Today’s Scripture

Psalm 22         Isaiah 52:13-53:12      Hebrews 4:14-16         John 19:17-30

 

            Today, Good Friday, we gather together at the foot of the cross as Jesus is crucified.  We are helpless to stop this cruel suffering and death.  Jesus is God.  Jesus is the Son of God.  Why is all of this happening as it does?

 

            Isaiah prophesied this moment over seven hundred years before as God speaks through him, “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted,” [52:13].  This scene on the cross does not look as if Jesus is acting wisely.  This scene on the cross does not present Jesus as lifted up and highly exalted.

 

            Attached to the cross is the sentence pronounced for this execution scene, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, [John 19:19].  That is the reality of all of this.  Jesus is the promised one who will reign on David’s throne forever.  Jesus is the one the Magi were seeking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” [Matthew 2:2].  On Sunday the crowds gave him a royal welcome shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” [Matthew 21:9, 15].  Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king.  Jesus answered that he was but not of a worldly kingdom.  Then Jesus addressed Pilate directly that he, Pilate, would have no authority except that which God in heaven had granted to him.  Pilate was placed here at this moment in time to be part of God’s plan of saving his people from their sins.

 

            “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’….’It is finished.’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit,” [John 19:28, 30].  We go back to Isaiah, “Yet it was the Lord’s will,” 53:10].  Isn’t that Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane as all of this begins to unfold, that his heavenly father’s will be done?  All of this is on purpose.  There is no accident here.  There is no circumstantial thing happening that man’s ulterior motives are being worked out.  Yes, in the jealousy and scheming from the temple leaders, the betrayal and capture in Gethsemane, the disciples running away in fear, the trumped up charges and mob scene in front of Pilate, and the soldiers carrying out their duties, it appears as one of those political coups that occurred then and occur throughout our world today.

           

            Reality is this:  If you eat this fruit, that is if you disobey me, which is sin, you will die.     

            Reality is this:  The wages of sin is death. 

            Reality is this:  God came to earth.  Some believed (shepherds, Magi, Anna, Simeon, disciples, Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, those healed and raised from the dead).  Some did not believe (some Pharisees and Sadducees, Herod the Great, and many others). 

            Reality is this:  “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

 

            As Jesus taught and preached, some followed and trusted him.  Others rejected and tried to refute him.

 

            “So that  Scripture would be fulfilled…

 

            Jesus said, “I will suffer and die at the hands of the leaders,” to which Peter and the disciples said, “No Way!”  Wouldn’t you and I say, “No way!” along with them?

 

            The reality of the world sets in as scholars and princes and religious leaders reject who Jesus really is, disclaim what he really did, and put Christ into sinful people terms and restrictions. 

 

            But the reality is this:  God is in charge.  God does all of this on purpose and planned this from before time.  God goes willingly to the cross and without any doing of Satan, dies.  The reality is this; God knows what this is all about.  God knows what is at stake here.  God knows this is heaven victorious over hell.  God knows this is good victorious over evil.  God knows this is victory over Satan at his own game, death.

 

            The reality is this, “I am thirsty,” Jesus is true man.

            The reality is this, “It is finished,” Jesus is true God who loves and saves his people from their sins.

 

            The reality is this, if Jesus does not do this, we are dead.

            The reality is this, if Jesus does not do this there is no resurrection.

            The reality is this, if Jesus does not do this there is no ascension where he is preparing a place for each one and will come back to take us to be where he is.

            The reality is this, God loves you so that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him has eternal life.

 

            Say this prayer with me:

                        Lord, have mercy on us.

                        Christ have mercy on us.

                        Lord have mercy on us and give us your peace.  Amen.

 

            The reality is this, He has mercy on us and in this death gives us his peace.                     Amen.