Good Friday
Easter 26 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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[Introduction]
Good Friday is the day of Holy week when we look back to the most significant moment in Human History.
From beginning to end, Jesus demonstrates Himself to be a King unlike any king that has walked the earth…
The Upside Down Kingdom
[Illustration]
I’m a nurse and part owner of a home care company. This week, I got a call from a friend who was diagnosed with cancer last year that he’d be going onto hospice and was going to need some care in his home.
I visited my friend. He’d lost weight, he’d suffered under the treatment regiments prescribed by his doctor… and now, he was looking at a prognosis of about 6 months.
My friend loves the Lord. We’d met in church and he has always been a source of encouragement to me.
As I looked at him, I asked myself…
What is good about Good Friday?
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[Prayer]
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Enthronement
"The cross is defeat, the resurrection is victory..." vs "The cross is a victory that is unveiled by the resurrection" - Jeremy Treat
[Line Example]
We think of Christ’s life and ministry here…
The Cross is the lowest point...
… Resurrection gets us back up
>> But was it defeat that was accomplished on the Cross?
Let’s break down the atonement
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Atonement —
"The atonement is the reconciling work of Christ by which the demands of God's justice are satisfied and sinners are restored to fellowship with God." - R.C. Sproul
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(1) Penal Substitution — Jesus bears the punishment humanity deserves, satisfying divine justice in our place.
>> Penal = “penalty”
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
>> Barabbas serves as the most “vivid enacted parable of substitution in the Passion narrative”
>> We, like Barabbas, have been substituted with Jesus from receiving the just punishment for our sins…
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Propitiation — addresses the wrath of God (Godward direction)
Expiation — addresses the guilt/stain of sin (sinward direction)
Expiation
[Illustration]
Years ago I sat one late night with a young man who was struggling with the guilt and shame of his sexual sin. I remember saying to him, and myself:
“Jesus did not die on the cross for you to live in guilt and shame”
>> Good Friday reminds us of the weight of our sin… and of the wonderous marvelous work of Christ to
>> We don’t pay a debt that’s already been paid
Propitiation — and turns aside God's wrath.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
>> and
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
>> Without the Son of God hanging beside him, the thief on the cross would not just receive the wrath of the Romans… But the wrath of God
>> As it is for us
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(2) New Covenant — Jesus' blood inaugurates a new covenant, fulfilling and superseding the old sacrificial system.
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
>> Jesus did not commit iniquity… but as the fulfillment of all, He bears the stripes of the sons of men…
>> Jesus takes onto His head the twisted thorns of the cursed ground, and wears them as a crown…
Passover connection…
22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
(a) Recapitulation — Jesus relives and reverses Adam's failure, succeeding where humanity fell.
The Tools of the Enemy
Seduction — Abandon Holiness
Deception — Abandon Truth
Persecution — The Final Weapon
>> Adam could not withstand the seduction and deception of the enemy...
>> Jesus not only resists the temptations of the World… He endures persecution… And USES IT for Good!
"Jesus comes as the last Adam, the faithful servant-king who not only fulfills Adam's commission... As Jesus wore the crown of thorns, he bore the curse of God. The thorns, which were a sign of the curse and defeat of Adam, are paradoxically transformed into a sign of the kingship and victory of Jesus." — Jeremy Treat, The Crucified King, p. 252
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
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(3) Satisfaction and Reconciliation — Jesus pays the debt owed to God that humanity could not pay, restoring the broken relationship.
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
>> Here, the sufferings of the cross are nothing compared to the turning away of the Father from His Son, for even a second…
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.
10 On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Be not far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.
12 Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
>> Jesus fulfills this, and fully and sufficiently satisfies the justice of God
And what do we have in light of this satisfaction?
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off!
O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.
Paul would right:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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(4) Christus Victor — Jesus defeats sin, death, and the devil, liberating humanity from their power.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
>> From the very beginning, The LIGHT has shown in the darkness. NOT EVEN IN HIS DAY OF DEATH DOES THE DARKNESS WIN
>> Listen to the language used in Hebrews:
9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
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.
10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
[Return Illustration]
My friend with cancer faces death more clearly than any of us… YET, he does so, CLINGING to the cross of Christ, his ultimate Hope, seen through the lens of Easter Sunday as the day when darkness and death and hopelessness were utterly obliterated.
What does Christ say on the cross, moments before His death?
>> Possibly the greatest three word sentence spoken by our King...
First, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit...”
>> then...
“It is finished”
It is on the Cross that He declares it “Finished”
The Resurrection tells us WHO Christ is
The Cross tells us WHAT Christ does
?
Rock of Ages
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill the Law's demands
Could my zeal no respite know
Could my tears forever flow
All for sin could not atone
Thou must save, and Thou alone
Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to the cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Foul, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, Savior, or I die!
?
Because Death will be finally and fully vanquished:
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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1 Corinthians 11:23–26
“23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
