The Passion: Friday

[Prayer]

We call it Good Friday, but for those who were there and who loved Jesus, it would have seemed like anything but good as the day got out of control.

Biblical Narrative

It began very late Thursday evening.

After sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus prayed in the garden. He was in agony and “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

One of Jesus’ own, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him with a kiss on the cheek . . . signalling a mob to arrest Jesus and take him to the home of Caiphas the high priest for interrogation.

The most influential members of the Jewish society, called the Sanhedrin, met there in secret in the middle of the night looking for false evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death.

Simon Peter followed behind quietly and was recognized by some in the crowd. When confronted for being a disciple of Jesus, Peter denied Him three times

Jesus was brought to the Roman rulers, Pilate and Herod, for trial. They found him innocent, yet proceeded to treat him as a criminal.

Jesus was severely beaten and flogged. The soldiers mocked him and gave him a crown of thorns.

Under a passover tradition Pilate offered for one prisoner to go free. The people wanted Barrabas, an insurrectionist and murderer. And then they demanded that Jesus be crucified. Pilate washed his hands in front of them as if to symbolize that he was not guilty of killing this man, but handing the blame over to the Jews.

Jesus was forced to carry his own cross as far as he could, eventually coming to a place called the skull where He was nailed to a wooden cross through his hands and feet.

Crucifixion was designed to prolong the painful process of death, dying from wounds or asphyxiation.

Jesus hung between two criminals who mocked him.

Before dying, Jesus said seven statements from the cross.

Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” He forgave even as he was sinned against.

Luke 23:43 “Jesus looked to one of the criminals hanging next to him who had repented and said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” The criminal was saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

John 19:26–27 “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” As he suffered his concern was for his family and disciples. They were the reason he was up there, so that by his death they could live.

Mark 15:34 Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He felt the weight of the sins of the world upon him. He quotes here the opening to Psalm 22, which starts in lament and ends with hope. It was Friday, but Easter was coming.

John 19:28 “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.””

John 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” His work was done. He did what He set out to do.

Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.”

Darkness came over the whole land and the temple curtain was torn in two.

After he died, prophecy was fulfilled that his bones were not broken, but to make sure he was dead his side was pierced and blood and water flowed out.

Joseph of Arimathea took his body and placed it in a brand new tomb. A stone was rolled in front and then guarded by Roman soldiers so none could enter.

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Jesus was supposed to be their king and make everything right. He never hurt anyone, he never told a lie, there was not an ounce of evil in him. The one who never sinned was just punished like the worst criminal.

Yet, this was all part of God’s plan. In fact, Jesus warned his disciples at least three times before his arrest that this would come to pass.

So much can be learned by examining the Gospel accounts of Good Friday, but tonight we will focus on an unfun, yet important topic: our sin.

Are you willing to listen and do some reflection? Because even though we are 2,000 years removed . . . this day, this story has everything to do with you and me.

There are three things we must know about our sin.

1. All my sins are costly

There are many kinds of sins. Big and small.

Sins of commission - things we do that we shouldn’t do

Sins of omission - things we don’t do that we should do

Some sins have very obvious and immediate consequences, and others seem private and harmless.

But the Bible tells us that all sins are against God.

In Psalm 51:4 (after David commited adultery and had an innocent man killed) He said to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”

God is just. He is fair. We know from Scripture that He does not tempt us. He may test us, but He always gives us a way out of temptation if we are willing to surrender to Him.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is thinking that our sins are not a big deal.

Jesus regularly confronted the religious leaders in his day who justified themselves in their own eyes.

Let’s not be so prideful as to think that we are righteous by our works.

Years ago I watched videos of a street evangelist named Ray Comfort. I found it fascinating how he would strike up conversations with individuals and ask them if they were confident if they’d be in heaven when they die.

It was very common for people to say, yes I think I’ll be in heaven because I’m a good person.

He would gently take them through the 10 commandments and ask them if they’ve sinned in any of the areas. I think Ray was non-threatening with his soft New Zealand accent.

He would say for example, the commandment says do not murder. Jesus said that to be angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. By that measure have you broken the command?

The commandment says do not commit adultery. Jesus says that one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. By that measure have you broken the command?

Have you ever told a lie, even a small one? Etc.

And then Ray would kindly say “by your own admission you are a murderer, adulterer, liar, you’ve dishonored your parents, you’ve worshipped idols and put other things ahead of God. Do you still think that you are good?

Most were honest enough to admit that they weren’t all that good afterall. And then he’d share the gospel.

I’ll personally confess that by Jesus’ standards I have in someway or another broken every one of the 10 commandments.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself.

I haven’t done that consistently.

What about you?

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

Here is the biggest problem with that. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death! Talk about sins being costly.

And someone has to pay for it. The reality is that is should be us.

Sin is ugly! Just look at the wickedness leading up to Jesus’ death: Lies, betrayal, denial, violence, murder. And many of them personally knew Jesus.

Where would you be in the story?

Where are you struggling with sin today?

Isaiah 53:5–8“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.”

