Good Good Friday

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

[Sermon Intro]

INTRODUCTION

Why Good Friday? Why do we call this Friday, good? This is the day that we see Christ dying on the cross.

grieving over their assumed loss. But then we’re faced with a hopeless and depressing gospel message.

A day of remembrance like this would be called a Mourning Friday, for that is what the disciples were doing, grieving over their assumed loss. But then we’re faced with a hopeless and depressing gospel message.

In some churches, for Good Friday, they cover all of their statues, pictures, and crosses with black cloth to symbolize the mourning they’re remembering. What’s so good about that?

I’ve read that 1. The word good used to have a secondary meaning of holy. That’s getting better! But still, what’s so holy about death?

Especially God’s Son!? I would rather call this day Holy Friday, for the word holy, applied to this day, has a much more better meaning.

Some others of you have probably asked yourself that same question this Easter season, or during other Easters: Why do we call Good Friday, good?

We ask that question and wonder about the word ‘good’ because all we see is an old form of execution, a man dying on a cross, a man that is supposed to be God’s Son, our Savior -- God in the flesh -- and yet he’s dying.

What do we see? As the body of Christ, church of the living God.

What do you see today? When you think of Good Friday, what do you see? What you see on Good Friday will determine how you answer this question: Why call Good Friday, good?

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

says,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Here is the beginning of our solution, or answer. 2. It’s a matter of perspective. So I believe that it matters how you see this day.

This Good Friday, this sacrifice on the cross -- or as we read, 3. “The message of the cross” -- is foolish to those who don’t know Christ or understand His perspective, or His purpose.

his Good Friday, this sacrifice on the cross -- or as we read, “the message of the cross” -- is foolish to those who don’t know Christ or understand His perspective, or His purpose.

They see it as a foolish sacrifice; how can you give up your life for someone? Why would you? But to us who are being saved, we understand His teaching and His life, which lays in complete difference opinion to those opinions and perspectives of the world.

We understand why He did what He did.

“He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Cor. 1:28-29

“He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Cor. 1:28-29

So there IS something that we’re not seeing.

explains what that is,

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

25but the word of the Lord stands forever."

In other words, suffering and death last for only a short while. 4. Physical death does not last long compared to eternity. To us, however, it feels like forever. But there is a life that will last forever.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Our eyes are so consumed with the physical realm; we see only a death; we see only blood shed; we see a dying man -- and we ask, FOR WHAT? What is this accomplishing? Why this needless pain and suffering -- and a dead Savior?

[Illustration]

Max Lucado (as found in his ‘God’s Inspirational Promise Book’, but written for his book, ‘In the Eye of the Storm’), told this fictional story of an angel trying to find another way for salvation:

“He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side…Arrogant, cocky.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill…Faces tear streaked.

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poise to protect. But the Creator gave no command. ‘It must be done…,” he said, and withdrew.

The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful…”

The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn’t be love.”

5. So good Friday is Good because of what Christ’s death is accomplishing for us, that why we call this day good.

It’s because of what Christ’s death is accomplishing for us, that we can call this day good.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ”

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Christ was teaching His disciples in this passage a holy principle, a principle not of this world.

6. Jesus told them that greatness comes through serving.

That’s not what we naturally see. We see service as demeaning, whereas being served is a measure of success.

7. Christ came to give Himself up; He came to serve; His prominent characteristic was that of humility.

And He’s telling us today to do the same. He’s shown us the best way, the holy way, the GOOD way, which is the path opposite of the way we naturally want to go.

And yet we ask ourselves, why is this day called Good? Well it depends on the way we see it.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.”

He was wounded for US!! Do you usually see that? What do you see this Good Friday? Do you see a man, the Son of God, your Savior simply dying on a cross for sins?

Or do you see Jesus Christ dying on the cross for you -- specifically for you -- because He loves you? He’s dying for your sins, for your forgiveness, for your life. Do you see His love for you?

There’s a story in the Bible about Jesus having this conversation with a rich man. The rich man was asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. And with what Jesus said to cause the rich man to go away sad, is what I missed.

What emotions do you think Jesus was feeling? I would immediately think disgusted.

But then I decided to look at the passage in Mark.

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.

I felt so humbled and loved in that moment of revelation. He looks at us and loves us!!

John states that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. He says that this is how we know what love is: that Christ laid down his life for us.

There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

And look real close to this one:

says,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

WHILE we were STILL sinners …Even without obeying Him, He’ll still give up His life for us…how deep is His love for us!

8. He didn’t care whether or not we were willing to accept His sacrifice and salvation because He cared about us; He valued us and showed us His love…while we were still sinners.

So tonight folks during this Good Friday and Easter time-- do not miss Christ’s love, His intense, unending, undying, undeniable, indescribable, eternal love that He has for you.

People, during this Good Friday -- & Easter -- do not miss Christ’s love, his intense, unending, undying, undeniable, indescribable, eternal love that he has for you.

Whether you call this day GOOD, HOLY, MOURNING, but you’re faced with a self-sacrificing Savior whose love for you caused Him to put Himself in our place.

Good Friday is not a day of celebration but of mourning, both for the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that His death represents.

Good Friday is not a day of celebration but of mourning, both for the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that his death represents. Yet, although Friday is a solemn time, it is not without its own joy. For while it is important to place the Resurrection against the darkness of Good Friday, likewise the somberness of Good Friday should always be seen with the hope of Resurrection Sunday. As the well- known sermon title vividly illustrates: "It’s Friday. But Sunday’s a’comin’!"

Yet, although Friday is a solemn time, it is not without its own joy. For while it is important to place the Resurrection against the darkness of Good Friday, also 9. The somberness of Good Friday should always be seen with the hope of Resurrection Sunday.

As the well- known sermon title vividly illustrates: "It’s Friday. But Sunday’s a’comin’!"

Play the video It’s Friday but Sunday is coming