A Good Friday Message

 

A Good Friday Message

 

Reading: John 19:18                         

“Where they crucify Him.”

 

“Where”                          The Place                         Calvary

“They”                             The people                       Hebrew Jews

“Crucified”                     The punishment               Roman form.

“Him”                              The Person                       Immanuel.

I want to speak today about the how and why of Calvary’s Cross which is the message of Easter.

 

One. Where - the place – Calvary, John 19:18-19; Luke 23:33.

¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre.
¹⁹ Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS”
John 19:18-19 (NKJV)
³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left”
Luke 23:33 (NKJV)

 

Only once is the word “Calvary” found in the Bible, here in Luke 23:33. In all other places it is called “Golgotha,” the place of the skull. Calvary was a place of execution, a site outside of the walls of Jerusalem, probably not far from the city gate and close to a highway.

Men did not want the Christ (the Son of God) in their holy city, the holy child of God, was not wanted in Jerusalem, Jerusalem the holy city of God, had no place for God’s son. In view of the highway for all to see, for all to stare and to mock, Jesus died near the roadway, no wonder He said “I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6. Many of the early Christians were call “people of the way.”

 

Two. They - the people - Hebrew Jews, John 19:14-15.

¹⁴ Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
¹⁵ But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
John 19:14-15 (NKJV)

 

Not only was Jesus not wanted in God’s holy city, but He was not wanted by God’s holy people either. When Pilate cried out “Behold your King,” the people cried “we have no King.” Even Pilate saw that Jesus was the King of Israel, but the people rejected their King.

Men fail to know their King, and they reject the King of Kings. The hardness of men’s hearts is still hard to the Easter message; and the gospel of grace, and still, they cry “away with Jesus.”

 

Three. Crucified – the punishment - Roman form.

 

Crucifixion was the death penalty under Roman law, first the prisoner was surged with the lash. Jesus was mocked, beaten about the head, passed between two rows of soldiers and badly whipped, till the flesh on His back was ripped away.

Then a “Crown of thorns,” was placed upon His head, the King of Kings, went to Calvary wearing a Crown of thorns. From the Garden of Eden and the fall of mankind, thorns and thistles have been a sign of sin. Yet the thorns of ruin, became the “Crown of Redemption.” Thorns came by man’s sin, so it was a good sign of man’s redemption when Jesus wore a “Crown of thorns” on Calvary’s Cross.

After this the prisoner carried his own cross outside the city walls, to a place of execution. At Golgotha, there the prisoner was stripped naked, and nailed to his cross, the cross was lifted and dropped into a slot in the ground, with a great pain to the prisoner.

Death often came by heart failure, because of the strain of hanging there for hours. Jesus broke His heart for us. Death was hastened by the breaking of the legs (but not in Jesus’ case). Sometimes a fire was lit beneath the cross that its fumes may suffocate the victim. Crucifixion was a slow and painful death, lasting up to two days. Then the body was left in a shallow grave or devoured by beasts.

 

Four. Him - the Person - Immanuel.

 

“Behold the man” says John 19:5. See the man of Galilee, the man called “the Christ,” see your “Saviour.” But see also the Godman revealed to men. “Come see a man that told me all things that I ever did” said the woman at the well. The Godman, Jesus Christ, which knows all things, which sees all things, yet forgives all things I ever did.

See a man with a heart of love and understanding. See God among men, a man without sin, but who became sin for us. See the “Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief, rejected by men.”

 

Conclusion:

 

Good Friday comes every year, and we celebrate Easter. Because it speaks of our Salvation freely given, but a Salvation of great cost and suffering. The how and why of Calvary is, Jesus loves you and me.

Good Friday Message

 

Text: John 19:19.                                Theme: Behold your King.

“Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Jesus Christ was first introduced to the people by John the Baptist as the “Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” The conclusion of His life was betrayed by Pilate the Roman governor in presenting Jesus to the mob who cried for His death, pilot introduced Jesus as the “King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.”

More likely he did not realise fully what he was saying, but God allowed it to be said. He also wrote it in three separate languages: in Greek, in Latin, and in Hebrew. Why? Because it would allow all types of people to read what is said about Jesus Christ.

Just for a moment I want to explain why the three languages of Greek, Hebrew and Latin were used:

 

First: The Greek language said: “Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.” The Greek language was the language of culture and science, it was the language of men of letters and learning. That is why Pilate claimed “Jesus was the King” over the realm of culture and science.

