Good Friday?
Easter 2020 • Sermon • Submitted
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Is there a part of your story, your life, that you feel is unforgivable?
It was Friday. A day that, for the disciples, could have been described with a host of different adjectives… except for good. The day was comprised of unjust trials, horrific floggings, and a shameful parade to Calvary in which Jesus was made to carry His own cross. In addition to betrayal and physical abuse, Jesus was mocked and ridiculed publicly. After they gambled for His clothing, Roman soldiers nailed Him to a cross and raised Him up between two criminals.
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him.
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
Now in these few verses and in the upcoming verses prophecies that were hundreds of years old were being fulfilled.
Jesus asking His Father to forgive those that are killing Him.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine
37 and said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 23
23:35–39 Four different groups (the people in general, the leaders, the soldiers, and one of the criminals being crucified) scoffed at Jesus and challenged him to save himself. None of them believed that Jesus was the King of the Jews … the Messiah, even though the official inscription above his head on the cross charged him with posing as “the King of the Jews.”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
As the three men hung there, one criminal joined the voices mocking Jesus. The other, in the brief moments before his death, took ownership of his sin and appealed to Jesus’ lordship. A guilty, dying thief recognized he was in the presence of forgiveness. As he received justice for his crimes, he appealed to mercy… Remember me. Remember me.
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 23
23:40–43 In the midst of this display of unbelief and mockery, the other criminal came to understand the difference between his own guilt and Jesus’s innocence (this man has done nothing wrong). He also realized that Jesus was the Messiah and asked to take part in his coming kingdom. Jesus assured him that, after death, he would immediately be reunited with him in paradise
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your wrongdoing? Have you ever felt paralyzed with guilt? Then you can empathize with the thief. In the midst of His own pain, Jesus comforted the repentant man: You will be with me… Jesus doesn’t shame or demand penance. He doesn’t require a class or a special prayer. He doesn’t weigh good deeds against evil ones. In response to repentance, Jesus extends complete forgiveness with a single word. Aren’t we all that thief on the cross? Don’t we all deserve punishment? We certainly do. But Jesus offers both mercy and grace: scandalous, unmerited, favor.
Those present at the time of the crucifixion would have used many adjectives to describe the day but I’m sure none of them would have used “good.”
You can make this the not just a good Friday but the best Friday of your life!
Many notes taken from the Lifepoint Worship Holy Week Devotional