IT’S FRIDAY BUT SUNDAY IS COMING
On December the 7th 1941 the Japanese raided Pearl Harbor. This was a defining moment in American history. The U.S. fleet was reachable by an aircraft carrier force only. The Japanese planes attacked just before 8am. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Most of the combat planes were knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. But that was December 7th 1941 but August 6 1945 was coming.
On Friday Jesus stood before his accusers. The chief priests and the scribes wanted to Kill Jesus. He was a disturbance to the people. The religious leaders would seek to accuse him of anything that would cause him to be put to death. So they accumulated some false witnesses to testify falsely concerning his work. But they testimony was not consistent so therefore would not be convincing. People heard him say that he could destroy the temple and raise it up in three days. The priests were pushing him to say something. But Christ just stood there silent. He had no reason for speaking. In the Jewish law one did not have to testify. He could choose to remain silent. Finally, Christ states that he is God and he is coming back. With this saying the Priest declared him to be guilty and worthy of death. And then some of them began to mistake him. They wanted him dead and here was their chance. Mark 14: 65 “And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.” But today its Friday but Sunday is coming.
But the Jews knew that did not have the power to crucify someone. So they had to take him to Pilate to receive his approval. Pilate does not want to be involved in this affair. He is not in good standing with the Jews nor with Roman. Caesar sent Pilate to Palestine to keep the peace in the region but ever since Pilate became governor peace was never realized. Pilate attempts to question Christ. Once again Christ was silent before his accusers. The Priests were throwing harsh accusations against him and he remained silent. Isaiah 53: 7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”
Pilate even tries to appease the Jews by freeing one of the criminals for the Passover as was the custom. Pilate gives the people the choice between an insurrectionist named Barabbas and Christ. But the people cry out for Christ to be killed. Pilate was perplexed. He did not know why the Jewish people were against this man so much. What did he do that caused the Priest to so adamantly want his blood to be shed? Pilate could see that this man was innocent and he wished to release him but the people shouted all the more to Crucify Him. Pilate did not want to cause another riot or disturbance in Jerusalem so he gave into public pressure and sent Christ away to be killed. Mark 15: 15 “And wishing to satisfy the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” But today its Friday but Sunday is coming.
Poor Christ, his disciple Judas has betrayed him. Peter has denied him. His Disciples have fled from Him. And now he is all alone to face death. He prayed in the garden for strength during these final six hours on Friday. He needs help. But there he is, treated like a criminal while he is the Son of God. How could man kill his God? But today is Friday but Sunday is coming.
Now the soldiers are going to treat him like dirt or worse than dirt. They are going to beat him, hit him, spit on him, and mock him. They are going to dress him up like a king so that they can despise him. The place purple on him because this is the kingly color. You can picture these soldiers laughing and taunting Christ. They are sarcastically teasing him. The king of earth has become a joke to his creation. Creation taunts the Creator. Mark 15: 16-20 “And the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. And they dressed Him up in purple, and after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting at Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.” All of this is done on Friday but they do not realize that Sunday is coming.
Now Christ is lead out to the Via Dolorosa. This is what the road is called that Christ had to walk with his cross to the place of his crucifixion. It is a near street in Jerusalem paved with dirt and rocks. You can picture the beaten and bloodied Savior taking weak steps towards his death. He is falling and is in agony. His knees are scraping the ground that he made with his Father. Christ is so weak that the soldiers recruit a travel to help him bear the Cross. Mark 15: 21 “And they pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross.” This road has the blood of the savior in its ground. But this walk was on Friday, but Sunday is still coming-- still coming.
In the movie the Gladiator, Maximus was a powerful Roman General. But Commodus kills his father Marcus Aurelius and assumes the role of Caesar. Knowing that Maximus is a threat to his rule, he sends some soldiers to murder him. But Maximus escapes and becomes a slave who becomes a Gladiator. Commodus feels that he is in complete control and he has all the power. But Maximus becomes more powerful than the Caesar himself. At the end of the movie Maximus fights Commodus and has his revenge for Commodus killing his wife and son that he loved.
Satan is now laughing during these hours. They are rejoicing in hell over the coming death of Christ. The soldiers lead Christ to Golgotha now. This is called the place of the Skull. Then the soldiers started to play games at the foot of the Cross. This is the most important event in human history and all the soldiers were worried about was some old clothes. As Christ was hanging on the cross, the crowds were walking by and hurling abuse at him. They were wagging their heads as they mocked him. These states that he saved others but cannot even save him self now. Christ knowing that he could call down twelve thousand angels but he puts up with this abuse and nasty comments because he has to save humanity. But today its Friday but Sunday is coming.
Listen to the words of Mark 15:22-32 “And they brought^ Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. And they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified Him. And the inscription of the charge against Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." And they crucified^ two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors." And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. "Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" And those who were crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him.” But it’s Friday but Sunday is coming.
Also, on Friday at the sixth hour darkness falls over the whole land. This darkness lasted for 3 whole hours. Even creation groaned over the death of its creator. The Lord leaves the present of his son because he has taken the sins of the world upon himself. God cries out “My God My God, why have you forsaken me?” This is the scream of separation. This is the first time in history that the trinity has been broken apart. For all of time the trinity was in perfect togetherness and harmony and now God breaks the bonds of unity to save humanity. But this cry causes confusion in the crowds. The people think that he is hoping the Elijah was maybe save him. But today it’s Friday but Sunday is coming.
Finally, Jesus gives his life up. He breathes is last and the awful deed was done. Man has murdered his Savior. Man has rejected his hope. Man has killed his creator. The death of Christ has come. The world is thrown into chaos. The veil in the temple is ripped. Then a centurion declares a truth that all of humanity should have known. “This is the Son of God.”
Mark 15:33-39 tells the story of Friday so well. “And when the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" And when some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah." And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down." And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
Priests, the Pharisees, and the solders wished they could go back to the Friday because on that Friday they were on top of the world. Christ on that Friday was only a carpenter with a huge claim. He was only a miracle worker. On Friday Christ was in their eyes just another insurrectionist. He was a great teacher on that Friday. He was maybe a great man but surly not the Son of God. But that was Friday.
Also, on this Friday Satan thought he was victorious. He has convinced God’s creation to kill their creator. Satan must be pleased. He would have no way of knowing God’s ultimate plan. Satan raised his hand in victory. Man rejected the corner of salvation. But once again that was Friday but Sunday was coming.
So they took Christ’s body and placed him in a tomb fit for a King. They asked for the body of Christ so that they could prepare him for his grave site. So Joseph of Arimathea gave Christ a family tomb and placed him in the garden. And there Christ was laid to rest. Friday was a sad day, but Sunday was still coming.
But know one was expect this Sunday to come. Know one knew what this Sunday would hold for the future of the world. This Sunday was going to be a sad Sunday or maybe just another Sunday. But these people did not know the power of God. This Sunday would go down in history because this Sunday was resurrection Sunday.
Mark 16:1-6 “And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen.” Friday has pasted and today is Sunday.
Imagine the shock of Satan. Victory was in his hands. Imagine the fear of Pilate. I let him die on Friday. Imagine the horror of the Pharisees. We had him killed. Imagine the pain of the scribes. We cried out for his crucifixion. Imagine the fear of the soldiers who taunted and mocked him. Those who thought they were the most powerful were only strong on Friday. But Sunday is a whole other day. Sunday has arrived. Do you think they would be wishing they could go back to Friday? But it is too late.
Today is March 27th, and Judgment day is coming. Are you prepared?
