Good Friday Service 2023

It is Finished! 

So Which Voice Are You Listening to, the Crowd or the Cross? 

Welcome: 

We gather in reverent worship this evening to give thanks to our “Savior, who took what we deserve, so we could receive what He deserved.” -Bill Johnson. 

We look upon the old rugged cross and sing of its greatness, wonder, and power -not because of the cross itself, but entirely because of who was laid upon that cross and the power that was on Him that now also flows to all who believe in Him. 

Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Son of Man, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, and King of kings. 

Call to Worship: Psalm 22: 27-31 NIV 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

 

Prayer: Holy Spirit we invite You here to help us remember this divinely ordained and pivotal moment in our Christian faith. Stir in our hearts the significance of the cross and the power You bring forth through it because of Jesus. Cause our hearts to believe. Cause our hearts to be humbled before You Lord. Cause our hearts to be reverent for who You are and always will be. Fall on us tonight Holy Spirit and take us to this moment in our hearts. Let us hear the power spoken through the cross, over all the other noise in our lives today. Everything we believe rests on this truth:  Jesus was the Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of the world. Jesus was the atonement who gave His very life for the sins of humanity. He was and is our redemption before God. He made a way for us to draw near to God again and not only have right standing with Him but to have a relationship with Him again, as was God’s original plan in the garden with Adam and Eve. 

John 3:16-17 NIV  16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We thank You, Almighty, loving, and merciful God. We thank You, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. We thank You Holy Spirit who manifests the power of  God and joins us to Him. Come and have Your way in our hearts today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Song At the Cross

Tonight, as we remember and reflect on the significance of this day in our Christian faith we’re going to look at two different voices speaking in the events leading up to our Savior’s death. I want you to listen in your heart this evening as to which speaks louder. I want to encourage you to reflect on which voice you have been listening to in your life. There is one voice we should listen to above all others- that is the Voice of Truth. And that truth is found at the cross. 

Play Video- Oh the Wonderful Cross

Let’s look back at the Gospels and see what was being said and what wasn’t, the day that our Savior died on the cross for us. 

The religious leaders wanted Jesus out of the picture. He was causing too much of a stir and threatening their power and positions. So they schemed for a way to get him arrested. 

Matthew 26: 3-5 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Judas, one of Jesus’ followers and disciples allowed satan to enter his heart, and satan gladly walked right in. Judas listened to satan’s voice to scheme against Jesus. Judas became a pawn for the religious leaders to use who were also being led by the evil one. This is how satan works we must know this- we think it’s our own great ideas, but really, it’s him scheming through us to accomplish his purposes without any care in the world in how it will affect us-in fact, he hopes we blindly walk straight into our own destruction-unaware he was guiding us all along. This is what is happening here.                                                                                                                                               

We read in Matthew 26: 14-16 14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Judas found that opportunity when Jesus was praying in the garden and he led the way with the priests and soldiers to find Jesus. Jesus didn’t fight or resist them and in fact rebuked Peter for trying to defend him with the sword, telling Peter to put that away. He allowed them to arrest Him, for this was the fulfillment of what He had come for. The hour had come. 

Matthew 26: 55-56 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” 

The priests brought Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas the high priest. 

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

In the Gospel of Mark, we also read of this exchange with Jesus and Caiaphas: 

Mark 14: 60-63  60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

Truth was spoken and their hearts were hardened to it; they would not listen. Oh that our hearts are not hardened to the wonderful truth of who Jesus Christ is and why He came.                                                                                                  The chief priests and high priest all condemned him as worthy of death.

We read in Matthew 27 how this moves very quickly along without proper trials. Very early in the morning, the religious leaders take Jesus before Pilate so he might be condemned to death. Israel didn’t have a law to execute someone but Rome did. 

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans on how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

All for 30 silver coins, that he didn’t even keep, and riddled with so much remorse and grief, he took his own life. 

Jesus was now standing before Pilate: 

Matthew 27: 11-14 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.

Slide 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.

During the festival, it was customary for the governor to speak to the crowd and offer the release of one of Israel’s people as a prisoner. There was a man named Barabbas who was a prisoner who had led an insurrection and was a murderer. He also had Jesus in custody. He asked the crowd, whom do you want me to release? 

Pilate knew this was all manipulation out of self-interest on the priests’ part. So he asked the crowd, who do you really want released? 

Slide Mark 15: 9-11 9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

The chief priests and their manipulating voices were louder. 

As Pilate was sitting in his judge’s seat, his wife came up to give him wise counsel, but the crowd was louder. 

Matthew 27: 19-20 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”      20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

The crowd shouted to release Barabbas. Pilate asked what should I do with Jesus then? 

The crowd yelled, “Crucify him!” 

Pilate said, “Why I find no basis to charge this man with death?” 

In the Gospel of Luke, we see the chief priests continuing to push for the death of Jesus. They were not giving in. 

Luke 23: 5-7 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

So on they go before Herod for Jesus to be on trial with him. Herod was quite pleased to see Jesus and hoped he would perform an impressive wonder and miracle before his eyes-purely for his entertainment. 

Slide Luke 23: 9-11 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

Notice all this time and with all these questions, Jesus never responded, except when they would state the truth themselves about who He was. He did not defend Himself or make a plea to save Himself. While others continued to hurl false accusations about him, sending Jesus to His certain death, He remained silent. But His silence would speak volumes. He knew who He was and is; He knew why He came and He knew His purpose that had to be fulfilled. He didn’t need to defend Himself. He is the voice of Truth; He is the Word of God who became flesh; He is the Light of the World who came to set the captives free and He would accomplish that which He came for. 

