Call to worship - Psalm 139
For God so Loved the World – Good Friday – 19 April 2019
Introduction
For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the conclusive turning point for all creation.
Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
• The Romans perfected crucifixion as punishment designed for maximum pain and suffering!
• It wasn’t only about killing.
• It was about draining the victim’s life out of them in a slow and tortuous way!
• It was also the most disgraceful form of execution!
• It was usually reserved for the vilest of criminals
• Crucifixion was not something new.
• Thousands of people were crucified before and after the death of Jesus.
• So why was the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross so unique?
I want to cover several facts or truths about Good Friday that will help us to understand why this crucifixion is of such great importance.
1. Jesus’ death was accompanied by supernatural events
This was no ordinary day in the life of a Roman execution.
Matthew 27: 54 - When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Darkness
While hanging on the cross a thick darkness developed over the land. Such darkness was described in both Matthew and Mark’s gospel’s
Matthew 27: 45 - From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
Mark 15: 33 - At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
This darkness was so noticeable that there was no denying when it began and when it ended.
The darkness that came over the land was not a natural event but a supernatural event. You do get natural events such as thunderstorms and a solar eclipse.
Such events do not fit the historical descriptions of that day.
Storms can cause partial darkness but never complete darkness. An eclipse can also cause darkness, for a few minutes but never for 3 hours.
Historical evidence is also clear that Jesus was crucified around Friday the 14th in the month of Nisan during the Jewish Passover.
Nisan is a spring month of 30 days between March & April.
Now Jewish Passovers occur in accordance with a full moon calendar. So, an eclipse was impossible as the moon was on the far side of the earth away from the sun.
The Veil, The Earthquake
Matthew 27: 51-52 - At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
The Veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the temple where men dwelt.
This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7) to enter into God's presence for all of Israel and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).
The tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus' death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.
The earthquake. Believe it or not such an earthquake occurred. According to Discovery News, a new report in the International Geology Review claims that, based on earthquake activity at the Dead Sea near Jerusalem, Jesus was most likely crucified on a Friday, in April, in the year 33.
Annual layers of deposition in the sediments near the Red Sea reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and a seismic event that happened sometime between the years 31 and 36 BC.
Breaking open of tombs and the dead being raised – this speaks for itself. This was a supernatural event.
2. Jesus stood accused of the guilt of all mankind
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked the Father to take this cup from Him.
Matthew 26: 39 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
What was in this cup? We find the answer in Scripture:
Isaiah 53: 6 - We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2 Corinthians 5: 21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Isaiah 53: 5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
In the cup were the sins of every person – past, present and future. Jesus who was sinless was would take on the sins of mankind.
As Jesus braced himself for the worst experience and death ever, He surrendered His will to the Father as we read in Luke 22: 42 – “yet not my will, but yours be done.”
3. Jesus endured the wrath of God
God is a God of love, but part of His love is His justice. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. The reason why is because sin has been the downfall of many for thousands of years.
The subject of God’s wrath is sin. As Jesus became the sin of man, he experienced the wrath of God.
Not only was Jesus dealing with the physical pain but also the emotional and spiritual pain.
In Matthew 27:46 we have what must be the most staggering sentence in the gospel record, the cry of Jesus: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" That is a saying before which we must bow in reverence, and yet at the same time we must try to understand.
When Jesus took the sins of the world, the Father turned His face away from His Son Jesus. In those moments Jesus was separated from God. Never before had the Son been separated from the Father.
John 10: 30 – Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”
Even when he walked this earth in human form, Jesus was always connected to the Father.
Here we see the consequences of sin, separation from God. When we go back to the Garden of Gethsemane, we now get a better picture of the cup that Jesus was referring to.
Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing
God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil, and all the evil of the human race was concentrated like a laser beam on Jesus that day: every lie, every word of gossip, every lustful thought and deed, every bit of hatred in the heart, every bit of laziness, every evil action and reaction was all on Jesus.
