Why is Good Friday, Good?

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 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.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 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.

:16-It is the moment that you see God's perfect righteousness merged with His grace and mercy.

PRAY

Father, God we come to you this evening amazed at what you have done and accomplished through Christ on the cross. I pray that you would continue to humble me and that you would speak through me. Lord when I am on the verge of saying something that you do not want me to Lord shut my mouth. Hide me behind the cross, Lord let your words be heard. Lord speak to our hearts in a way that cause us to change our minds and the way we think. Lord I pray that you would be glorified. We ask this in the name of the Lamb that was slain for our behalf, Jesus Christ…AMEN

Please be seated.

When John says that Christ bore His cross, we might visualize, as some artists have in the past, Jesus struggling down the road bearing the complete cross on His shoulders. That’s not the way it happened. It was customary for the romans, when executing prisoners, to prepare the vertical beam of the cross at the crucifixion site before the actual execution. the prisoner was then given the crosspiece, the horizontal beam, and required to hoist it on his shoulders and carry it to the place of execution. So before Jesus made His way from the Praetorium to the Place of a Skull, Golgotha, outside the gates of Jerusalem, the vertical piece had already been planted in the ground, and Jesus was forced to carry the crossbeam.

On many occasions, prisoners were not able to accomplish the task, depending on the severity of the scourgings they had received immediately before going out to the execution site. We know from the other Gospels that Jesus was not able to carry His crossbeam the entire way, and that a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, was commanded by the soldiers to pick up the crossbeam for Jesus and take it to the kill of execution.

What a picture of Jesus not being able to physically carry the crossbeam…How much more difficult do you think it is for us to carry and bear our crossbeam because of our sin.

Once at the execution site, the prisoner was placed plat on the ground and his arms were either nailed or tied to the crossbeam. In the case of Jesus, nails were used. Then the prisoner was hoisted up and the crossbeam was attached to the vertical beam, usually by nails. A tiny platform was affixed toward the bottom of the vertical beam as a place for the feet of the prisoner to be secured, and then the feet were nailed or tied to the vertical beam. That small platform was provided so that the prisoner could push his body up, raising his diaphragm so that he could breathe during the agony of crucifixion. At first glance, that may seem to be a drop of mercy for the condemned prisoner. On the contrary, it was done to extend the torture, because prisoners dying by this method involuntarily gasped for breath, and if they could not draw air, they would die much more quickly, usually by asphyxiation. by allowing the prisoner to push himself up, an almost involuntary action, the executioners prolonged the agony.

If you had not heard it before the Romans were good at torture and execution.

WHY IS GOOD FRIDAY, GOOD?

It is the moment that you see God's perfect righteousness merged with His grace and mercy.

In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people. The good news of salvation only makes sense once we see how we are or were enslaved. Another way of saying this is that it is important for us to understand and distinguish between law and gospel in Scripture. We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is;

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Depravity

Suppose we pour a measure of salt into a container of pure water. The salt affects every drop of the water to the extent that all the formerly pure water becomes salty. From that time on, every bit of water drawn from that container is salty and no pure water can be drawn. This is similar to the depraved condition of man. The first sin was an act, one act that brought sin into the human race. Since that one act the very bloodstream of the human race has been polluted.328

It is the moment that you see God's perfect righteousness merged with Him grace and mercy.

then the gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.

What did Pilate believe about who Jesus was?

There is a point that Pilate sees no guilt for Jesus and attempts to get him freed. Pilate makes the claim that he has the authority to release Jesus or to crucify him. Jesus challenges this and then after that the Jews not only challenge the thinking, but they also reveal that Pilate does not have that power.

What authority does Pilate have?

John 19:11 ESV

11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Pilate does not have authority it’s fake, it is a mask. The authority that Pilate thinks he has is really in the hands of the Jews. With that being said the only reason that the Jews have that authority is because God had given it to them. You see, the plan for the redemption of creation, the redemption for you and me was moments away from happening. The redemption plan that had been set in motion since before creation. This redemption was revealed to Adam and Eve before they were removed from the garden.

Luke 23:34 ESV

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

What are they being "forgiven" from?

