Good Friday: Comfort from the Cross

The Lenten Road

For 40 Days, we have traveled this Lenten Road.

A road meant NOT to inform our minds, but our sufferings.

In worship, we draw near to God, but it was at the cross that God drew near to us.

Augustine of Hippo said:

“Man’s maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that the Truth might be accused of false witness, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.” -Augustine of Hippo

Isaiah saw Jesus high and lifted up, but not as we do in singing, but as a criminal.

He was lifted up not in praise but in derision.

The One who molded the universe became a mockery that we might look upon Him and find hope.

7 STATEMENTS FROM THE CROSS

HOW DO WE FIND COMFORT FROM SUCH CRUELTY?

JESUS SPEAKS 7 STATEMENTS FROM THE CROSS

MY PRAYER FOR THIS TIME TOGETHER IS THAT WHAT CHRIST SAYS FROM THE CROSS WILL MEET US AS WE ARE AND BRING US PEACE.

THREE TIMES ARE MENTIONED OF JESUS WHILE ONE THE CROSS

JESUS SAYS THE FIRST THREE THINGS DURING THE FIRST HOUR

THE FIRST STATEMENT JESUS MAKES IS:

READ: Luke 23:34 ESV

Luke 23:34 ESV

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

FORGIVE THEM

JESUS DOESN’T LOOK FROM THE CROSS AND BLAME US FOR HIS SUFFERING, RATHER HE LOOKS UP AND INTERCEDES FOR US.

HERE HE EXEMPLIFIES FOR NICODEMUS WHO WAS NO DOUBT PRESENT, THE VERY WORDS OF THEIR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION: “FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM”

THE FIRST STATEMENT JESUS MAKES IS THE VERY ESSENCE FOR WHY HE CAME.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAR FROM GOD, THOSE WHO FEEL UNWORTHY, AND THOSE WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD, JESUS INTERCEDES FOR YOU THAT YOU MAY BE FORGIVEN.

WE MUST LOOK UP TO HIM AND HEAR HIS WORDS AND BELIEVE THAT HE DESIRES TO FORGIVE US, NOT CONDEMN US.

DON’T LOOK AWAY, LOOK UP AND BEHOLD HIM

THE SECOND THING JESUS SAYS IS TO THOSE WHO CAME TO WITNESS HIS HOUR OF DISTRESS

READ: JOHN 19:25-27 ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 19

25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

SO OFTEN WE TURN AWAY FROM SUFFERING TRYING TO FIND HOPE ANOTHER WAY.

JESUS BRINGS US COMFORT BY REMINDING US THAT OUR SUFFERING FINDS ITS PURPOSE IN HIS.

JESUS ALSO INVITES US TO LOOK ON THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS.

IT IS WHEN WE SEE HOW HE SUFFERED AND YET CARES THAT WE NOW LOOK TO THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS AND CARE.

JESUS WANTS US TO SEE HIM IN OUR SUFFERING AND FOR US TO SEE THE SUFFERING HE SEES IN OTHERS.

WE SHOULD NOT PUSH AWAY THOSE WHO COME TO COMFORT US. EVEN, THE SON OF GOD.

WHAT ARE THE VOICES YOU HEAR IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

THE THIRD RESPONSE WAS FOR THE MOCKERS.

THIS IS JESUS RESPONSE AFTER THE MOCKERS HAD THEIR SAY:

READ: MARK 15:33-34 ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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?”

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH JESUS IS BELIEVING THE VOICES OF THE MOCKERS

BUT, JESUS ISN’T CRYING OUT IN DOUBT, HE’S QUOTING A PROMISE

READ: PSALM 22:1-5 ESV

Psalm 22:1–5 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

JESUS REMINDS US FROM THE CROSS THAT THE ENEMY DOES NOT GET THE LAST WORD.

WHAT BEGINS WITH AGONY WILL END IN VICTORY.

CHRIST HAS MET US IN THE NOISE OF DOUBT AND FEAR AND SPEAKS A BETTER WORD.

