Good Friday 2025 | Reflections on the Cross

As we think about the cross of Christ and all that he did for us, I want to take a moment to put ourselves into the minds of the disciples that Friday.

Theses disciples had followed Jesus around for three years. They left their homes. Their careers. Their families.

They saw amazing things! They saw the lame walk. The blind see. The deaf hear. They thousands of demons cast out of individuals. They saw Jesus walk on water, calm stormy seas, multiply bread and fish to feed thousands of people. They saw lepers cleansed. Water changed to wine. Most significantly, they saw the dead come back to life.

they also heard all his teaching. They heard him speak with authority. Speak with zeal. Speak with conviction. They saw him debate with the Scribes, Pharisees, Lawyers, and other religous leaders, going toe to toe with the heavyweights of the day.

Not only did they observe all these things, but Jesus himself trained them and sent them out, and THEY did miracles, they healed people, they cast out demons, they proclaimed the message of the Kingdom of God.

They spent countless hours with him traveling on the roads, talking about the Scriptures, dining with him, serving with him.

Jesus was not just a teacher to them. He was their Rabbi. He was their master. He was their companion. He was their friend. They loved him. They adored him.

But in a moment, everything changed.

Those of you who were here last night remember what occurred. Jim walked us through the significance and symbolism the passover meal. We sampled the bitter herbs, matza, etc. We sang hymns and other songs of joyous celebration for what God has done, just like disciples would have when they observed Passover and celebrated God’s deliverance from Egypt, we celebrated God’s deliverance of us from sin.

As they left the upper room and went to Gethsemane they would have sang Psalms delighting in God’s work.

Jesus had been saying some odd things, had been talking about his death, predicted betrayal, denial, and desertion. But surely these things wouldn’t really happen.....would they??

As they were on the Mount of Olives in the garden Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to pray with him. But they couldn’t keep their eyes open and they slept.

When the mob arrives and Judas betrays Jesus and the soldiers bind his hands and lead him away, Matthew 26:56 “ Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”

Just like that. the devoted followers of Christ. departed him. Just like that, all their hopes and dreams for who Christ him be for them. All they had hoped for was seemingly at risk.

As the trial went on, most of the disciples were in hiding. Peter was bold enough to enter the courtyard, but he was scared for his own life so he denied being with Jesus.

Jesus had warned his disciples “If the world hates me, they will hate you too” and it seems they took that part seriously

When Jesus was actually on the cross, it seems that only one of the disciples had enough courage to be there in person. As Jesus was carried away and buried there are no hints of the disciples. In fact, later, we learn that the disciples were hiding behold locked doors and the says “because they feared the Jews”

Not only had they lost their master, their leader, their companion, their friend. But now they lived in fear that they too would be rounded up and hauled away to face a similar fate.

For the disciples, Good Friday was anything but. It was the worst day of their lives. Some of you know what it’s like to lose people you know and love. Some of you know what it’s like to be betrayed by people you trusted. Imagine those feelings but then multiply them by 10,000, and then add fear for your life because of the bloodthirsty religious community on top of that.

This was not a good Friday.

Then if we take a step back, consider who Jesus was. He’s not just a master, a teacher, a friend, and a guide. He’s God in human flesh. He is divine. He is the creator and sustainer of the world. He’s the only one who knows what it’s like to be truly human and truly God. He is the long awaited Messiah, the one who was to come. He is the only one who could redeem Israel from her sin, he was the only one who could actually save.

And we killed him. The worst sin ever committed.

Why then call it good?

How do we look on the darkest moment in a long and dark human history and call that good?

It is called good because it is at the cross where love and justice meet. Where wrath and mercy find their ultimate expression and fulfillment.

It is called good because in the agony of the cross, as the moment came when Jesus cried out with a lour voice “My God my God, why have you forsaken me” as he endured the wrath of God, it is good because in that moment, my sin was atoned for, punishment endured.

Friends, there’s a sense we might say “that’s not right. It shouldn’t be that way.” And there is a sense that’s true. It’s not right. It isn’t right that the son of God would die. It isn’t right that he give himself for me.

It isn’t right. But it is good.

Please understand me when I say it isn’t right. I’m not meaning the Jesus did the wrong thing. What happened to him at the hands of sinners was wrong. Jesus’ voluntary substitutionary death allows God to be both just and justifying of those who have faith in Him. But from a human perspective, it isn’t right that he would take my place.

But he did. And now those Scripture passages that we read can be true. By his wounds you are healed. We are redeemed from tthe curse of the Law. those in Christ a new creation. We can now become the righteousness of God in Him.

If you have never heard or understood the Gospel of Christ, I hope you do so this evening.

Jesus was the perfect son of God. He died for sinners. If you believe in Him the death of Christ is applied to your account. Your sins will be reckoned as covered by the blood of Christ. You will be saved. I’d say that pretty good news. I’d say that’s a good reason to call it Good Friday.

But this is what it cost. the murder of your creator. I pray we never forget that.