Back to Pilate, they go. Herod had nothing more to do with Jesus. Pilate wanted nothing more to do with Jesus and yet there He was in front of him again with the crowds growing more and more insistent. 

Pilate tries to reason with the crowd in Luke 23: 14-16 “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 

The crowd shouted louder, Away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate tries to appeal to the crowd again, but they shouted louder yet-crucify him!

The Gospel of John records how Pilate tried to remove himself from this unjust act: 

John 19: 6-11 But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

But the leaders come up with one more reason to ensure Jesus’ death- 

7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Remember the dream Pilates’s wife had and the counsel she gave him to not do anything to harm this innocent man… 

8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Pilate thought in that moment he was holding all the power over Jesus’s life. Jesus made sure Pilate knew who really had authority and who was allowing all of this to play out as it was. 

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, but the crowd continued to persist and came up with the final deciding factor that made Pilate cave to their demands. 

John 19:12 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

Pilate did not want to get on Caesar’s bad side. He gave into the demands and influence of the crowd over what he knew was right in his heart. 

Luke 23: 24-25 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Mark 15: 22-24 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

The crowds jeering and insults continued: 

Mark 15:29-32  29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

That we may see and believe…

Jesus calls us to believe in Him first, and then He opens the eyes of our hearts so we will see. 

Matthew 27: 45-46 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

Jesus had taken on the sins of the world and with sin upon Him, Jesus felt the separation of God and it was crushing to Him. He felt God’s face turn away. Yet He would ensure the purpose for which He was sent was accomplished. 

John 19: 28-30 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, 

Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27: 51-52 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

The wrath of God was satisfied in the death of His Son, Jesus. The debt was paid for the sins of humanity. For all who believed, the slate would be wiped clean and their sins forgiven. 

Matthew 27:54 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

This Roman soldier listened to the voice of the cross and his heart believed. 

The cross spoke the loudest and in the most profound way-forgiveness for the sins and righteousness with God for all who believe in Jesus; victory over death for all who receive Him as their Savior and Lord. The cross still speaks yet today- freedom from oppression and the chains that bind us, peace from our worries and fears, and hope for our future. 

When Jesus finally spoke, He said “It is finished.” 

Do you believe Him that it is finished in your life too? Do you listen to Him, to the Voice of Truth, or do you like the people on this day, give in to the influences, voices, and demands of the world around you? 

If the work Jesus came to do was truly finished that day as He gave His last breath on the cross, then we all have a choice to make right now, whose voice is louder in our life? The crowds that will always be shouting something to draw us away from God and towards selfish gain, or the Cross that draws us unto Jesus and His righteousness? 

Jesus didn’t endure all that He did, for us to live defeated, without hope, tossed about by the many voices pushing and pulling us, to live selfishly seeking all that makes us happy. Jesus died for us so we might be holy, in Him. 

He is the Way, the Life, and the Truth. And that way is through the cross. As Jesus died, so must we, put to death our soulish ways; our selfishness that seeks to chase after whatever pleases us; our self that rebels against God-we are to crucify that part of us on the cross with Him, and take hold of this new life we have been given, to honor this new life we have been given, and to walk confidently and boldly in the power of Christ in us that is the same power that raised Him from the dead. This is what Jesus meant when He said it is finished. We are not to keep striving in our own limited abilities because we have His power flowing in us. We are simply to keep in step with Him and live in the victory He brought forth. It’s His victory, He did it! We are blessed to share in it.  Since it is finished, which voice will you choose to listen to? I pray it is the powerful voice of the cross speaking to your heart. 

Prayer: 

Father we thank You for Your amazing love-so divine, it demands my soul, my life, my all. We are in awe that You would send Your only Son to die on the cross, for us; that You have such a great love for us. We will cling to the old rugged cross so one day we may exchange it for a crown. Jesus, our wonderful Savior, we come before You in humble adoration and we will joyfully tell the story of Your great love and sacrifice all the days of our lives so that Your death will never be in vain but forever glorified. Thank You for taking our place and exchanging our death with eternal life in You. Thank you, Lord, for the covering of Your blood over our lives and our souls. Bless You, Lord Jesus. Amen. 

 

Our hearts and minds are made pure by the blood of Jesus-our stains washed away. Nothing but the blood of Jesus will make us clean, right, or holy before God. We can’t give or earn our way into righteousness or ever be a good enough person. We simply have to believe in Him, receive Him as our Savior, and ask for our sins to be forgiven.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 

Jesus is the way, the life, and the truth.  Play song

Sinner’s Prayer   Offer your heart to Him now tonight. 

His body was given for the sins of the world. He tells us to eat the bread as a symbol and reminder of His sacrifice. Let us share in remembrance of His sacrifice. His blood was poured out to cleanse our stains and make us righteous before our Holy God. He tells us His blood represents the covenant of grace He ushered in. Let us drink in remembrance and with grateful hearts. Lord, we thank You, on this day especially as we remember You gave Your life, Your very blood, for us. You are our Messiah. We need you, Lord. Bless Your name, Jesus. We exalt You, Lord.  

Come forward for communion and if you have something you want to let go of and release tonight, a voice you have been listening to over the truth in the cross; a habit that keeps you from being close to God; the pride that tells you don’t need any help; or any part of your fleshly nature you need to yet crucify at the cross- write it down, commit to release it from your heart tonight and pin it to this cross and leave it there as you get your communion. 

1 John 1:9 promises 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Song- Lead Me to the Cross. 

Final Blessing: By his stripes, we are healed. By his wounds, we are made whole.
Go in the name of Jesus Christ and live in the salvation made possible by the Goodness of this Friday.  May you leave this place with the assurance of forgiveness that is made possible
through the sacrifice of Christ. Go forth in hope and anticipation of the ultimate victory that comes with Easter.