Good Friday

Why do we call it good Friday when the sinless son of God was put to death at the hands of
sinful men? Because God took the worst thing man has ever done, and transformed it into the
means of our forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. On one hand, a young child can understand
the Gospel (Matthew 18:3, Psalm 8:2): that Jesus took upon Himself our sin (I Peter 2:24) and was
despised and rejected, stricken, smitten, afflicted . . . crushed for our iniquities . . . the
punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:35). Yet none of us fully understand the depth of the mystery of Gods atoning work: that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting peoples sins against them (II
Corinthians 5:19). Yet just as salvation is not by works, neither is it by intellect but by grace
through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
As we reflect on this Good Friday, consider what the crucifixion of Jesus means according to
Gods Word. On Sunday, we will celebrate Christs resurrection and review biblical truth about the
greatest victory in the history of the world.
The cross of Christ shows the existence and extent of sin, with all of us guilty before God
o The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin (Gal 3:22)
o There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no
one who seeks God; all have turned away and have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one (Romans 3:10-12, Psalm 14:1-3)
The cross of Christ shows the result of our sin
o He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities (Is
53:5
o Sin when it is finished, brings forth death (James 1:15)
o The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal through Christ (Rm
6:23)
o Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Gal
3:13)
The cross of Christ demonstrates the love of God and His power over sin
o But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
o He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code that was against us
and stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross (Col 2:14)
The cross shows the obedience of Jesus and His sacrificial love for us
o I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me . . . and I
know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep . . . no one takes it from
Me, but I lay it down of My own accord (John 10:14-15)
o Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something
to be grasped but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant . . .
He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Ph
2:6-8)
The cross reveals the nature of God who overcomes evil with good

o By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering, He
condemned sin in sinful man (Romans 8:3)
o God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become
the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21)
o We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)