Luke 23:24 ESV

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

Acts 3:17–20 ESV

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Now remember back to this morning and think, what have I done today that when looking back I now see and understand that it was dumb. Now with whatever it is that you have done, think to the condition of your heart at the time. What condition was that? I don't mean were you saved or not, I am talking about the attitude and intention of your heart at the time. At that moment were you ignorant to what you were doing? Well Guess WHAT, JESUS IS CRYING OUT TO GOD TO FORGIVE YOU!!!!

Ignorance!!!! Being Dumb!!! Guess who else has been given the chance to receive forgiveness for being dumb....YOU AND ME!!!!

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished Methodist minister in Australia who preached on sin. One of his church officers came afterward to talk with him in his study. He said to the pastor, “Dr. Howard, we don’t want you to talk so plainly as you do about sin, because if our boys and girls hear you talking so much about sin, they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.”

The minister went to a utility closet and brought back a small bottle of strychnine that was clearly marked “Rat Poison.” He said, “I see what you want me to do. You wanted me to change the label. Suppose I take off this label of ‘Poison’ and put on some milder label, such as ‘Essence of Peppermint.’ Don’t you see what might happen? The milder you make the label; the more dangerous you make the poison.”1256

On the cross in the midst of being killed and humiliated Jesus cries out on our behave that God may forgive us. Crying out that we are ignorant and do not know what it is that we are doing. I think this applies to more than just the moment that Jesus is on the cross. You see He is crying out that God would forgive those that have crucified Him. Because they do not understand that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is the Son of God. Or if in fact they do understand this then they are rebelling against God, like many times before and they do not see or understand that is what is happening. They are dumb!!! Either way Jesus is crying out for their forgiveness. There forgiveness of their sin. The cross is Jesus’ response to our sin.

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 340). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Let's look at the Old Testament and see what God sees and the result that the condition gives us and the judgement that is required because of our condition. Because of your sin, because of my sin.

Turn with me to .

Isaiah 53:1–11 ESV

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not 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, stricken for the transgression of my people? 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. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:7–9 ESV

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not 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, stricken for the transgression of my people? 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.

Isaiah 53

You see on the cross in the midst of being killed and humiliated Jesus cries out on our behalf that God may forgive us. Crying out that we are ignorant and do not know what it is that we are doing. I think this applies to more than just the moment that Jesus is on the cross. You see He is crying out that God would forgive those that have crucified Him. Because they do not understand that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is the Son of God. Or if in fact they do understand this then they are rebelling against God, like many times before and they do not see or understand that is what is happening. They are dumb!!! Either way Jesus is crying out for their forgiveness. Whether they know it or not He, Jesus, is crying out for the forgiveness of their sin…for forgiveness of your sin…for forgiveness of my sin. The cross is Jesus’ response to our sin.

A young boy and his father were walking in an apple orchard. The father pulled an apple from a tree and, cupping his hands around it, asked his son what he saw. The son replied, “A beautiful red apple. May I have it?” The father then handed the apple to his son for examination. The boy touched it and immediately dropped it. Why? Because the apple appeared to be perfect only when viewed from one side. You see, on the other side it had been attacked by an insect and was rotten throughout. Yet the skin on the first side still had wholeness.

All people are like that apple. They may appear to be beautiful, but, once we examine them thoroughly, we see that all of us are rotten and marred because of our sin nature.

All people are like that apple. They may appear to be beautiful, but, once we examine them thoroughly, we see that all of us are rotten and marred because of our sin nature.1273

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 344). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Think about these situations:

What would you think of a doctor who, on discovering you had a tumor buried deep in your body, responded, “Take two aspirin and you’ll be just fine”?

How about a fireman who responded to a three-alarm fire by saying, “It’ll probably burn itself out soon enough,” or a policeman who, on arriving at the scene of a robbery, merely shook his head and said, “Boys will be boys”!

In each case the response is inappropriate to the situation. Is your response to sin also inappropriate?

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 344). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

All people are like that apple. They may appear to be beautiful, but, once we examine them thoroughly, we see that all of us are rotten and marred because of our sin nature.

In your response to your sin inappropriate?

If you want to follow along turn to and follow along.

