This week’s reading: Matthew 27:32-66
Hi Friends,
Good Friday. Why is this day of sorrow referred to by this name? Because of the results of the Passion of our Christ. Because Jesus was willing to endure this injustice, this cruelty, this abandonment, this agony…because Jesus was 100% obedient to the Father He loves. For those who sincerely surrender to this Messiah, after our death, Paradise is our next step when we leave here. Since we have placed our Faith in what the Father has provided, what the Son has offered and what the Holy Spirit leads us into, you and I GET to go to Heaven. Do we understand this? Really? Because if we do, it changes everything! You and I are sinners, constantly in rebellion with our Creator and King. We deserve death. We deserve eternal separation from God. We deserve hell…but because Jesus came, because He took our place and paid our sin debt, we are called the righteous children of God, and we will be spirited off to His loving arms when our time on earth is done. If that is not Good News, then I do not know what is! Good Friday is “good” because we serve a very Good, Good God Who loves us that much! This week, we are in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 27, verses 32 through 66. Hear the words that give us this Eternal Hope:
“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ Which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’ And when Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” Mt 27:45-50 NIV
The Crucifixion of Jesus. (Mt 27:32-44; Mk 15:21-32: Lk 23:26-43: Jn 19:17-24) After going through all the mock trials, being scourged and ridiculed, Jesus is led by the Roman soldiers towards Golgotha. This is an Aramaic term which means “The Place of the Skull.” How appropriate since Jesus is the Head of His Body, the Church, huh? Here He will endure an even worse horrific torture, and die for the sin of all the world. Can we see how vile it is when we do not receive this free gift from God? This is a poor example but, it would be like the deep insult I would feel, if out of the goodness of my heart, I paid for someone’s meal, who I knew could not afford it. I am not expecting anything in return, I only want to help this person, but they refuse my generosity and demand to try to pay for it all by themselves… but I know they cannot because they are bankrupt! Yet their Pride will not allow them to surrender themselves to the love of a friend. We too are spiritually bankrupt, my Friends, and can do nothing to even put a dent in the sin debt we owe God. Thus the Good News. Jesus already paid the price. So to deny His Lordship, after He has gone through all this Passion for us, is the most awful of offenses! As I have heard it say, God does not send anyone to hell, but way too many people choose to go there. I pray this does not apply to us, nor any of our loved ones. Receive the Good News!
On the road to the Skull. It is important to note two things: 1- Jesus had help carrying His Cross and 2- Jesus ministered to some women who were following Him along His journey towards the Cross. First, let’s take a moment to talk about Simon of Cyrene. He is not talked about anywhere else in the Bible and so, we do not know much about this man who was forced to help Jesus. The Gospel of John says that Jesus carried His own Cross, until of course He could not anymore. After the torment of the scourging, Jesus being fully Human, needed help. In steps this Simon. It is a good reminder that, even as this Simon carries the Cross of Jesus, Jesus would end up carrying the sin of this Simon. The lesson here for us: there are certain trials we may face in which we too cannot take another step without someone helping us. Whether we are the ones needing support or someone else around us needs our service, carrying our cross alone was never a part of God’s Plan. Jesus experienced everything you and I do, and then some. In this very low moment, Jesus is, yet again, showing us to not live by that Prideful, “I can do it myself,” foolish mentality, and just gratefully invite others to shoulder our burdens. While we are desperate to have Jesus help us with our cross, many times we need one another too. Let the image of this relatively unknown man comfort and strengthen us. We too can come to the aid of someone, and even if it is just for a short space of time, help them bare their trials and share their pain. It is not a small thing we do for one another when we come alongside one another, whether we are forced like this Simon, or better, if we do so voluntarily. And how wonderful that this Simon is now immortalized in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke for all time, as one who helped Jesus in His time of need? Perhaps there is a story being written in Heaven about you or me doing the same for Jesus, as we lend a hand to “the least of these.” (see Mt 25:40) With the help of Jesus, we can help one another.
