Good Friday-- Luke 23:18-49

Introduction

With 4 kids 10 and younger, I find myself playing the role of referee more than dad.

Or maybe that’s just part of the job description that I overlooked when I became one.

But often I find myself coming home, ready for hugs, and a warm welcome only to urgently need to change into my zebra striped shirt, grab a whistle, and referee the latest knock down drag out, or disagreement between the kids.

I call an Official Timeout, and send each party to their respective rooms, to give me a chance to consult video footage and review the foul.

Now of course, I don’t have cameras so what this entails is me going to each kid and asking, “What happened!”

And usually after hearing both accounts, nothing is clarified, so I end up dolling out technicals to both

To which I hear the following phrase:

“THAT’S NOT FAIR!”

This sound familiar to any other parents in the room?

It’s a typical response, to a perceived injustice in the life of our kids, but also in our own lives.

I mean we’ve all felt this… when we get something we perceive we don’t deserve.

Someone cuts you off in traffic.

Get overlooked for a promotion.

Or someone at work, who doesn’t do as much as you, get’s paid the same.

We all feel it at times,

somethings just aren’t fair.

Well Church, I’m sorry about your promotion, or your road rage… but what we’ve just read, is totally unfair.

You see, what happened to Jesus was totally Undeserving for Him.

It was Unfair.

Undeserving for Jesus.

The last 24 hours of Jesus’ life was Undeserved.

He shared a last meal with his disciples, including Judas, who allowed Satan to enter into his heart and sold out Jesus for money.

He was betrayed in the Garden with a kiss.

He was seized and drug to the high priest’s house, where Peter denied him 3x and abandoned him.

He was then blindfolded, mocked and beaten.

and Blasphemed.

You see, those who a 5 days prior screamed HOSANNA in the HIGHEST, are now screaming CRUCIFY HIM.

So He was exchanged for a murderer

Scourged so bad, Simon of Cyrene had to carry his cross.

He was numbered a transgressor, as he was hung between two criminals.

The rulers scoffed.

The soldiers mocked.

One of the criminals railed at him.

He was executed

And all of this, from the betrayal to the beatings, to the blaspheming, to the no longer breathing—- was totally unfair.

It was Undeserved for Jesus.

Clearly. I mean, in our text, it was clearly undeserved.

Look at Luke 23:4 After questioning him the first time, we read“Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.””

But Pilate sought another opinion, and took him to see Herod.

Herod too mocked him and treated him with contempt, but after his inquiry Pilate and Herod both concluded Luke 23:13–15 “Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.”

He was Not Guilty

But they vehemently demanded Barabbas to be released instead.

They preferred the release of a revolutionary and a murderer rather the Holy and Righteous one.

This is what Acts 3:14 “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,”

But then again we read, Luke 23:22 “A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.

It was Undeserved.

He wasn’t Guilty.

But Pilate wasnt the only one to see His innocence:

The second criminal on the cross cried out, Luke 23:41 “And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.””

The Centurion too, standing at the base of cross, once Jesus breathed his last declared, Luke 23:47 “ “Certainly this man was innocent!””

It was Undeserved. Unfair.

5x in our text we read that Jesus was unequivocally NOT GUILTY.

He was innocent.

And truly this is the case.

1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,

Isaiah 53:9 “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”

Over and over again the Bible teaches that Jesus was not only innocent of the slanderous claims the Jews were making, but he was innocent of EVERYTHING SIN.

Perfect in Purity. Not a single sin could be found in his life.

Is this not what he asked his accusers, John 8:46 “Which one of you convicts me of sin?

He was perfect. Full of grace and truth, and love.

Innocent, yet condemned Guilty.

The Crucifixion of Jesus was Undeserved for Him.

But here’s the Irony—- The Crucifixion of Jesus was Undeserved for us All.

Undeserved for Us All

Look with me at Luke 23:31.

This is an oft overlooked verse in this passage, but this verse actually contains the tragic irony of the Crucifixion.

A lot of people, especially women were following behind and mourning and lamenting for him.

And Jesus begins to tell them that it isn’t Him they needed to be weeping for, but themselves and their children.

And what follows is really a prophetic prediction of judgment.

You see Jesus had already predicted divine judgement upon Jerusalem and the fall of the city in Luke 19, & 21.

And in that time of Judgement blessed are those who are barren.

To appreciate the horror of that saying you have to remember that childlessness was the utmost shame and disgrace to the women of Israel.

But Jesus is saying that the Judgment will be so great, the shame of barrenness will be a blessing.

And the people will cry to the mountains to fall on them!

This is not a cry to be spared, but a cry to be put out of their misery!

It’s a horrific picture of divine judgment!

But why!? Why did he say this, and why now!?

Well look at vs. 31, Luke 23:31 “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?””

Now what does this mean?

Well, have you ever tried to burn a green, live branch?