1Who has believed

what we have heard?

And to whom has the arm

of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him

like a young planet

and like a root out of dry ground.

He didn't have an impressive form

or majesty that we should look

at him,

no appearance that we should

desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected

by men,

a man of suffering who knew

what sickness was.

He was like someone

people turned away from;

he was despised, and we didn't

value him.

4 Yet he himself bore

our sickness,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn

regarded him stricken,

struck down by God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced because of our iniquities,

punishment for our peace was

on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.

6 We all went astray like sheep,

we all have turned to our own way;

and the LORD has punished him

for the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth.

like a lamb led to the slaughter

and like a sheep silent

before her shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

8 He was taken away because of

oppression and judgment;

and who considered his fate?

For he was but off from the land

of the living;

he was struck because of

my people’s rebellion.

9 He was assigned a grave

with the wicked, but he was with a rich man

at his death,

because he had done no violence

and had not spoken deceitfully.

10 Yet the Lord was pleased

to crush him severely.

When you make him

a guilt offering,

he will see his seed, he will prolong

his days,

and by his hand, the LORD’S pleasure

will be accomplished.

11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied.

By his knowledge, my righteous servant

will justify many,

and he will carry their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him the many

as a portion,

and he will receive the mighty

as spoil,

because he willingly submitted

to death,

and was counted among the rebels;

yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

What was accomplished on the cross? What was the purpose of the work of Christ on the Cross? What "...is finished"?

John 19:30 ESV

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:10 ESV

10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”

What "...is finished"?

At this point Jesus knew “it” was finished. Satan only thought it was finished and that He, Satan, had won. Both Jesus and Satan were convinced, "it is finished." but let’s continue to look at this.

Luke 24:13–18 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Luke 24:13-

The work of the Father is what is finished. What is the work of the Father?

John 4:34 ESV

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Jesus’ food is doing the will of God.

John 17:4 ESV

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

, , 22:37, 18:31-33; ; )

Jesus has accomplished the work that God the Father gave Him to do.

Luke 22:37

Luke 22:37 ESV

37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”

Luke

John 18:31–33 ESV

31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Hebrews 10:14 ESV

14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

This is the work of atonement.

WE JUST READ IT!!!!! A single offering!!!! And on top of that Jesus even speaks of fulfilling the prophecy and work that was spoken of by the prophets through God.

As a result of the work of the cross and Jesus finishing what God has sent him to do. The will of the Father and the work of Atonement. We see not only the work finished but we also see what that work looks like. THE CROSS!!!

The cross is where we see the convergence of great suffering and God’s forgiveness.

Psalm 85:10 ESV

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” The cross of Jesus is where that occurred, where God demands, his righteousness, coincided with his mercy. The cross is the place were we receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him” () Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

This passage () sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” GOOD FRIDAY is where that occurred, where God demands, his righteousness, coincided with his mercy. The cross is the place were we receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him”

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

) Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

What authority does Pilate have?

John 19:11 ESV

11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Think about these situations:

Ignorance!!!! Being Dumb!!! Guess who else has been given the chance to receive forgiveness for being dumb....YOU AND ME!!!!

What would you think of a doctor who, on discovering you had a tumor buried deep in your body, responded, “Take two aspirin and you’ll be just fine”?

In each case the response is inappropriate to the situation. Is your response to sin also inappropriate?

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 344). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Is your response to your sin inappropriate?

There are times that we justify our sin or our response is just saying, “I won’t do that again.”

Earlier I described what happened as Jesus was going to his execution and the strain and difficulty he had…difficulty to the point that he physically could not bear the crossbeam. What a picture of Jesus not being able to physically carry the crossbeam…How much more difficult do you think it is for us to carry and bear our crossbeam because of our sin. The crossbeam that you are carrying around is the weight of sin, and that sin must be responded to. How are you going to respond to your sin? Are you going to accept the work of the cross? Are you going to live out the freedom of grace and forgiveness? What is God calling you to do? Why are you waiting?

What a picture of Jesus not being able to physically carry the crossbeam…How much more difficult do you think it is for us to carry and bear our crossbeam because of our sin.

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