Good Friday 04-18-2025

Sin Enters the World

In the beginning, God created, and it was good. Everything was paradise/sinless. No curse, no sin. God Created man and woman. They were both created uniquely and without sin. They were created in the image of God. In that sinless garden where all needs were met, work was available, and only ONE commandment had been given. In a world where Adam and Eve walked with the Lord in a personal way every evening, temptation came. At the first temptation to disobey, Adam rebelled against God. Sin entered the world. Genesis 3:8-20 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” To the woman He said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Thus from Adam sinned entered the world. For in Adam, all have sinned. So sinned passed upon all people. Side note: Lest you think you would have done differently, remember the Pharisees said the same thing about the murder of God’s Prophets. Jesus said their arrogance condemned them as being just the same. Dear one, you are not better then Adam.

Sin Passed upon All People

Romans 5:12–14 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law (of Moses) was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Adam knew it was wrong to eat of that tree and chose to eat anyway. 1 Timothy 2:14a “and Adam was not deceived...” He had clearly been told what was wrong by God. Yet he did not believe/take God at His word. Instead, Adam transgressed/knowingly disobeyed the single Command God had given. So while sin was not counted, it is not explicitly known to be sin, it was still nonetheless sin. For murder is still sin even if an individual is not explicitly told it is sin. So even while sin was not explicitly known, death still reigned. How can this be? Those who did not explicitly know what commands of God they were breaking were still under the judgment of death. Romans 2:12-16 For all who have sinned without the law (of Moses) will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers (perfect obedience) of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Even those who do not know the Law are subject to the Law, for their hearts bear witness against them of right and wrong. There is enough written into every human being to condemn them. For we know that murder is wrong. Theft is wrong. Lying is wrong. We do not need a written Law to tell us this. Yet one might say, “Conscious is not clear enough. If I but knew exactly what God required, then I could keep it and thus be righteous before God.” God gave the written Law. A Law that IF a person perfectly keeps it, they would be right before God. Romans 7:7b “...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Therefore the Law made sin clear, and thus offered the promise of life! Yet the thought that a person could keep the Law perfectly is crushed under the reality of God’s Law. Romans 7:10 “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.” It is impossible to perfectly keep the Law of God. All the Law does is tell me every fault, every wrong, every sin I have ever done. The Law is merciless. The purpose of the Law is not to save, but rather in perfect fairness, perfect justice, and with complete lack of mercy demonstrate where every human falls short. In this, the Law demonstrates the truth that Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Sin is the breaking of God’s Law in thought or action. Murder is the outward expression/action of hatred in the heart. Adultery is the outward expression/action of lusting in your heart. Theft is the outward expression/action of coveting in your heart. A haughty look is the outward expression/action of pride in your heart. Jesus taught us that it is not enough not to murder, but hatred in one’s heart is also breaking God’s Law. It is not good enough to not commit adultery, one must not even lust in one’s heart. Each of these and more are a breaking of God’s Law and thus incur a debt of sin. For every Law that is broken incurs a debt/citation/wage. And the citation/debt/wage/what a law breaker has earned is Death.

The Debt of Sin/Cup of Wrath/Curse of God

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death,” The legal debt that mankind has earned is death. Eternal separation from God in Hell. Mankind has sinned against an eternal God and thus the debt of sin is an eternal separation. Justice demands/requires that the debt be paid. If the debt is not paid, then justice has not been done. If God does not carry out justice, then He is not Just. Yet we would be wrong to think of God as being bound by justice. As if He was willing to overlook sin but couldn’t because of Justice. That would be to make justice a villain and God a slave. No,for sin is not simply a cold calculated equation that God must follow through on. Sin is an affront to God’s very character. It is something that brings out an emotional response in the God of Heaven and Earth. For the appropriate emotional response of a perfect God upon sin is wrath. God’s wrath against sin and the sinners who commit sin is described in Zephaniah 1:15 “A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,” How would you respond to the one’s who you created, who you loved and cherished and yet they shook their fist in your face and knowingly broke the Laws that come from your very character? God’s wrath is perfect in justice. The legal penalty of sin is death and it is a penalty that is accompanied by God’s just wrath. Think of one who has harmed a little child. Think of that one arrested, tried, and receiving the death penalty as the result of his actions. JUSTICE is not without emotion. Death is the penalty and wrath is the emotion that goes with it. For all who sin are under this curse of sin. Yet... John 3:16a “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son...” God’s justice and wrath are also accompanied by love. Think back to the one who has harmed a little child. Now think of the parent whose adult child has caused that harm. They know their child deserves the penalty and they may even be wrathful at the thought of it. Yet, they still love their child, not because there is any good in them. So too God’s justice and wrath are accompanied by love for His rebellious sinful creation. So Biblical Love must ACT. Justice, wrath, must be satisfied. The debt owed must be paid. Yet love had a plan that was made before creation began. Jesus, God in Flesh, Emmanuel, God with us, the Christ would come. He would live the life you and I could not live. He would perfectly obey the Law. He would take the place of sinners. He would die so that man might have a way to be reconciled to God and because Jesus is both fully God and fully man, His payment would be an eternal payment. Yet the curse of sin must be carried. The Cup of Wrath must be drunk. Death must be tasted, so that justice would be satisfied.

