Good Friday Service
March 29, 2024
What Kind of King is He?
A View From the Criminal on the Cross
Welcome to our Good Friday service. Let us gather with humble and grateful hearts this evening as we reflect on the amazing love of our God that He should make a way for the lost and condemned sinner to be found, redeemed, and made whole through the death of our Savior on a cross-meant only for the worst criminals. Something so horrific, that only God can turn it for good and make it beautiful. This is why we remember the events of Good Friday; for the love that said, I will leave glory and come to earth in the form of man, and I will take the punishment and pay the penalty for the sin of the world, so you will never be condemned, but will be able to enjoy a loving relationship with Me for all eternity. So I will come as the lamb to be slain and through My blood that is spotless and pure, all sin will be atoned. Through My blood sin will be forgiven and those who believe will be seen as righteous before the Father. Through My blood, they will be made holy and it will be glorious!
Call to Worship:
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy . . . , because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:6a, 9-14
The cross was the chosen path to not only our King’s victory, but all of ours as we believe. There is no other way to this victory but through the cross and Jesus’ death.
Let us sing and lift up worship to the Lamb who is worthy of all praise, the Lamb who was slain for you and me, and to the Lamb who is victorious for all eternity! Let the power of the cross pierce your heart tonight. Let His love for you, overwhelm you.
Praise Songs
Tonight as we lead into the events leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross, I want us to consider the view of one of the criminals who joined Jesus on the cross. This man along with the other criminals were justly punished for their crimes on that day. They were receiving the punishment that was given for the actions they took. Their lives were quickly coming to a close, but something miraculous was about to happen; something that would change one criminal’s life for eternity. You see it wasn’t just any other criminal next to him; he was about to encounter the Son of God face to face and how Jesus responds tells us everything about why He went to that cross and how God weaves beauty into such a horrific scene.
Let’s begin and see where we find Jesus moments before His arrest.
We’ll look across the Gospels for different moments leading up to this encounter between Jesus and the criminals.
Matthew 26 shows us Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane and he’s very distraught because he knows the agony that will soon be upon him. He knows the horror he will have to endure.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
And the humanness of Jesus cries out to his Father: 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Now we tend to read that all together right away if he were saying take this away but nope I guess not, so ok we’ll just move forward with your will.
I don’t think that’s how it went. I think Jesus was afraid, heavily weighed down by the burden he was carrying and his heart was pleading- take this away from me Father. His heart was asking, does it have to be this way?
To which the Father responded to His Son, “It does. There is no other way. You must drink the cup of death is take on the sins of the world. It is your moment-this is why you came.”
Then I believe after wrestling with this, Jesus surrendered and said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
We need to remember Jesus was man also and what he surrendered to was incredible.
It wasn’t long after that Judas, the betrayer, came with a crowd to arrest Jesus. He greets him on the cheek with a kiss like friends would do. Jesus says to him, “Do what you came for friend.”
Jesus willingly went with the soldiers and didn’t resist. When Peter tried to defend Jesus, he was rebuked and Jesus said,
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
Jesus is led away and his disciples are scattered in fear of their own lives.
Jesus is brought before the High Priest and the religious leaders were searching for evidence against Jesus that would condemn him to death but they couldn’t find any. Someone finally said, “this man said he was able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days.”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
Matthew 26: 63-64 The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
They did not care for his response and this sealed Jesus’ fate.
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Early in the morning, they hauled Jesus to stand before Pilate, the governor so he might sentence him to death, by crucifixion-only meant for the worst criminals.
Matthew 27 records Jesus’ and Pilate’s encounter.
Notice what question Pilate asks Jesus.
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. Jesus never had to call himself king-others around him did it over and over again. He simply agreed when they stated what is true.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
After examining Jesus, Pilate finds no reason to sentence Jesus to death. His preference is to release him in fact. The crowds became infuriated influenced by the Pharisees and religious leaders. They were set on having Jesus killed and they would not take no for an answer. At this time of year, Pilate had a tradition to release one prisoner per the crowd's choosing so he asked them who do you want me to release, Jesus, this man who I find no reason to sentence to death, or Barrabus, a criminal who began an insurrection and is a murderer. Pilate thought this would be easy, but to his surprise, we read in
Matthew 27: 22-23 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
So Pilate who had the power to release Jesus, concedes and gives into the shouting and insistent crowd. He condemns Jesus to a crucifixion death and releases a known criminal back into society. Jesus said nothing.
The soldiers took Jesus and stripped him of his clothes, putting a scarlet robe on him and began to mock him.
Matthew 27:29 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. Jesus said nothing and took it.
And they led Jesus along with the two criminals who would be crucified with him that day, to Golgatha, the place of the skull. There they crucified each one. Above Jesus they nailed a sign as a final symbol to mock this supposed king who didn’t even fight back.
Matthew 27:37 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
The crowds continued to hurl insults to Jesus as he was in agony, his chest growing heavy and breathing growing more and more difficult. The religious leaders taunted him.
