curse upon himself.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in some way all have betrayed you. Whether with our words or in our hearts all have turned their back on you. For this too, you went to the cross. Not just the sin of the world against the world. But also for the sin of those who love you and turn their back on you.

Lord Jesus, we thank you that Peter’s story did not end that night. But by your grace and mercy you used a denier to demonstrate the breadth and depth of your divine mercy and grace.

Lord Jesus, we come to you and ask that you would break us so that we may continue to be remade in your image and likeness. To be men and women who are humble before you and focused on others. Make us men and women who love you and love people.

Song - How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

Scene 3 - The Crucifixion/The Crowd’s Betrayal - Pride led to Rejection & Reviling.

Scripture: Matthew 27:32-44

Matthew 27:32–44 ESV

As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Main Point - “Pride comes before the fall.”

People are never more confident then when they think they have won.

For years the many of the leaders of Jerusalem (Pharisees, Sadducees, the Chief Priests and the Scribes) sought to tear down and destroy Jesus - his teaching and his ministry. Finally, from their perspective, victory is at hand

In the English we use the world “deride” In the Greek Matthew says they Blasphemed Jesus.

They scoffed and mocked him.

The fullness of their anger is on full display.

Prayer

Song

Scene 4 - The Death of Jesus

Scripture

Matthew 27:45–54 ESV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 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?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 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. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 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 tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 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!”

Main Point - “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Those present did not fully comprehend but they recognized that GOD MOVED!

The earth shook and tombs were opened up,

Jesus and the dead appeared to many in Jerusalem after his resurrection,

The Temple Veil was torn symbolizing that sin had been dealt with, and that He would longer be separated from His people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we come before you help us to see ourselves through the lens of the cross. that because of our denial and rejection of you the cross became necessary. Because of our sin judgment had to be executed. Sin had to be dealt with and sin had to be crushed.

Help us to also see ourselves through the lens of your amazing grace. Though we did not deserve it you showed mercy . You took sin and nailed it to the cross. You took sin and placed upon the only one who could bare its weight and utterly crush it - your son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lord we do not deserve this grace, this love. And so tonight we stand with hearts full of awe to worship you - The God who saves and the one defeated sin.

Song - O Mighty Cross & Amazing Grace

Final Remarks