Good Friday Devotion

Studying the Cross

Isaiah 53:1–10 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 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. 3 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. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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? 9 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. 10 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.

Isaiah 53:3–6 ESV

3 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. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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.

ESV : 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 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. 3 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. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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? 9 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. 10 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. (ESV)

ESV : 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 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. 3 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. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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? 9 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. 10 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. (ESV)

These words were written by the prophet Isaiah over 800 years before the events of Good Friday took place. But it’s easy to see that this is unlikely a mere coincidence. While Jewish scholars have long argued about the identity of the one spoken of in , it is without question that what happened to Jesus seem to match up almost exactly.

These words were written by the prophet Isaiah over 800 years before the events of Good Friday took place. But it’s easy to see that this is unlikely a mere coincidence. While Jewish scholars have long argued about the identity of the one spoken of in , it is without question that what happened to Jesus seem to match up almost exactly.

5 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. 6 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.

Think about what the Prophet was saying here and ask yourself, how could the pain and suffering of one bring healing to another? How could one man carry the iniquity of us all?

6 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. 7 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.

Now, think about the reason that Jesus came to die. Have you ever wondered why it had to be this way? Is it because “we have all gone astray and are in need of a savior.” He willingly died for us. For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 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.

Jesus was crucified between 2 criminals, but it is odd that this speaks of a rich man giving up his tomb. These were people who often considered the tombs of their fathers as more important that their own sons. To give up ones place of burial is ridiculous, but that’s exactly what happened in the case of Jesus when one of His secret followers, a member of the Jewish ruling class named Joseph of Arimethea, gave up his tomb for Jesus. Jesus of course would only need it for a few days.

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul

Let me make this clear, the son of God dying on a cross was no mere accident. It wasn’t a fluke by ignorant men who didn’t know what they were doing. This was the very will of God. The Apostle John will tell us that Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Is it possible that Christ’s crucifixion was always plan A to save the world? And Jesus was a willing participant!!!!!

But Isaiah goes further to tell us something startling and likely made any reader of this think he was crazy. So this man he writes about dies…he’s laid in a rich man’s tomb…crushed…stricken…better off as though he had never been born…yet…after the offering for guilt is made, get this!!!!! He will see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. There is only one way this is possible, if the death of this man was only temporary and if he would rise from the dead.

So 800 years before the crucifixion took place (an event that no credible historian denies, by the way) you have an exact play by play of what took place on Good Friday 2000 years ago. It is unlikely that this is a coincidence.

But this also tells us that God planned it for our good.

So what’s so good about good friday? It’s not that we are good. It was our sin that put Jesus there. but that God is good!

1. Studying the Bible Assumes that it is true.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

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.

2. Studying the Bible helps us to better understand who God is and what He is like.

3. Studying the Bible helps us to see that we are part of a bigger story and that while we aren’t the main character, we still have a part to play.

On this good friday, may you remember the goodness of God on full display at the cross and if you haven’t yet already, would you turn to Jesus, acknowledging your sin, and recognize that Jesus paid it all. But even then the story is over. 3 Days later Jesus, he burst forth in glorious spendor showing his victory over sin and death.

Don’t forget to join us Sunday morning online as we celebrate the resurrected Jesus. You can join us at 9:00 a.m for Bible study on Zoom, 10:30 for worship at our Youtube Channel and then a live check-in on zoom immediately following the service. These links will be provided in an email, but if you don’t get those emails please email us so we can put you on our list.

God’s word will change your life if you let it, so don’t be afraid to dive in.