 

Secondly: The Latin language said: “Jesus was the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords.” Latin was the official language of Rome, the language of civil law and politics of government of the Roman Empire. Pilate (Roman rule) was saying in one sentence, “Jesus was the King” over the realm of government.

 

Thirdly: The Hebrew language said: “Jesus is King of all Kings, and the Lord of all Lords.” Hebrew was the national language of Israel; it was the language of the religion of the One and only true God. It was the language of the law and of the prophets. So, written it in Hebrew it allowed and proclaimed that “Jesus Christ is the King” over the realm of religion.

Today’s culture and education, law and government, religion, and ethics, should offer reverence and worship to the “King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.”

 

One. Behold your King in the realms of eternity John 1:1, 14.

^“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1 (NKJV).
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14 (NKJV).

 

The Apostle John tells us of the eternal God, who before time spoke a word and caused the sun, moon, and stars to exist, clothed Himself in human flesh, and walked among the face of the earth as a man. Neither His life nor His death upon the cross was an accident. For before the foundation of the world in the council of eternity it was ordained that Jesus Christ should be our King.

 

Two. Behold your King among the crowds.

 

A. When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they “fainted,” and they were scattered abroad, as sheep having “no Shepherd” Matthew 9:36. When the King stood in the presence of human need and sorrow He was moved with sympathy, and His eyes were a fountain of tears. He did not turn His ears or His eyes away from the needs and troubles of the world.

 

B. Christ was deeply moved by the spiritual depression of the people. As it says, “they fainted.”

 

C. The Kingly Christ was deeply disturbed by the spiritual destiny of people. “they were scattered abroad as sheep having no Shepherd.”

 

D. The Kingly Christ seeks, and saves with a shepherd’s heart those lost today. “Because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8.

 

Three. Behold your King upon the Cross of Calvary.

 

A. Now we come to the central purpose of Jesus coming into this world ^“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.

 

B. At the Cross the seriousness of sin is disclosed.

 

C.   At the Cross the justice of God is revealed.

 

D.   At the Cross the love of God is demonstrated.

 

E.   At the Cross of Calvary our sins were suffered for, 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21;1 Peter 1:18-19.

 

F.    At the Cross of Calvary, we see the basic of God’s hope for a redeemed people. He has no other plan. Here man makes the decision that determines his/her own eternal destiny.

 

Conclusion:

 

I would encourage you this Good Friday, to make Jesus Christ your Lord and King. Let the Lord of indescribable love become the master of your heart. Behold your King!

 

PASSION WEEK: PALM SUNDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY

PASSION WEEK: PALM SUNDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY.

U.K. = Sunday 28^th March to 4^th April 2010.

Christians across the world celebrate Easter, to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His crucifixion.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

Maundy Thursday is the day that Jesus celebrated the feast of the Passover with His twelve disciples, His Last Supper, and the night Judas betrayed Him.

Good Friday remembers the passion and death of Jesus.

Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus' Resurrection.

Where did it all begin? More than two thousand years ago, in a stable in Bethlehem, was born Jesus (meaning saviour), to a virgin named Mary and her husband Joseph a carpenter by trade. Mary was chosen by God to become the mother of His Son, Jesus. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, and became a carpenter like his earthly father.

When Jesus was about thirty years of age He began to preach the love of God for His people, Israel. Together with twelve disciples, Jesus was concerned with the welfare of the poor and the oppressed and spoke against the double standards of the privileged and the rich. The Pharisees, Jewish scholars, strongly opposed His teachings, and resented His growing influence.

But Jesus was welcomed and loved by the common people who looked upon Him as the long-awaited Messiah. As the number of His followers and His influence with the people grew, the Jewish and Roman authorities began to suspect Jesus of being a troublemaker.

Jesus faithfully observed the religious customs and festivals of His community, including the festival of Passover, which marked the end of slavery in Egypt for His people. So it happened that Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

As He entered Jerusalem, the people welcomed Him with songs of praise. They covered His path with flowers, and waved green palm fronds in the air, and formed a great procession to lead Him into Jerusalem. Often called Palm Sunday.

The Pharisees were afraid and angry when they saw the welcome He received from the people of Jerusalem. Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem, where He drove out the moneylenders. This annoyed the priests even further. Who shared the profits of this trade.

They decided that the time had come to rid themselves of this carpenter's son from Nazareth, who held such tremendous power over the hearts of the people. The Pharisees, the priests and the Romans plotted to arrest and execute Jesus.