It doesn’t burn too much does it? Tends to only smoke. Has a hard time catching.

So a green, live branch will hardly catch and burn.

But what about a dry, dead one?

Oh, it’ll catch quickly, and it will burn hot.

Okay, so don’t miss this.

If the suffering inflicted on Jesus is so severe, and harsh.

Green tree Jesus, who is innocent and Undeserving…

How much worse will it be for a sinful, deserving people when God unleashes HIs wrath upon it.

If the UNDESERVING Suffers so much, what will happen to DESERVING.

No don’t weep for Undeserving Jesus.

Instead, Weep for Deserving Self.

Because unlike Green Jesus, you’re dry.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Ecclesiastes 7:20 “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

You see, unlike Jesus you’re deserving of Judgement.

Your dead in your sins, and deserving of death.

And this Judgement you earned, and Jesus talks about it as eternal, swift, and tortuous.

We avoid talking about Hell, because we want the church to grow.

We don’t want to make anybody uncofmortable.

But avoiding this topic will not guaranteed a lack of growth to the church, but it will guarantee the growth of Hell.

Church, Hell is real. and it’s described as a place of horror.

In Luke 13, Jesus says, Luke 13:28 “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”

It’s described as a place of severe pain.

In Luke 16, Jesus tells a story about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.

In life, Lazarus had nothing, covered with sores, and suffered… but he believed in God.

Whereas the Rich man, had everything the world had to offer… and in need of nothing, he rejected Jesus.

Well hear what Jesus says, Luke 16:22–24 “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’”

Hell is a place of astounding horror, and severe pain.

And if Jesus, who was green and undeserving suffered—- what do you think the future holds for all of us who are dry and totally deserving?

That’s what Jesus was communicating on his path to Calvary.

But far from leaving you scared and depressed, look with me at vs. 34.

As Jesus undeservedly hung on the cross, between two criminals who totally deserved to be there. Look at what Jesus prays.

Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

He prayed for our forgiveness.

As he was brutally dying, he uttered a personal plea… but not for himself.

Not for his own mercy or wellbeing.

But for those who DESERVED Judgment.

The very ones killing him.

The very ones, who at that moment were casting lots for his clothes.

The very ones who were scoffing, and mocking, and railing him.

He prayed for their, and all of our forgiveness.

We are familiar with forgiveness, but I wonder if we actually understand it.

You see Forgiveness is a “release” or a “cancellation”

Usually the word is used in terms of debt.

You owe somebody a bunch of money, but instead of exacting it they release you from it. Cancelling your debt.

Well Church, as you know, and as we’ve discussed. You owe God.

You are in debt to him due to your sins, and the exacting of that debt is DEATH.

You owe Him your life, and the payment is your death.

but as Jesus hung on the cross he prayed,

“Father—- release them.”

“Father—- cancel their debt.”

But God IS JUST.

Unlike me as a Father, He is FAIR.

The debt is owed. It must be exacted.

Well Jesus didn’t plead for a release for all of us from debt… He purchased it.

The Bible says it this way, He redeemed it.

A redeemer is someone who steps into pay off the debt that is owed.

Well the day that Jesus died on the Cross, that Friday, Jesus redeemed all our debt, indeed the debt of the whole world.

Colossians 1:14 “in Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

It was a Good Friday.

You see if you went into the bank today, and said, “sir I’m here to pay my monthly mortgage.” The same payment that most of us will make every month for 30 years. And you went in there, with check in hand, ready to pay, and that bank teller said, “I’m sorry sir, your Mortgage has been settled. Someone has paid your debt.”

What would you feel!? How would you respond!?

I’d make a fool of myself.

It would be a day of utter rejoicing!

“Honey! Don’t cook dinner, we’re going to the Local on 17!”

That would be a Good Day!

Well that day at about the 9th hour, which was3pm, when Jesus breathed his last.

That was a Good Friday. Because in that moment, your debt with God wasn’t just pleaded for, it was PAID.

Conclusion

That’s what happened on the Cross.

The Crucifixion of Jesus was Undeserved for Him.

& The Crucifixion of Jesus was Undeserved for Us.

But as we close, let me conclude by making it clear—- Good Friday is only Good News if you receive His Payment, His Forgiveness.

You see on Calvary that day, one criminal mocked him.

Yet, the other did two things:

He acknowledged His debt.

Look at Luke 23:41 “And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds;

He acknowledge His debt.

But secondly, He acknowledged His Redeemer.

Luke 23:41–42 “And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.””

He acknowledged His Redeemer by trusting in Him for Salvation.

And you know what he heard?

You know what you hear or will hear if you acknowledge your debt, and then turn to acknowledge your Redeemer

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

Oh Praise be to God, for Good Friday.

Undeserved for Jesus.

Undeserved for Us.

Well, I’d love for us conclude by taking communion together.