And God turned away. For the first time ever, the Father looked away from the Son.
4. Jesus gave up his own life
Do you know that there are many who deny the death and resurrection of Jesus? There are all kinds of theories about what happened on Good Friday.
There are people who believe that Jesus could not have risen on Sunday because he didn’t really die on Friday. Some people that Jesus was sleeping when they took him down from the cross.
Jesus died that Friday. Let’s face a few facts. Jesus’ death started in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Luke 22: 44 – And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
The blood vessels in His eyes burst in the sweat glands of His eyes.
This a medically proven occurrence which is called “Hematidrosis”. It is a rare medical occurrence when people experience great anguish.
After this Jesus experienced unthinkable torture.
The Scourge (The flogging)
The flogging was done to physically weaken the victim. The whip was a short-handled whip with leather strands with metal, bone and porcelain on the ends.
The romans called it the “cat-of-nine-tails” as it normally had nine strands. The victim would normally receive no less than 40 lashes.
The first few strikes would tear through the skin. After the outer layers are gone the whip would tear through the muscles and the tendons while at the same time ripping through the blood vessels that supplied those tissues. Most men never survived the scourge.
The Crown of Thorns
The Thorns on the soldier made crown were long and sharp. There is much speculation around the plant type origin of the “crown of thorns”.
What is important to note is the damage it caused.
Medical doctors will concur that the scalp is the most vascular part of the body with a huge blood supply.
As the crown of thorns was pushed down on his head it would have resulted in huge blood lose. This was no small injury as some might think.
Carrying the cross
Scripture tells us how Jesus carried his own cross to the place of the skull which scholars estimate would have been about 2km’s.
In most cases the victim would only carry the cross section over their shoulders. We aren’t 100% certain if it was the full cross or just the cross section.
What is important to note is that when Jesus fell down on his way to Golgotha, with a weakening body he would have caused more bodily damage as he would have fallen flat on his chest. In addition, the crowds spat at him and threw stones at he.
The Nails
The nails were between 6 to 8 inches long. Many questions have been asked about where the nails were placed. If it was in the center of the hand, the shear weight of Jesus body would have resulted in the nails pulling through the tissue of the hands and Jesus would have fallen off the cross.
Medically scholars believe that the nails went through the wrist which is still part of the hand. The wrist would have been the most secure place to drive the nails and to hold the weight of his body.
The wrist however would have been the most painful place as the medium nerve runs through the wrist. When the nails were driven through the wrist it would have resulted in the medium nerve being damage or completely destroyed which would have caused huge pain.
There is also a tendon that runs from the wrist to the shoulders.
Every time Jesus took a breath, he would have felt excruciating pain.
To top it off, both his feet were nailed together which would have forced him to support his weight on a single nail. Because of the torn tendons in his shoulder he would have had to use his back muscles to support himself.
The Spear
Even if Jesus survived the crucifixion, he would never have survived the spear which was driven into his side.
John 19: 33-35 - But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
Firstly, if you do a bit of research you will discover that if the heart cavity is punched while you are alive, only blood will flow. But if you were already dead and the cavity is punched then, blood and water will flow, because the blood and water separate’s after death.
Secondly, “The Roman soldiers”, these men were killing machines… Skilled at inflicting death. I mentioned that one of them put a spear into Jesus’ side to make sure he was dead… There’s a reason for that.
In ancient Rome: if a roman soldier took a criminal off the cross before he was dead, the Roman soldier had to take his place on the cross. Therefore, is it likely or in any way believable that the Roman guards would have taken Jesus off the cross before he was REALLY dead? knowing that they would have to take his place? No
Did he really die?
Jesus really died on that Friday afternoon. Can you imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering and the courage Jesus had to endured for 3 hours?
Despite all that he felt and suffered, none of that killed Jesus.
For centuries Christians have been blaming the Jewish nation and the Romans of old for kill our Saviour.