A few days later, Jesus celebrated the Feast of the Passover with His twelve disciples. While they were eating, the disciples began to argue among themselves as to who was better than the others. Jesus listened in silence, and then taking a basin of water, began washing the feet of His disciples.

When He came to His disciple Peter, Peter protested. But Jesus explained why He did what He did, to tell them that no one was better than the other, that if He, whom they called Lord and Master, could wash their feet, then they too could wash each other's feet.

Jesus then told His disciples that before the night was out, one of them would betray Him, and give Him up to those who would kill Him. The disciples were horrified, and asked Jesus to tell them who it was who would turn traitor. But Jesus only said that it was one of the twelve who ate with Him that night.

The disciple John, who was sitting next to Jesus, whispered so that no one else could hear, 'Lord, who is it?' Jesus whispered back so only John could hear, 'It is the one to whom I shall give a piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.'

Then Jesus reached across the table and gave the bread to His disciple Judas Iscariot. Judas left the table at once, and as he went, Jesus said to him, 'Do quickly what you have to do.'

Before the meal was over that night, Jesus took some of the unleavened bread of the feast and broke it into pieces. He gave a piece each to the eleven remaining disciples, saying 'Take and eat this, for this is My body which is given for you.' He then passed a cup of watered wine to them and said, 'Drink, for this is My blood which is shed for you.' Then Jesus commanded, 'Do this as often as you would remember Me.'

Jesus spent the rest of the night praying in a grove of olive trees, called the garden of Gethsemane. He knew that when morning came, Judas Iscariot would betray Him.

Judas had hurried to the High Priest of the Temple as soon as he left Jesus and the other disciples. Judas had agreed to betray Jesus for the sum of thirty pieces of silver.

When it was almost dawn, Judas led the High Priest and the Pharisees and the Roman soldiers to the grove where Jesus waited with His remaining disciples. So that the Roman soldiers would arrest the right person, Judas ran up to Jesus and embraced him.

Jesus was taken to the home of the High Priest where the priests demanded that He be killed. But the land was ruled by the Romans, and no one could be executed without their endorsement. So Jesus was led to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

Pilate questioned Jesus, and then declared he could not sentence Him for he saw no evil in Him. But the priests and the Pharisees insisted that Jesus was a troublemaker, and should be put to death. So Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod, who ruled Galilee from where Jesus came. But Herod too could find no evil in Jesus, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Once again Pilate said to the enemies of Jesus that he saw no reason to execute Him, and that He should be set free. But Jesus' enemies demanded that He be crucified. At length, Pilate gave in to their demands, and ruled that Jesus be put to death on the cross.

Jesus was crucified as a political rebel the very same day on a hill called Golgotha. When at length He died, His friends asked Pilate if they might take down His body, to give it proper burial. Pilate agreed. So Jesus' followers took Him down from the cross, and wrapped Him in a shroud, and buried Him in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea near Golgotha.

Three days after His death, some women went to Jesus' tomb with fragrant herbs to place in the linen wrappings around His body. But they found that the tomb lay open, and two Angels sat where the body of Jesus had been lying. The Angels told the women not to be afraid, for said they, Jesus had risen from the dead.

Jesus' story does not end with His death and burial, but a new beginning! Christians the world over believe in Jesus' Resurrection, and celebrate Easter to mark the event. Belief in the Resurrection is central to the Christian faith, and Easter is the most important celebration in the calendar of the Christian Church.

STREET VIOLENCE IN OUR TOWNS.

STREET VIOLENCE IN OUR TOWNS.

“On Good Friday we where in our town centre, and TWO military men in uniform started to pick on and to beat a innocent man who was carrying a heavy burden, even kicking and beating on him when he was down on the floor. Some women tried to stop them, and there was a great crowd watching on, even the police did nothing to stop it.”

You may say “It should have been stopped.”

“Well they never stopped Jesus Christ being crucified 2,000 years either.”

This time only it was “controlled violence on our streets.” Over 250 Christians from all the churches in the town, acted out this “Easter story.” Led by this sad scene, followed with songs of worship and thanksgiving too God for His great mercy towards us. Even Jesus cried from the CROSS “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Do you know the Christ (Saviour) of Easter, or is it all Easter bunnies and eggs to you? Well, now it cannot be said of you “They know not what they do.”

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