Good Friday - 2017
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INTRO NARRATION - Reading of A.W. Pink’s first sentences in “Seven Sayings”
SLIDE then VIDEO - Nicodemus
We had gotten our evil wish. This Jesus who we had seen do miracles, this Jesus who we had heard teach, this Jesus who was so kind and compassionate to so many who we looked down on, was nailed to one of the most vile instruments of execution ever conceived of by man - the cross. There he was nailed to wood beams, hanging like so grotesque decoration for the amusement of the Roman executioners. Beaten and bloody he hung struggling to get breath, but not so broken as others before him. As much agony as he was in, as much as we the Sanhedrin thought we did this to Jesus, I couldn’t help but feel as I looked upon his body as though he intended this to happen. As though in spite of or even more unsettling, through our evil actions he was accomplishing exactly what he intended to accomplish. I liked Jesus, I really did, I didn’t understand him, but I did like him. It was apparent to me that he was not like anyone I had ever met.
As a member of the Sanhedrin I’ve known many excellent teachers and spent time with some of the foremost experts in the law. But Jesus… he was altogether different. Of course I thought that was rather obvious given the fact so many had seen him do miracles. Not the so called miracles of charlatans or sorcerers, but real miracles. Blind people were given sight. Sick people were made well. People who were mute were given the ability to speak. Even… even the dead were given life. He had to be from God, he had to be. There’s no one else who can speak to a corpse four days dead and then - life. It just doesn’t happen. But it did happen. But it wasn’t just the miracles, it was the way Jesus talked, the way he taught. When he spoke, when he preached it was like he was speaking with the authority of the very one put the words in the prophets’ mouths. It was uncanny… and unsettling. While he spoke with authority he certainly didn’t fit the mold - that’s for sure. He didn’t say what the Pharisees or the Sadduccees or the Zealots or any of the others were saying. And that’s what got him… that’s why we had him crucified really. Because he didn’t fit our mold. Because he wasn’t like us and he wasn’t with us. He didn’t speak on our behalf and he didn’t promote our agenda. He wouldn’t toe the line and do what we wanted. He wasn’t the Messiah we wanted. But when I saw him hanging there I realized, he’s the Messiah we desperately needed.
Service of Darkness Sermon
Jesus was not the Messiah we wanted, He is the Messiah we desperately need. Nicodemus like so many others thought they knew exactly who the Messiah would be. They thought they knew what he would care about, what he would say, what he would do, where he would be from, how he would function. But they didn’t know anything about him really and most certainly didn’t know Him to be sure. I’m not certain about Nicodemus, I like to think that he believed in the end because of the actions he takes in scripture, but I don’t know that to be sure. I am sure that so many around him, men who had every advantage from a worldly standpoint did not recognize Jesus for who He was and is.
I wonder how many in the world today actually know Jesus? I wonder how many actually follow and obey? I see so many from the most conservative of evangelicals to the most liberal of atheists attempt to square Jesus away so neatly, to set him on their own little stools declaring who He was or who He is and what He cares about and what He wants. This one says Jesus just wanted the world to love one another. That one says Jesus just wanted you to be happy. Another one says Jesus wants you to be healthy and wealthy, to name it and claim it. Others say Jesus wants to empower you to right every wrong and work for social justice in the world. But how many actually care what Jesus said about why He came? How many actually know who the Messiah is?
Jesus made abundantly clear who He is and why He came, in what He said and in what He did. And tonight as we remember what Jesus Christ, our Incarnate God, did on the cross, I want us to reflect on what He said while He was there and for us to see what it means for our lives.
The Seven Sayings or the Seven Last Words are the last things Jesus said before dying a most excruciating death and for generations the church has remembered and reflected upon these words as we worship Christ Jesus the Lord. The words and the passages they are associated with are as follows.
Forgiveness -
Salvation -
Affection -
Anguish -
Suffering -
Victory -
Contentment -
Each of the words, each of the sayings they are related to are important and reveal to us just who Jesus is and what He cares about.
Forgiveness: We are told in -
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
As those who crucified Jesus watched and even gambled over his clothes Jesus says something that amazingly selfless - he says forgive them Father. They have no idea what they’re doing. God the Son speaks to God the Father and says forgive them. Wow. Jesus forgives his executioners and murderers even as they stand before him. This shows the profound power of God’s love for His people, the type of love that is self-sacrificial and triumphant over all. A love so powerful that though forgiveness is by no measure merited it is proclaimed and made manifest.
As those who crucified Jesus watched and even gambled over his clothes Jesus says something that amazingly selfless - he says forgive them Father. They have no idea what they’re doing. God the Son speaks to God the Father and says forgive them. Wow. Jesus forgives his executioners and murderers even as they stand before him. This shows the profound power of God’s love for His people, the type of love that is self-sacrificial and triumphant over all. A love so powerful that though forgiveness is by no measure merited it is proclaimed and made manifest.
