Good Friday is Good Everyday

The Power of the Cross

Summary: Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and highlights the profound significance of His sacrifice for humanity's salvation.

Application: Today we, the church, reflect on the depth of Christ's love expressed through His suffering, encouraging us to embrace our own struggles in light of His sacrifice and find hope and redemption in Him.

Teaching: The sermon teaches about the significance of the cross, the nature of Christ's suffering, and the implications of His death for personal and communal salvation, inviting the audience to a deeper understanding of grace and forgiveness.

How this passage could point to Christ: The theme of Good Friday connects to the entire biblical narrative as the culmination of God's redemptive history through Christ, who fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the suffering servant and the necessity of blood atonement for sin.

Big Idea: The sacrificial love of Christ on the cross calls us to live in gratitude and share His love with others, transforming our pain into purpose.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider exploring the theology of the cross through key texts like Isaiah 53 and Hebrews 9:22, using Logos to access various commentaries and articles on atonement theories. It might also be helpful to delve into the historical context of crucifixion in Roman times to provide greater depth to your message on why the cross is central to Christian faith.

In public life, you may encounter apathy towards the significance of Good Friday. This week, challenge yourself to share the story of Christ’s sacrifice on social media to those who may not be familiar. Create a post that highlights how Good Friday is not just a sad event but the beginning of hope through Christ’s resurrection. Engage with those who comment, providing thoughtful responses about how this impacts your life and the hope it can bring to theirs.

1. Suffering Servant Foretold

Isaiah 53:4–12 NASB95

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

Our focus must be narrowed to see the “how” Jesus' suffering was foretold and the profound love and sacrifice shown in His willingness to bear our sins. Highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy, emphasizing that Jesus is the suffering servant who took on the sins of humanity. This point can encourage believers to understand the depths of Christ’s love and recognize their redemption through Him.

2. Forgiveness Amidst Suffering

Luke 23:32–34 NASB95

Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

As we attempt to grasp the reality of the moment it leads us into the scene of Jesus' crucifixion alongside criminals, as well as His profound forgiveness as He prays for those who crucify Him. The light of the world was seen directly through His loving heart, even toward His executioners, urging believers to reflect on our own capacity for forgiveness and mercy. This point underscores the relevance of grace and calls Christians to extend forgiveness to others.

3. Finished Work Fulfilled

John 19:28–30 NASB95

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

What can be our conclusion of Jesus' earthly suffering with His words 'It is finished,' but only to signify the completion of the work of atonement. This moment marks the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Encourage reflection on the power of the cross to bring closure and new beginnings, inviting believers to trust in the finished work of Christ for their salvation. Knowing that this sacrifice is all God can give, by giving in totally!

4. Atonement Accomplished

Hebrews 9:22 NASB95

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The theological understanding that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins, emphasizing the significance of Christ's sacrifice. It helps us to better understand how His death fulfills the necessity of blood atonement, linking it to the broader narrative of atonement in scripture. Encourage us to find hope and redemption in the assurance that their sins have been fully forgiven.

There will NEVER need to be a new sacrifce for sins EVER again. It is only up to the hearer what they will do with this loving and free gift!!!???