All sins are costly and Our sin cost Jesus everything.

Here is the good news . . . here’s why it is called Good Friday

2. All my sins can be forgiven

Everyone of them as we turn to Christ.

Earlier I referenced the first part of Romans 6:23. “The wages of sin is death.” The verse doesn’t end there. The second half says, “but the gift of God is eternal life.”

Jesus died so that our sins can be forgiven.

Remember, even from the cross he prayed “Father forgive them”

Jesus paid the price for our sins. He died in our place.

Justice required punishment and our gracious God took it upon Himself.

What is required of us?

Repentance and faith. That is to turn from sin and to God and trust Him with the things that we can not control.

The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus’ death was sufficient for all of our sins for all of time.

What we must do is receive Him. The life preserver is within reach, but He will not force Himself upon us.

We are invited into a relationship with the living God where we can experience the total forgiveness of our sins.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

You may wonder, what if I mess up again?

Jesus will forgive you every time you come to Him.

Now, don’t abuse it by knowingly staying in cycles of sin or living recklessly. We are to still take sin very seriously!

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Why would we live in sin again when we have the freedom of Christ?

Of course we are still human. I’ve been a Christian most of my life. I formally accepted Jesus when I was almost 7 years old and it was sincere. Every sin that I can remember committing has been as a believer in Christ and I have had to repent many many times.

God is faithful in forgiving every one of my sins and He will do the same for you.

I invite you to receive His forgiveness and show appreciation by committing to live for Him.

If you have not given your life to Christ we would love to help you do that tonight. In fact, I’ll invite you to come pray with us in just a few minutes.

So please be open to God’s invitation into a relationship that begins with his grace and forgiveness.

We are all here to support one another in the journey.

Finally one more piece that makes good Friday so so good.

3. All my sins can be forgotten

Most of us have had people in our lives that haven’t let us forget about our shortcomings. We may be different men and women than we once were, but some people treat us as if we never changed.

And that can be really frustrating. I am not who I once was.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

One of the beautiful things that God does for us is He forgets our sins when we come to Him in repentance.

He doesn’t say remember when you did this and that? He says, I know that’s not you anymore.

Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Micah 7 indicates that God puts them at the bottom of the sea.

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.””

We get a clean slate!

Now I get that we may not so easily forget our sins. Sometimes it is really hard to live with the things we said and did, but a good starting point is knowing that God (the only perfect one) has forgotten our sins.

We may need to give ourselves some grace as we receive His grace.

We are not who we once were.

Consider that the events on Good Friday did not feel like victory as they were happening. Even though the reality was that Jesus satisfied the payment for sins on Friday, that didn’t get realized until Easter and beyond.

Everyone is offered an opportunity for their sins to be forgiven and forgotten.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

We are told in 2 Peter 3 that it’s God’s desire that none shall perish

I believe that every person mentioned in the Good Friday narrative was eligible to repent of their sins and receive Christ’s forgiveness.

We know that some did.

Peter was forgiven by Jesus and restored to a significant role as an apostle in the church. A short time after his restoration, Peter preached a message at Pentecost at thousands of people were added to the kingdom. Jesus did not hold Peter’s shortcomings against him.

One of the criminals hanging next to Jesus who earlier in the day was cursing Him, soon realized that Jesus was innocent. In asking for Jesus to remember Him, Jesus said the man would that day be with Him in paradise.

One of the soldiers standing at the foot of the cross (likely one that previously mocked Him, possibly even one that gambled for his clothing) after seeing Jesus’ death said “surely He was the Son of God.”

Ten other disciples, including James, John, and doubting Thomas also abandoned Jesus, yet they all returned to Him and were fully forgiven.

But others did not turn to Jesus for forgiveness and died in their sins.

We know that Judas went and hung himself the same day Jesus died. He never knew of the resurrection.

We don’t know the fate of Caiaphas, Pilot and Herod as well as many of the unnamed soldiers and people. Judging by their pride it is likely that many never received God’s forgiveness.

Invitation

They don’t have an opportunity any longer, but you do. Have you received his forgiveness? If so, praise God!

If not, will you today?

Some of you have received forgiveness, but don’t feel like your sin is forgotten.

Let me remind you that God says it is.

I want to invite you to come forward as the next couple of songs play and have you privately write down a sin in your life. And then drop it into the water and watch it dissolve.

Once it disappears, you won’t be able to bring it back. It’s impossible. Let it be forgotten because God has done just that.

There are stations all around the room so please come participate if you want a reminder that your sins are forgotten.

For sake of time, please have that word or two already on your mind so you can quickly write it and drop it in the water for it to be disolved.

If you need forgiveness and would like to invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior tonight, skip the paper and make your way to the cross so we can pray with you and get you started on your first steps with Christ.

Don’t delay. Don’t be embarrassed to come forward. Every believer in this room started with a step of faith. Jesus experienced incredible discomfort for you and me so stepping out of your comfort zone pales in comparison. Come to the cross. Come to Jesus and experience the freedom of forgiven and forgotten sins.