A Love That Can Change Your Life

By Brian Credille

Summary: In all of the thousands of days since creation, two days stand above all the rest. Let us look at a day of destiny--the day that Jesus died.

"A Day of Destiny"

Good Afternoon. I encourage you, if you haven’t already, to get a cracker or a piece of bread and some grape juice. We will be taking communion together at the end of service today. If you would during or at the end of service would you leave a comment of your greatest takeaway or would impacted you the most today. Also I invite you to join us at 11am this Sunday for our online Easter service. If you would would you turn in your Bibles to . Today we are observing Good Friday. I want to take us back to the first Good Friday.

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 27:27–54 NIV

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Think of the thousands of days since creation. Is it possible that any day stands above the rest? During this time of year we celebrate two incredible days. One is the day that Jesus died. There were three major phases to this day that changed the world and made it possible for your life and mine to be changed:

The first phase.

I. THE HUMILIATION OF JESUS (vs.27-31).

A. Jesus had been whipped beyond belief and condemned to die. He was very weak from the beating. The beating was so severe that many victims died from the beating alone. Pieces of bone and rock were often sewn into the strands of leather that made up the whip. When the lash made contact with the victim’s skin it literally cut it open -- often to the bone. But this would not be the end of his humilitation. He must endure more for you and I.

B. Jesus was taken back into the Praetorium after being scourged (v. 27). The soldiers then gathered for sport.

C. Jesus was stripped of His clothes and a scarlet robe was placed upon Him. They mocked Him as King.

D. Jesus was spat upon. The One who had left heaven and become a man was treated in a way almost impossible to imagine.

E. Finally, they put His clothes back on Him and led Him away to His death.

The second phase.

II. THE CRUCIFIXION AND AGONY OF JESUS (27:32-46).

A. Jesus was so weakened from the beating that He could not bear the weight of the cross. Simon of Cyrene was forced to help him carry the cross.

B. We are told that Jesus would not accept the painkiller offered Him. Jesus did not seek to escape either physically or mentally. He was prepared to experience the penalty of your sin and mine to the fullest.

C. Then they crucified Him -- no details are given here. The Gospels dwell on the meaning of Jesus’ death rather than the gory details of how it was done. Crucifixion was common in that era, so readers needed no explanation. Let us pause just a moment to understand what death by crucifixion was like.

D. Nails were driven into Jesus’ hands and feet and possibly a small seat was placed on the cross for Him to straddle in order to prolong His agony. The seat was higher than the appropriate height for sitting so that the victim had to push up on the nail in the feet to reach the seat to find relief in breathing. But in time the victim would slip off of the seat again and the process would repeat itself until the victim was too weak to reach the seat and find relief in breathing. Eventually the victim died by suffocation. In short, it was a cruel and painful death.

E. They gambled for Jesus’ clothes (v. 35). His few worldly belongings were disposed of in this miserable manner.

F. Jesus suffered:

1. Physically - the beating and crucifixion

2. Verbal abuse - mocking and railing (vv. 39-44)

3. Deep Spiritual Pain - depths which we cannot fathom. He cried out in pain using the words found in .

Psalm 22:1 NIV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

This cry came at the end of 3 hours of darkness. Jesus experienced the darkness and complete alienation of mankind and from God in that moment when He cried out.

"He who knew no sin" truly "became sin" for us in that moment. (vv. 45-46)

The third phase.

III. THE DEATH OF JESUS (27:47-50).

A. When Jesus cried out some thought He had called for Elijah (v. 47)

B. He was given sour wine to drink to ease the suffering (v.48).

B. Jesus yielded up His Spirit and died. When He deemed the time appropriate, He experienced death for you and I.

C. Jesus yielded up His Spirit and died. When He deemed the time appropriate, He experienced death for you and I.

IV. THE GLORIOUS RESULT OF JESUS’ DEATH (27:51-54).

A. We are no longer separated from God. (v. 51) This glorious result was signified in the tearing of the thick veil in the Temple that separated the people from the Most Holy Place. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The separation between God and mankind has been removed. Each one of us can choose to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ!

B. Death and the Grave have been conquered. Jesus has experienced the worst life can bring and He triumphed over it all! (vv. 51-53)

C. Like the Roman centurion, you can see for yourself through God’s Word what Jesus did for you, and how much He loves you. Upon seeing the sacrifice Jesus made, the centurion confessed Jesus by saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

CONCLUSION

What keeps you from confessing Jesus Christ? Is it fear? Pride? Not understanding it all? All that you need to understand today is that Jesus loves you and died for you. Just trust in God’s written Word and take the Nail-Pierced Hand of Jesus by faith. Confess Him as the One who died for your sins and ask Him to forgive you today and to come into your life as Savior and Lord of all. He will make it real in your life and give you a life worth living. The result of that day of destiny is what God desires for you today!

Communion

Communion is something we take part in as believers to remember Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you and I. As we partake of communion we are recognizing the covenant that Jesus brought forth when He died for our sins.

Matthew 26:26–28 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26

Let’s give thanks and pray.

Dear God, thank you so much for today. Thank you for making a way for us to have forgiveness of our sins. Today we pause and remember what took place on the first Good Friday and we say thank you. I pray that we continually remember the sacrifice that was made. In Jesus Name I pray Amen.

If you would gather the elements.

Matthew 26:26–28 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Let’s partake together.

I’m praying for you. I’m praying that each of us is growing closer to the Lord. If you have any questions or would like to talk please don’t hesitate to call the church office. I hope you can join us at 11am this Sunday for our online Easter service. God Bless You and may the Lord guide you and protect you.