The selflessness of Jesus on full display. Second, please note, even as Jesus travels up to Golgotha, He is still ministering to others. Imagine being in all that pain, still processing the humiliating ridicule and heartbreaking abandonment, feeling the weight of the world, literally, on His Holy shoulders… and still looking out for those around Him! How great is our God!?! The lesson here for us: no matter what we are going through, which is a whole lot less than what Jesus was enduring, we too can be there for others, even if we are going through our own struggles. Once again, we were never meant to live this life alone. Too often we focus on our own pain, but the best way to alleviate some of this trouble is to go help someone else with their difficulties. We all have them. Trials, tribulations, troubles. They are a part of this fallen life and no one, no matter your age, status or reputation, will live this life without experiencing them. My Baby Girl was only 5 years old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Again I say, none of us will escape this life without suffering. I point you to John 16:33. My Friends, see that there is Good News even in the midst of our own walk up to Calvary. Jesus tells us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world! (see Jn 16:33 NKJV) That means we can choose to hold on to our Joy, no matter what is going on in our individual lives, and we can choose to spread that joy to others too. What is the source of this Joy? Jesus and what He has freed us from! We should be the ones experiencing this Passion, but Jesus came so we would not have to go through it. My Friends, can we see more clearly why this pivotal day is called Good Friday? Let’s take a moment and praise our Savior, shall we?
The two robbers. Jesus is now nailed to the Cross with two thieves, one on either side of Him. What’s the condemning verdict posted above His precious head? “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” While the Pharisees may have argued about what Pilate had written there, it is simply the truth. The King of kings is surrendering His Life for His people, and for us as well. Again, Jesus died for the world. All of it. Believers and non-believers. Growing Christians and those who are refusing to be a Christian. Jesus is our King, but those present at this scene, miss this truth. Passersby hurl insults at Jesus. The Chief priests and teachers of the law are mocking Jesus. And if that wasn’t enough, these two criminals also begin to heap insults on Jesus. That is, until one of them comes to his senses. Hanging up on his own cross, between bated breaths, he is watching Jesus. He hears Jesus praying for those who are persecuting Him. What he does not see is Jesus complaining. Jesus blaming. Jesus arguing. No, he sees Jesus enduring, and his heart opens to this innocent Man. As his companion continues to yell at Jesus, this thief rebukes him. Then he displays his Faith with these lovely words, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Lk 23:42) To which Jesus quickly responds, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:43) Today. Please see this here. Jesus did not tell this brand new believer that he must go some place and pay for his sin, THEN he could join Jesus in Paradise. Jesus did not tell this new child of God, “Oh sorry. If only you had the time and ability to go do some good works first, THEN you would have been able to join Me in Paradise.” No!. We complicate things, don’t we? When our heart is open and we confess our belief that Jesus is our King, showing we have placed our Faith in Him, then like this repentant thief, when we die, we GET to go straight to Heaven, period. We can’t go somewhere or do anything to pay for our sin. That’s kind of the whole point! We cannot rid ourselves of our sin. But Jesus already has. All we have to do, even if it is with our last breath as this brand new brother in Christ is doing here, is proclaim that Jesus is our King, our Savior and our Lord. That’s what Kingship is all about. Our King protects us, His royal subjects, and He rules in our hearts, even as He continues to transform us into the children God originally designed, and desires us to be. Believe in your heart and confess with your lips and your sin is gone, and your destiny is changed forever. It really is that simple…again, can we see why this is such Good News?
One on the left and one on the right. Let’s not miss this important symbolism here. One thief repented, and it seems the other did not. There are three types of people in this world: 1- those who will refuse the Lordship of Jesus and never be His, 2- those who are still thinking about it, and so are still not His and 3- those who have believed it, confessed it and are now and forevermore His. Which person will we be? Perhaps we can learn from this thief who had a literal change of heart. If we or someone we know is still in group 1 or 2 above, all it takes to change is to place ourselves in the Presence of Jesus, and sincerely listen to Him. As we watch how He lived. As we hear what He has said and see what He has done for others. As we humble ourselves and admit that we need help in this life, and are completely desperate about the next. Maybe then, we will rebuke the spirit of lies that is trying to keep us away from our King. Maybe then, we will realize that there is something utterly different, and beautiful, about this Jesus. Maybe then, we will make this decision before we breathe our last breath…and then we will begin to understand why this is such Good News, and will celebrate Good Friday in a way that will honor our Savior. Maybe…as we keep each other in prayer, as we seek to help others carry their cross, as we reach out to someone else even in the midst of our own struggles, we will understand this Jesus more, because we will be acting more like Him. Then our lives will glorify Him more. This is why He died. To call us into a relationship with our Creator God so we can have, enjoy and share the Abundant Life. Again, that’s very Good News!