The Cup of Wrath & the Curse of God

Matthew 26:36-46 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me.” And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand.” From here, Jesus begins to drink of the cup of God’s Wrath. He begins to drink the full and complete judgment that sin is owed. He is taken to Annas and there in the middle of the night, Jesus is illegally tried. Annas began to question Jesus concerning His teachings. To this line of questioning, John 18:20–21 “Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” This response elicits a blow from one of the officers. From Annas, Jesus is taken to another location and tried before the High Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Jewish Leaders). Matthew 26:57 “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.” This meeting by the Sanhedrin during the night was illegal. According to the Mishna (Jewish Law) “in capital cases they hold the trial during the daytime and the verdict also must be reached during the daytime...in capital cases a verdict of acquittal may be reached on the same day, but a verdict of conviction not until the following day.” (Pentecost, J. D. (1981). The Words & Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ (J. Danilson, Ed.; p. 462). Zondervan.) Due to the rushed nature of this mock trial, the false witnesses had no opportunity to corroborate their accusations so Mark 14:56 “For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.” The failure of the witnesses drove the High Priest to put Jesus under an oath. Matthew 26:63 “But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” The High Priest knew what Jesus had claimed at His Triumphal Entry and he knew what Jesus had taught about Himself. So Jesus responded Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The High Priest tore his clothes (an act expressly condemned in Leviticus 21:10) & called for a judgment. Matthew 26:66 “What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” While this trial was going on, in the courtyard around a fire, huddled Peter. And it was during this time that Peter denied His Lord three times. Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny Him and as the cock crowd the second time, Jesus looks at Peter. Peter remembers the words of Jesus and breaks down and weeps. In order to give the appearance of legality, they reassemble at daybreak in the Temple to ratify their illegal proceedings. However, the Jews were unable to execute someone legally for that authority was held by the Romans. So they send Jesus to Pilate. Jesus is then sent to Pilate, then to Herod, and then back again to Pilate. 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.” Pilate offers to beat and release Jesus and when that doesn’t work he offers to placate the Jews by doing something according to their custom. John 18:39 “But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” While the flogging should have placated the bloodthirsty mob, it only seemed to drive them to a greater desire to bloodshed. For they refused to let Jesus go free and would rather take Barabbas, a murderer, than Jesus. The infuriated crowd called for a crucifixion. John 19:6–7 “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die because He has made Himself the Son of God.” Pilate in fear of the people washes his hands and finally acquiesces to the people. The Jews in bloodlust cry out “we have no king but Caesar” and accept the responsibility in the proclamation that Matthew 27:25 “And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So at the end of the trial, the guilty Barabbas is freed and Jesus, the innocent, is sent to die.

The Cup is Drank, “Tetelestai” The Debt is Paid.

Jesus is then taken and beaten. His back is being shredded as the soldiers mock Him. The crown of thorns causes blood pour into His eyes and beard, the soldiers spit in His face and place the robe upon His back. As the soldiers grow tired of mocking, the cross is placed upon His back and He begins His journey to the “Place of the Skull”. Before He can reach that final destination, He collapses under the weight of the cross. The soldiers forcibly recruit Simon the Cyrene to help Jesus. At Golgotha, the blood soaked robe is ripped from His back, reopening the wounds. Jesus is stretched out. His hands are nailed to the Cross, and there at the Place of the Skull, Jesus is lifted up between two thieves. Deuteronomy 21:23b “ ...for he that is hanged is accursed of God.” There on that Cross, He was mocked and He suffered. On that cross, He drank the full undiluted cup of wrath that humanity had incurred. He bore the full weight of the curse of sin. In this moment, 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake He/God made Him /Jesus to be sin the one/who knew no sin...” During this time, the sky darkens. Truly the words of Zephaniah were fulfilled Zephaniah 1:15 “A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,” for this cup of wrath is the just penalty of sin and Jesus bore it. Six hours pass. The cup is drank and the debt must be paid in full. So Jesus cries“tetelestai”. Such a common word. A word that was most often was used to signify the end of a transaction. A word that meant full payment has been recieved. A common trade word that means “Paid in Full” A word that means: The debt is Finished. Jesus cries out “Tetelestai” “It is Finished”. John 19:30 “He/Jesus said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Epilogue

John 19:31–36 “Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”

Romans 5:6–8 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly/us. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 19:38–42 “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” It is Friday.

Poem: It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’

Pastor S.M. Lockridge

It’s Friday He’s hanging on the cross Feeling forsaken by His Father Left alone and dying Can nobody save him? Ooooh It’s Friday But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday The earth trembles The sky grows dark My King yields his spirit

It’s Friday Hope is lost Death has won Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a laughin’

It’s Friday Jesus is buried A soldier stands guard And a rock is rolled into place

But it’s Friday It is only Friday Sunday is a comin’!