Matthew 27:42-43 2 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
All the while this is all happening two others are watching-the two criminals on the cross who were judged for their crimes; who also were feeling the agony of crucifixion; who knew they only had moments left that were sure to be pure torture. One joined in with the crowd and hurled insults at Jesus as well.
But the other was watching and he is questioning all that is being said about this man hanging next to him. Surely, he’s heard the talks about Jesus’ miracles during his ministry. He is wondering why is this man here, truly? What has he done so make these leaders so mad, that would put him in this position alongside of us true criminals? He begins to see Jesus in a new light. He ponders, they only kill a king who has a kingdom-a king who has power they are threatened by. His heart is stirred as he looks upon this man on the cross and he knows this is no ordinary man; this is a king and one not of this world.
And instead of hurling insults to Jesus, we see he defends him!
Luke 23:39-41 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
And there we see when God, the Father, had to turn His face away from His Son who had now taken on the sins of the world, and that left Jesus feeling very alone and forsaken; God calls upon a criminal to speak on behalf of His Son. This is a beautiful moment here. Jesus with barely any strength left, lifts his head at these words being spoken on his behalf and love floods his heart for he knows this sinful criminal, believes and has chosen faith. This man right here and his decision to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King, was why He went to the cross, and for everyone else who would believe.
Jesus saw the criminal when everyone else had him sentenced and condemned and were just waiting for him to die. Jesus saw him and took notice of him. He had compassion on him.
Jesus Sees You.
He sees you too-in your lowest, darkest moments. He sees you and takes notice of you. He saw you when He hung on the cross-that is the amazing and wonderful mystery of God- He sees all of us even before we were born. He knows our path, our choices, our rebellion, and He has compassion on us, just as he did for that man next to him.
The criminal looking in the face of Jesus, seeing his own utter despair through eyes of unbending grace and he humbly makes this plea:
Luke 23: 42-43 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus Love You.
You see Jesus can’t help but respond to a repentant heart. Love moves Him and He instantly and fully forgave this man who chose to believe Him for who He is. In an instant, this condemned criminal’s life was forever changed. No more would be how he would be known as the rebellious, wreck loose, who couldn’t measure up. Forevermore, he would be seen as chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and loved.
His story is our story too. We might have committed the same crimes as this man hanging next to Jesus, but we were all sentenced to death for our sins; we were all condemned in our sin-guilty until we looked into those same eyes of unbending grace and said, “Jesus I believe.” In His love, we are instantly and fully forgiven, our slate wiped clean, our past remembered no more, and we are given a new identity that matches that of the criminal- chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and loved as a child of God.
So, Jesus did what only Jesus could do to ensure His promise was kept for that man on the cross and for all of us who believe in Him. He finished what He was sent to do as the sacrificial lamb for all of humanity.
From 9 am until 3 pm that afternoon Jesus endured the agony of the cross with all of us in mind.
Jesus Died For You.
Luke 23:46 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Jesus went to the lowest point possible in order to lift up all of humanity who would respond to His call of salvation. There is no place so low that you have been or will be yet, that Jesus hasn’t gone lower still to meet you where you are. There is no pit too deep; no darkness too dark; no wrong committed that He can’t rescue you and pull you back up on His firm foundation. There is nothing you can do to separate you from His love that sent Him to the cross.
I heard a song recently that made me think of this criminal on the cross and the interaction he had with Jesus. It’s powerful. When he was at the lowest moment of his earthly life-Jesus went lower still. I want you to think of him and think of your own life too as we listen to it. Just take it in and see the depths of Jesus’ love and how mighty He is to save. How mighty He is to save you and to heal every wound in your heart.
Song-Lower Still
As you’re listening, you have papers in the pews. If there was a low place Jesus has rescued you from it down and thank Him that He went lower still, so you could be lifted up.
Communion:
Now we’ll move into communion.
Sinner’s prayer
I am going to invite you to come forward and I will offer you communion directly tonight. If you wrote something on the paper I invite you to place it on the cross tonight and leave it there because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross-he went lower still for you and you are not there anymore as you believe in Him.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Jesus calls us to remember His great sacrifice so we are continually aware of His love beyond measure and there were no lengths He wouldn’t go to rescue and redeem us. When He was with His disciples for the final Passover meal He took the bread and gave thanks for it and He said, “This is my body given for you. Take and eat, in remembrance of me.” He then took the cup of wine and gave thanks to the Father and said, “This is my blood poured out for the sins of many, and through my blood is the new covenant of grace offered to you. Take and drink this in remembrance of me.”
9 Since we have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19–22
Let us come forward and share in communion and leave our shame, regrets, and low spots on the cross where they belong. Let us be lifted up on the firm foundation of Christ for this is why He died, so we could live anew through Him.
Song Love Ran Red
Let us live in honor of Christ’s sacrifice and recognize our death to our old sinful nature. Let us commit to live for Him who gave His life for us!
Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Prayer: 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:9-11
Song Holy Forever
Final Blessing: "We adore you, Jesus, our Lord, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Let us be imitators of Christ and walk in love, as Christ loved us and delivered himself up for us" Go in peace that Jesus offers through our reconciliation with God. Go in hope as we await Easter Sunday, knowing our Savior is risen from the grave!
