Christ's Words From The Cross Series

GOOD FRIDAY - CHRIST’S WORDS FROM THE CROSS

(April 2010 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)

BACKGROUND TO THE CRUCIFIXION:

“26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when Pilate had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. 32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull.” (Matthew 27:26-33).

QUOTE:

“Before the scourging began, Jesus was stripped of His garments and bent low over a low post, with wrists and ankles shackled into that position. The instrument used for scourging was a piece of wood fourteen to eighteen inches long, circular in shape, to which were attached long, leather thongs. Into these leather thongs or straps were sewn bits of glass, bone and metal…The flagellum was brought all the way back and whistled forward, making a dull drum sound as the strips of leather smashed against the back of the rib cage…It was designed to reduce the naked body to strips of raw flesh and inflamed, bleeding wounds. It was not uncommon for a man to die on the stump…It is easy to forget that Jesus was tortured, brutalized, and mistreated for an extended period of time before He was led to the place of execution. He had become so marked and swollen that His individual features were scarcely distinguishable…

Jesus was not a helpless victim of fate. He was not a pitiful martyr…Planned by God so that you and I might have our sins forgiven, the death of Jesus opened the pathway to Heaven – a pathway prepared and paved with His blood.” (Charles Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn).

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).

THE 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.

1. “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. “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. “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. “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, and took our sin upon Him, and gave us His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21).