2. Salvation: We are told in -
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Beside Jesus were also crucified at least two other criminals that we know of. Luke tells us that one railed at Jesus, he cries out to Jesus bitterly, sarcastically even saying you’re the Christ aren’t you, the Messiah who supposed to save. Then save us why don’t you. But the other criminal rebukes the first one. He says you’re about to die, we all are, don’t you fear God at all? We’re here because we deserve to be here. We did what we were convicted of - but this one, He’s innocent - He’s done nothing wrong. And one of the shortest yet most passionate pleas comes forth from this criminal’s mouth. He says, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. Remember this one moment in my life where I have done something other than wrong. Remember me for one millisecond of something other than vileness. And Jesus says something totally remarkable and something so much more than the criminal could have ever anticipated or hoped for. Jesus says, truly or this I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise. Jesus says where I’m going, paradise, you’re coming to. Salvation is assured, though the criminal has done nothing meriting it, it is promised to him, giving us great hope in Christ Jesus salvation is assured.
3. Affection: We read in -
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
At the cross when most had abandoned Jesus, a few who loved Him dearly stood by watching helpless, frightened, and tearful. As Jesus looked upon the few there He saw John, one of His best friends in the world and He saw Mary, His mother as well. Jesus was filled with compassion and affection for them, but most especially I believe for Mary. Joseph, Jesus adoptive father was not there and based upon what Jesus asks of John it is safe to assume that he is most likely dead. Jesus caring about her well being and continued providing for in the future. Jesus, even as He is dying is epitome of compassion and affection, the perfect Son and He takes care of His mother. How great His affection? How beyond all measure and comprehension that even in excruciating pain He cares for the needs of those whom He loves.
4. Anguish: We see in -
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew
Jesus on the cross is functioning as our Sin Bearer and the anguish, the utter awfulness, the foul and flagrant aroma of our misdeeds, the absolute appalling sin that stains the souls of men was on Him. He who knew no sin, Jesus the perfect and sinless one was made to be sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God. There is nothing in my or any other human’s experience that can adequately explain the reality and sensation of what Jesus was experiencing. But it was such utter anguish that Jesus cries out to the Father quoting David, saying why have you forsaken me! This is one of the most absolutely unsettling moments in all of scripture to me. God the Son, Jesus Christ is experiencing such great anguish that he likens it to God-forsakenness - He feels the full and most terrible weight and burden of sin to such a degree that He feels as though He is forsaken by the Father. And I say this is most unsettling not only because of the terrible suffering of Jesus but also because I don’t know what to do with this theologically. Something is happening here so great and terrible that creation itself is showing signs of something happening. Darkness falls over the land and after Christ utters these words the earth itself is literally rent. The earth trembles and quakes and shakes. Tombs burst open, some who were dead are raised to life, and the very curtain of the temple was torn asunder.
5. Suffering: We read in -
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
Most people wouldn’t look at this passage and see the suffering of Christ Jesus, but I do. When Jesus says I thirst it is indicating to us the fullness of his humanity. Jesus is in full possession of the same range of senses we are. He sees and touches and hears and smells and tastes as we do. Being fully man Jesus experiences all the sensations of humanity - being tired, being hungry, being thirsty, experiencing emotion, and yes even physical pain. Some throughout history who could not understand how God could suffer have tried to so away with this and other instances of Jesus humanity in the text to their great detriment. Jesus being both full God and fully man feels, both the good sensations and the bad ones. Jesus felt everything that was done to him physically. Every lash of the Roman flagellum was keenly felt setting nerve endings in Jesus flesh ablaze with pain as it was torn and ripped, bruised and beaten. Jesus felt it all. He suffered under the whip and he suffered on the cross as he struggled to breathe. He felt it all.
6. Victory: We see in -
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Some of Jesus very final words include a proclamation of victory. Jesus makes plainly known even as he dies that he has accomplished his mission, he has finished the task that he set out to do, the price has been paid in full for sin and there is nothing left that needs doing. Atonement has been made, Jesus has bridged the gap between the Father and mankind, he has paid the spiritual debt owed, he has conquered Satan and sin, and he has credited to his elect righteousness. How bittersweet a moment of triumph as we see the cost of our sins. How dismal and dark a victory won at the cost of the pure and sinless lamb, our very own Lord. How heartbreaking the achievement that brings the Christian such great joy. Victory at such high cost, that was willingly and deliberately paid. Victory in Jesus. His work, His triumph, His victory, His grace, His mercy - all His because He finished it!
7. Contentment: We read in -
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46
Jesus having done what He came to do commends His spirit to the Father. He proclaims His return upon death to the Father’s side and perfect communion with Him. The perfect plan of salvation, the willing sacrifice of His life in exchange for His elect has been accomplished and Jesus is content. We have so turned Christ into a victim that we often fail to recognize that death is not forced upon Jesus, He is not a martyr, He is not a victim, nor does He die as some type of example of humility and suffering for us to emulate. Jesus dies as a substitute for us, He dies as willing sacrifice. He goes to death willingly. His life is not taken, He gives it. And as He dies Christ is content. He does shriek or scream or cry as one who is hopeless, but rather He goes courageously on as one who who knew exactly what He was doing, what He intended, and what He accomplished. Praise be to Christ Jesus forever and ever Amen.
And having said these seven sayings our savior died.
This evening may we reflect with great sobriety upon our Saviors sacrifice and the sin which it was made to atone for. As we come to the table for this emblematic meal a very real communion with our great God is taking place. He is present with us. May we worship and adore our Lord God as remember Jesus death with thanksgiving and humility. Let us pray.
PRAYER