The death of Jesus. (Mt 27:45-56; Mk 15:33-41; Lk 23:44-49) As should be expected when the Light of the world is being crucified, for about three hours, while our Lord struggled to breathe, “darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour for the sun stopped shining.” (Lk 23:44-45) We hear Jesus crying out, still quoting Scripture by the way, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Ps 22:1) And the answer is sadly simple: because of the sin of mankind. Jesus has taken upon Himself our sin, and in doing so, He became sin Who knew no sin. And why? So that we could become the righteousness of God. (see 2Co 5:21) Jesus died so we could live. And as He comes to the end of His earthly life, Jesus says, “It is finished,” making it clear that He has accomplished His mission on earth. (Jn 19:30) Then He says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” fully surrendering Himself to the Father, trusting Him to not abandon His Son forever. (Lk 23:46) At His death, there are earthquakes, and the curtain in the temple is torn in two. Here is more symbolism. In the Temple, there was a curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. It was in this last area where the Ark of the Covenant used to reside as a sign of God’s Presence with His people. But because of God’s immense Holiness, and the people’s immense unholiness, there remained that curtain of separation to protect them from dying if they casually tried to approach God. It is a serious endeavor to come before the Mighty God. Have we lost some of that reverential fear of the Lord in our day and age? Back then, only the high priest, once a year, after having offering sacrifices for himself and the nation, would enter into this Most Holy Place to perform his duties, and then immediately leave. So here we have Jesus, our Highest Priest entering into this Most Holy Place in the full Presence of the Father on our behalf, and tearing down this divide once and for all. Now there is no restriction for the believer to be able to be in union with God. 24/7, we can speak to Him, make petitions to Him, worship Him, laugh with Him…whatever is on our hearts at that particular time, we can be in relationship with our Creator…all because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus died so we can live, and we can begin this New Life here and now, before we leave this world. (see Heb 4:16) I just have to point out some interesting verses in the Gospel of Matthew that talk about how we have even more proof that, what Jesus came to do, He did. Matthew 27:52-53 say, “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” How amazing! The death of Jesus is the only way any of us will be raised to Everlasting Life. His pain, our gain. His death, our life. That’s very Good News for you and me!
The burial of Jesus. (Mt 27:57-61; Mk 15:42-47; Lk 23:50-56; Jn 19:38-42) We read about how, Joseph of Arimathea was embolden by the death of Christ. The Bible says he was a rich man, a prominent member of the Council and a good and upright man, who did not agree to the decision of the Sanhedrin. (Mt 27:57; Mk 15:43; Lk 23:50-51) He had become a disciple of Jesus, but in secret because he feared the Jews. (Jn 19:38) But now, unashamed, he goes to Pilate to request His body, so he may give Jesus a proper burial. Have you heard the saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”? Sadly, this is part of the fallen human nature. Like this Joseph, do we only realize the value of someone when they are no longer with us? Another good lesson for us here, yes? The Gospel of John adds that it is Nicodemus who helps this Joseph lay Jesus down for His final rest…or so they think, right!?! (Jn 19:39) They place His body in this Joseph’s new tomb next to a garden, that no one had ever used before. It is interesting to me that Jesus is laid down in a tomb next to a garden. You see, it was in the Garden of Eden where this whole sin mess began, so now it is in this unnamed garden that Jesus puts an end to the power sin can have over us. Jesus is bringing things full circle, giving us the opportunity to go back to the way it always should have been. God and His creation in full, uninterrupted union…that’s the Plan anyway. Because Jesus died and was buried in this new tomb, we too can begin to live this New Life in Him. What a lovely analogy. And what incredibly Good News!
Guards at the tomb of Jesus. (Mt 27:62-66) Just a quick mention about how the religious are still on a war path against Jesus, even after they handed Him over to be crucified. Afraid that the disciples of Jesus would take His body and calm that Jesus rose on the third day, just like He promised, they go to Pilate and insist that he secure the tomb. He tells them to put a seal on the stone, so that it would be easy to tell if someone tampered with the tomb, and to place a guard to watch over it, so no shaky business could happen. Well, we know what happens, right? Oh how good the Good News is! My Friends, spoiler alert: we will talk about the Empty Tomb next week, but let’s spend the rest of this one singing a little hallelujah to our Lord because of all He has done for us…that’s my plan, won’t you join me?
Until we meet again, keep lifting your eyes to God, He’s closer than you think.
<>< Peace, Diane