John 10:18 - No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Luke 23: 46 - Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Despite the fact that he carried the sins of the world, he chose the time that he would entrust his life into the hands of the Father.
5. Jesus had the power to save himself
Jesus was still God as he hung on the cross. He was still the Almighty, the Alpha & the Omega, He was still the creator of all things.
Colossians 1:16 – For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Yet he did not use his divine power to save himself.
Just image, by the flick of his fingers he could have crushed those who were crucifying him and removed himself from all danger. In an instance He could have returned to the Father and left us to own on this rebellious planet.
As Jesus hung on the cross the onlookers jeered him, Mark 15:30 - come down from the cross and save yourself!”
Isaiah 53: 7 - He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
6. Jesus’ death is the key to eternal life
Romans 6: 23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of our sin a death sentence rests over our heads but because of the amazing sacrifice of God’s one and only son, Jesus our redeemer has taken our death sentence upon himself so we can be free as we accept Him as Lord and Saviour.
Galatians 3: 13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Romans 8: 1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
1 John 5: 11 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son
It’s amazing how biblical scholars have debated over the centuries – which is more important – Jesus death or His resurrection?
Both Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead are equally important; they cannot be separated from each other.
Without Jesus’ death, we have no hope of God’s forgiveness; and without Jesus’ resurrection, we have no hope of eternal life. Like the two wings of an airplane, both are essential!
7. Jesus’ death is the greatest evidence of the Father’s love
John 3: 16 – I believe this to be the greatest verse in the entire Bible. It is the best loved and best-known verse. There are only 25 words in this verse, yet no other single verse in all the Scriptures has been as blessed in the salvation of so many souls.
Martin Luther fondly referred to this verse as the “Miniature Gospel”.
- It has been called the gospel in a nutshell
- It has been called a love letter from God written in the blood of Jesus and addressed to all
If there was ever a verse in the bible that Satan would love to blot out, it would be John 3:16
Let us read it together.
John 3: 16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Let’s break this verse down.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD - Walter Wilson said, “No one in the entire world could possibly love everyone in the world.
In fact, most people find it difficult just to love some of their relatives. But God, with His great heart of love, loves every individual in the whole world, despite their faults.”
HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON - John’s point is this – God loved the world so much that he GAVE. God’s love had a result – and that was the sending of His Son.
Love leads to action. Here God gets an A++. God’s giving cost Him something. Could you stand in a window of your house and watch an angry mob spit on, beat, abuse, and kill your son with the power to stop it in an infinity of a second’s notice.
God could have stopped it but HE GAVE... Because he loved and for us.
THAT WHOSOEVER - This means all. All have sinned and all need a Savior. It means any who will sin. It means you and me.
BELIEVETH - The word "believe" with its various endings occur 100 times in John. Believeth denies salvation by any other way but by faith. It denies good works as a means of salvation.
IN HIM - Acts 4:12 and I John 5:12 show us that salvation is in a Person and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not found in believing in the preacher, the church, a good Christian, but in Christ.
SHOULD NOT PERISH - Whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish eternally in hell but make heaven their eternal home. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE - Life is mentioned 36 times in the Book of John. Notice how John 3: 16 begins with the word GOD and ends with word LIFE.
Everlasting life is not just eternal existence because if that were the case, the devil and all sinners would have it. What is everlasting life? It is having eternal life with Jesus.
Salvation prayer
We need to have a living and loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe you are one of those people who think that God is not paying attention. Maybe you are one of those people who think God cannot help. You are wrong. God’s love and provision is available right here and right now. The word says that we have a choice between life and death. Gods wants us to have life, and life in its fullness. If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, I would encourage you to make that decision today. While all eyes are closed, if you want me to include you in my prayer this morning, please just raise your hand.
Prayer after me:
Dear God, I am sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord and my Saviour and friend. Help me to follow you all the days of my life as your disciple. Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. In Jesus name. Amen