GOD WANTS TO BE WITH US

THE FOURTH STATEMENT IS TO THE THEIF ON THE CROSS BESIDE HIM

READ: LUKE 23:39-43 ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 23

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.”

WE SUFFER IN THIS LIFE EVEN MORE WHEN WE BELIEVE GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN SAVING US.

THE FIRST CRIMINAL SEES WHAT CHRIST IS DOING AND CONCLUDES HE’S NOT WHO HE SAYS HE IS OTHERWISE HE WOULDN’T BE NEXT TO THEM IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT.

JESUS JOINS US IN THE SUFFERING BECAUSE FROM THERE HE CAN LEAD US BACK TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

THE WORD JESUS USES FOR PARADISE IS THE SAME WORD USED FOR THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

REMEMBER JESUS IS BRINGING COMFORT FROM SUFFERING, NOT A SYNAGOGUE WHEN HE SAYS THIS.

THE LIVING WATER, NOW THIRSTS

THE FIFTH THING JESUS SAYS:

READ: JOHN 19:28 ESV

John 19:28 ESV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

FULLY GOD AND FULL HUMAN

IT’S NOTED THAT JESUS THIRSTS ON THE CROSS AT THE SAME HOUR HE HAD MET WITH THE WOMAN AT THE WELL AND WAS THIRSTY, BUT OFFERED HER LIVING WATER.

JESUS OFFERS US THE COMFORT OF HIS HUMANITY.

CHRIST IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH OUR FRAILTY AND THE BITTERNESS OF WHAT THE WORLD OFFERS

IT IS FINISHED

THE SIXTH STATEMENT FROM THE CROSS WAS:

READ: JOHN 19:30 ESV

John 19:30 ESV

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

WHAT MAKES US 3 WORDS FOR US IN ENGLISH IS JUST ONE WORD IN GREEK: TETELESTAI

RIGHT NOW, THE WORK TO FORGIVE US AND SAVE US IS COMPLETED IN JESUS.

SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WE HAVE WORKED THE GROUND WHICH PRODUCED THORNS FOR US TO TRY AND BE WHO GOD CREATED US TO BE, BUT WE FALL SHORT.

IT IS ON THE CROSS THAT CHRIST COMPLETES THE WORK NECESSARY TO RETURN US TO WHAT GOD CREATED US TO BE.

HE CAME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR BROKENNESS TO REDEEM US AT OUR LOWEST AND WORST.

WE NOW REST IN HIS FINISHED WORK.

TRUST THE WAYS OF GOD

THE SEVENTH AND FINAL STATEMENT FROM THE CROSS WAS:

READ: LUKE 23:46

Luke 23:46 ESV

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

JESUS ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO THE WAYS OF THE FATHER UNTIL HIS FINAL BREATH ON THE CROSS.

HE GAVE US HIS LIFE FOR US.

WHEN YOU BELIEVE THAT NO ONE CAN SAVE AND NO ONE CARES, LOOK UP TO THE CROSS AND SEE JESUS.

HE LEADS US TO TRUST GOD’S WAYS EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE ONLY GOD CAN BRING GOOD FROM SUFFERING.

COMMUNION

WE ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR TIME TOGETHER PARTAKING COMMUNION, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS DIFFERENTLY

THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR BENEDICTION AS WE LEAVE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO IS COME FORWARD AND RECEIVE COMMUNION AT THE TABLE BEFORE THE CROSS AND EXIT IN SILENCE AS WE AWAIT SUNDAY.

YOU MANY WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME IN PRAYER BEFORE OR AFTER COMMUNION AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS, THAT’S OK, BUT OUT OF REVERENCE AND EXPECTATION, I ASK THAT AS WE LEAVE, WE DO SO IN SILENCE.

ON SUNDAY WE SING, BUT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, WE SEE HIM AND WE WAIT FOR HIM IN SILENCE.

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 ESV

PRAY

INVITE FORWARD FOR COMMUNION