Good Friday-2022

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Giving

New?

I want to look at this story through the lens of 3 different groups:

The Religious Leaders

Luke 22:66–71 NIV

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back for them. They dragged him right off to Pilate, and demanded that Pilate crucify Him.

They heard the truth, and refused to believe it

The worst part is - these things were a perfect confirmation of everything they had hoped for for CENTURIES. They had been raised on prophesies about the Messiah. The entire OT bends itself towards this Coming King

But Jesus wasn’t what they wanted, exactly.

He opposed their way of ruling - they were overbearing, they denied justice, they were cruel

He got in the way of their plans - they focused on themselves, their way of doing things led people away from God

He threatened their authority - they built themselves a tiny throne, and they liked it.

Jesus came up against THEIR problems, and they chose to say, ‘no, no way, I’m not accepting this’.

Jesus came to this world to stand up against your problems-on your behalf

Each one of these things that Jesus opposed was POISON to the lives of the pharisees. It led them away from God, and life with God was the only real kind of life.

Jesus came to oppose your problems. To stand up against the things that are trying to take you out - even the parts of yourself.

But he fights FOR you. Even on the cross, He’s taking a punishment MEANT for us, so that He can free us.

The Romans

Luke 23:13–17 NIV

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

Later,

Luke 23:20–25 NIV

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

And one last little bit,

Luke 23:35–38 NIV

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

They accepted the truth - but it didn’t matter to them

They don’t even argue with it here. They have a man who was presented as the king of the jews, and they go, ‘ya, we don’t really see anything WRONG with him per-se.’

And I’ve seen lots of people say that. Ya, Jesus was a good man, good teacher. I wouldn’t say there was anything WRONG with him.

Truth that doesnt grow is truth that isn’t planted

If it doesn’t change you or move you, it hasn’t gotten in you.

STORY - FIRE ALARM AT CONFERENCE. All get up and walk out orderly. Imagine one guy sitting there. Ya, I know it’s a fire. I understand! I see the smoke, etc etc. BUT WHY AREN’T YOU MOVING?

But the thing is, Jesus wants more from us than just awareness.

He doesn’t want you to just know the truth - He wants you to live the truth

Jesus didn’t come to earth with designs to write an instruction manual. He didn’t come to teach us some stuff with the world’s best powerpoint presentation.

He came with a truth that was a radical way of life. It’s not supposed to be just facts, it’s meant to be lived. It’s meant to change us, to guide us.

The Criminals

Luke 23:32–34 NIV

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:39–43 NIV

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It’s in the character of God that the religious rulers and the political rulers are both the BAD examples, and the criminals are the GOOD examples.

In both criminals, you see people who know the truth and accept it - but with one difference

The first one is straight and to the point - aren’t you the messiah? Don’t you have power to get past this? Can’t you bring yourself down? So do it! Show you power, work your wonders, and save me!

You can tell his real priorities here. This isn’t an intellectual exercise. He’s not bothered that, on paper, Jesus COULD save himself. He’s hanging there with Him, and He wants to see some of that power poured out to get him out of a bad situation.

He looks at Jesus, and he thinks - how can this benefit me? What is Jesus going to do for ME?

But the second criminal, he does something radical. He’s transparent about his failings (EXPLAIN), he knows the truth about Jesus (he’s done nothing wrong!). And if he knows that much, he certainly knows and has probably seen what Jesus can do for him.

But he does something for Jesus instead. He sticks up for him. rebukes the other guy. Throws himself under the bus (we are being punished justly).

And he tells Jesus, WHEN you come into your kingdom, remember me. And that’s more than, hey, give me a shout out.

He’s saying, I see you hanging on that cross there - and I know it’s not the end. I know you have a kingdom to bring.

He sees past the temporary, past the natural, towards an eternal and supernatural reality. And He knows that Jesus has his plan - and that’s good enough.

In response, Jesus offers that man paradise - that day

See, Jesus came to earth to stand up against our problems, to die for them.

He also came to earth to offer us a truth that changes us, and transforms us.

But He also came to earth to offer us paradise. Eternity. Reconnection with God through forgiveness in the cross.

And we’ll talk more about that on Sunday.

But today, we’ll make that same invite that Jesus made:

Do we want to be with Him in Paradise?

PRAY the Lords prayer, walk people through it

Matthew 6:9–13 NIV

“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’