GOOD FRIDAY – SEVEN WONDERFUL WORDS
OPENING TEXT:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
CHRONOLOGY OF GOOD FRIDAY:
1:00 am Jesus’ Prayer and Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
(Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-45; John 18:1).
1:30 am Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested.
(Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-11).
2:00 am Trial 1: Irregular, unauthorized trial at Annas’ house. (Annas = ex-high priest
of the Jews). (John 18:13-23).
3:00 am Trial 2: Unofficial trial at Caiaphas’ palace. They asked Jesus, “Are you the
Christ?” He said, “I am.” Then Jesus was mocked, beaten and spat upon. He is
betrayed by Peter. (Caiaphas = the high priest). (Matthew 26:57-68; John 18:24).
6:00 am Trial 3: Formal, official trial before Sanhedrin in their chamber. (Sanhedrin =
Jewish council of 70 ruling men). (Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71).
6:30 am Trial 4: First interrogation by Pilate. (Pilate = governor of Judea). Pilate says,
"I find no guilt in this man." (Matt. 27:1-2;11-14; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38).
7:00 am Trial 5: Audience / mockery before Herod Antipas. Herod put a robe on Jesus
and mocked him (Herod = governor of Galilee). (Luke 23:8-12).
7:30 am Trial 6: Final judgment of Pilate. Pilate wants to let him go but they demand
crucifixion. (Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:23-24; John 19:16).
8:00 am Jesus is scourged by the Roman soldiers in the Praetorium (court). He is
scourged; crown of thorns. (Matt. 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-19; John 19:1-3).
9:00 am Jesus forced to carry his cross, then He is crucified.
(Matt. 27:31-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:16-17).
12:00 noon Momentous final three hours on the cross. (All Gospels).
3:00 pm The Death of Jesus. (All Gospels).
BIG IDEA: On this Good Friday, we are going to meditate upon Christ’s Words from the Cross, with the prayer that they will reveal to us something of the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus.
QUOTE: “It is fitting that every word of our Lord upon the cross should be gathered up and preserved. (They) have frequently been the subject of devout meditation.” (Charles Spurgeon).
1. THE FIRST WORD: FORGIVENESS:
“Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
• The first word speaks FORGIVENESS to us. Amazing grace!
• The Good News of the Gospel – through Jesus death on the Cross, we are forgiven!
2. THE SECOND WORD: SALVATION & HOPE:
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.” (Luke 23:39-44).
• This second word speaks HOPE – it’s never too late, and no one is ever too far gone!
• If you’re believing God for the salvation of a family member, never give up.
3. THE THIRD WORD: FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS:
“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Woman, he is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “She is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27).
• This third word speaks about the importance of FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
4. THE FOURTH WORD: SUBSTITUTION:
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).
• This fourth word speaks of SUBSTITUTION. On the Cross, Jesus became our substitute, took our sin upon Him, gave us His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21).
• Because God forsook Jesus on the Cross, God will never leave or forsake us!
5. THE FIFTH WORD: HUMANITY AND SUFFERING:
“Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I thirst.” (John 19:28-29).
• This fifth word is a picture of the HUMANITY OF JESUS.
• Because God became a man in the person of Jesus, He got hungry, tired, and thirsty
• “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
6. THE SIXTH WORD: VICTORY AND GRACE:
“Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!” (John 19:29-30).
• This sixth word is a picture of God’s GRACE.
• When Jesus said, "It is finished," He had paid the price for our salvation!
• We are going to heaven only because Jesus has taken our punishment for us.
QUOTE:
“‘It is finished!’ This shout of triumph rings with all the freshness and force of when He spoke it. The satisfaction He rendered to the justice of God was finished. The debt was now, to the last penny, all discharged. The atonement and propitiation were made once and for all and forever—by the one offering made in Jesus’ body on the Tree. There was the cup, Hell was in it, the Savior drank it—not a sip and then a pause—not a draught and then a ceasing. He drained it till there is not a dreg left for any of His people.” (Charles Spurgeon).
7. THE SEVENTH WORD: CONFIDENCE:
“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” (Luke 23:46-48).
• This last word is the CONFIDENCE that all of God’s children have when they die.
• If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you WILL be saved!
CLOSING TEXT:
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13).
ALTAR CALL FOR SALVATION:
What does the death that Jesus died on the Cross mean for us today?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!”
COMMUNION: Pastor Alvin
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
