Good Friday 2022

He Saved Others

Matthew 27:35–44 (NKJV)

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS

Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

As Jesus was being crucified, he was reviled by the very crowds that demanded his death.

“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

“Save yourself!

“Come down from the cross.”

“He cannot save himself.”

“Let him come down now from the cross...”

“Let God deliver him now...”

He Could Not Save Himself

The revilers were right!

Jesus couldn’t save himself.

Not because of his inability, but because of his willingness to suffer death on behalf of us!

John 10:17–18 NKJV

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Jesus willingly and obediently laid down his life!

John 12:27–28 NKJV

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

Though Jesus’ soul was troubled at his impending crucifixion, he knew this was the very reason he had come into the world.

And this was for the glory of the Father!

Matthew 20:27–28 NKJV

And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus Sacrificed His Life

Jesus gave up all of his heavenly rights to serve the Father’s purposes for humanity–to give his life as a ransom.

Jesus could not have saved himself from the cross without forfeiting the salvation of the world.

His obedience to the Father’s will was a CHOICE!

Matthew 26:39 NKJV

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus’ obedience was unto death

Hebrews 5:5–10 NKJV

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

Jesus offered “vehement cries and tears” God who WAS able to save him from death, yet, he obediently suffered for our sake.

The cross was meant for us!

The grave was meant for us!

But, God in Christ wold have no part of it!

Jesus absorbed the judgment of God s owe would be forgiven and given new life.

Communion

Matthew 27:45–51 NKJV

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

In John’s gospel this last cry is:

“It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."

The debt is paid.

These sins can never be punished again since that would violate God’s justice. Sins can only be punished once, either by a substitute or by yourself.