Tenebrae - Good Friday

Roughly 700 years before Jesus stepped onto the scene, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words - which I believe are written about Jesus.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 ESV

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 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. 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. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Tonight, as we’ve reflected on the crucifixion and death of Jesus, we’ve considered how he was betrayed, tried, and beaten. But this Isaiah passage, along with many others we could consider, help us to understand why he endured all that.

He did this for God’s Glory

In the opening verse we considered, Isaiah, speaking on behalf of God, refers to “my servant.” Just as a servant works to accomplish the will of his or her master, Jesus willingly condescended - willingly became like us - so that he could glorify God in this way.

He did this for us - for humanity

Isaiah tells us it was our griefs he bore, it was our iniquities. He did this as a propitiation or a replacement - an exchange.

He took on himself the just judgment, the death that we each deserve.

His death is not simply a benevolent act. His death is a complete fulfillment of the law of God. All of the sacrifices that were required - were completed in him.

This is, I believe, why Jesus was able to say on the cross:

John 19:30 “...“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

These three words represent one word in Greek. But this is not like the completion of a project or an assignment. It’s not like when we weed our yards - it is finished until the weeds grow back, which is the next day.

No, when Jesus said this word he essentially meant: “It is finished and always will be.” There is nothing more to be done. There is no more need for sacrifice. His perfect life bore our imperfect sin forever.

As we already sang - “Jesus paid it all.”

The means by which we obtain his “Paid in full sacrifice” is by faith - believing.

If you’ve not entrusted your life to Jesus finished work - I pray that you will. Believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved.

There is hope.

This passage in Isaiah gives us some insight into what the servant of the Lord (Jesus) would endure and the why, but it also concludes with a sense of hope.

Isaiah 53:12 “...yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

In these few words - we get a clue into the resurrection. He bore our sin through his death, but makes intercession because of the resurrection. That is what we will celebrate on Sunday.

For tonight, we get to reflect on all that Jesus did for us. He paid our debt. He bore our sin. He took our curse. We get to sit in the gloom and the darkness of his death, but we are not without hope.

(Were you there)