Good Friday is a reminder of what the Son of God had to endure in order for us to be saved. God was willing to sacrifice His own son, so that we could be with Him forever in glory some day. Before we get to celebrate the miracle of Easter, we must first come face to face with the gravity of Good Friday.
~730 years before the death of Jesus Christ:
The prophet Isaiah receives these words from God:
Isaiah 53: 5-11
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked wand with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." (ESV)
~11 hours before the death of Jesus Christ:
Mark 14: 53-61
"The high priests conspiring with the Jewish Council looked high and low for evidence against Jesus by which they could sentence him to death. They found nothing. Plenty of people were willing to bring in false charges, but nothing added up, and they ended up canceling each other out. Then a few of them stood up and lied: “We heard him say, ‘I am going to tear down this Temple, built by hard labor, and in three days build another without lifting a hand.’” But even they couldn’t agree exactly.
60-61 In the middle of this, the Chief Priest stood up and asked Jesus, “What do you have to say to the accusation?” Jesus was silent. He said nothing." (MSG)
~9 hours before the death of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 27: 12-14
"And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” And still He did not answer him in regard to even a single charge, so the governor was greatly amazed." (NASB)
Mark 15: 16-20
"The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified." (NLT)
Seconds before the death of Jesus Christ:
John 19: 28-30
"Jesus knew that everything was now finished. Everything happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen. He said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar full of sour wine near. They filled a sponge and put it on a stick and put it to His mouth. Jesus took the sour wine and said, “It is finished.” He put His head down and gave up His spirit and died." (NLV)
As we look at the cross on this Good Friday, let's not forget that we are the ones that should be up on that cross. We are the ones that have sinned against a holy and perfect God. Yet, the Lord loved us so much that He hung up in our place. He was truly "pierced for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53: 5, ESV). With belief in Christ, we are made new.
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