Why did they crucify Jesus? Because it was a part of God’s eternal redemptive plan, for starters, but what did they write down in their court records? What was His crime? He was King of the Jews.
Jesus attests to this identity, as does Pilate, and later, the Roman soldiers. The magi came to Bethlehem, seeking Him by this title, and it was the written charge against Him as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:37). He wasn’t the king the Jewish people expected, nor was He the king they wanted. When “Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so’” (Mark 15:2). He made no defense because it was His very person that offended, His Kingship itself is an offense to every sinful heart. The Cornerstone is the stumbling block, the rock of offense. They mocked Him as He hung on the cross, but their tongues unwittingly confessed Him as “Messiah, the King of Israel.”
In his letter to the Romans, the indictment that Paul brings against unbelievers is not that they do not know the truth, but that they know it, and yet suppress it: “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). Though He came to humanity in flesh and blood, “he was despised, and we didn’t value him” (Isaiah 53:3).
Pilate and the Jewish people did not need more evidence of who Jesus was in order to believe. They rejected the evidence that was right in front of them. Indeed, when at the end “Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last,” even this testified to who He is in such a way that when the centurion witnessed His death, the soldier said, ‘“Truly this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:37,39).
Each Lenten season, the Church remembers the long journey Christ walked to the cross. Each year, we encounter the same evidence, the same professions of Jesus’s Messiahship, the same hardened hearts that do not like the truth before them. The goodness of Good Friday is that Christ came to redeem blind, deaf, and rebellious people just like us. He came to bear upon Himself the guilt of our sin:
“He was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds” (Isaiah 53:5).
The goodness of Good Friday is that because He walked silently to the cross, like a Lamb to slaughter, not protesting the punishment meted out upon Him, we have hope. He was rejected by God that we might be made acceptable to God, a people for His own possession. This was the promise given through Jeremiah: “I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33). See as the centurion did, the truth that is already before our eyes, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and He has purchased our salvation! Thanks be to God!
The nature of Jesus’ crucifixion was awful, imbued with humiliation and suffering. The almighty Creator of the world, holy and without sin, was beaten, mocked, and scorned by those He came to save. The spotless lamb of God betrayed and broken for us.
Good Friday is ‘good’ because it was the day that hope began. Jesus endured the cross knowing that it led to His resurrection, our salvation. He loved us so much that He was willing to die in our place, take the punishment we deserved, so that we could be restored into a right relationship with God. By His wounds we are healed and through faith in Him we are redeemed. Only by this we know love; that Christ laid down His life for us.
Today, may we pause to reflect on the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. May our hearts be filled with praise and thanksgiving to our King who lavishly poured out His mercy and grace so that we could become His children. May we wait in eager expectation for Jesus’ resurrection.
Blessings to all my sisters in Christ on this Good Friday.
Yes, Churchmouse, you are right. I am truly longing for our normal Holy Week observances, too.
Last night, during our online Mandy Thursday Communion Service, our pastor remarked that one definition of sacrifice is giving up something good for something better. By staying home this weekend and worshipping from our individual homes, we are collectively doing something good for something better….the hope to gather and worship together again in the future. It was such a blessing to see pictures of families and their communion elements, gathered by moms and dads and children in their homes to commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper in such a personal way. What a sacred time for us to experience, apart and yet together. The altar has once again been brought into the center of our homes. There, we will gather on Easter Sunday to worship the Risen Lord!!! Thank you, Jesus.
Oh Jesus we are so unworthy and yet you pour out your love for us.
I cry out when one thorn pierces my skin when pruning in my garden, the pain you went through – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual is truly unfathomable to us. There is no other response than to fall on our faces in humility and acknowledge you as Lord of all.
Oh my Jesus forgive everytime I have failed to live as if you are the Lord of my whole life. Wash me anew this day and may I, with your help, truly reflect you to the watching world.
Waiting with you in the brokenness today sisters.
I remember a Good Friday sermon as a new Christian (I think by Tony Evans) “But Sunday’s Coming”. We can’t overlook Christ’s ultimate sacrifice-an agonizing death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. But we must look ahead to His Resurrection! Without this we would not have our promise & hope of eternal life with Him. Glory, glory hallelujah—we serve a living Savior!!
You are exactly right. Sunday is coming!!!
Thank you Jesus for suffering the weight of my sins on the cross and dying so that we may live! Our world is being torn apart by this pandemic, but it’s not the world we’re meant for thanks to Your sacrifice. Thank you for the reminder to have faith and not be fearful.
Good morning I remember as a child watching the crucifixion play out on t.v. this time each year and one time in particular I cried so hard and I kept asking my Mommy why did they kill Jesus why did they kill Jesus she hugged me looked me in my eyes and said it was a good thing that he was killed he came what’s the purpose to die that we may be saved and although I never really understood it as a child I like him daily that he came to die for our sins my sins that his blood washes us and purify us and make us able to go to the throne room of God hallelujah hallelujah glory to God glory to the king the most high King thank you Jesus for loving us so now I look and I cry tears of gratitude understanding if it had not been for the Lord where would I be did in sorrow but today I stand in peace in love thanking God for his Mercy everyday making sure that Jesus is shared in my walk and my talk.and no I don’t get it right every day but it’s for this cause did he come hallelujah hallelujah glory to God in the highest!!!
Praying this morning for all of us who are under “stay at home orders.” Our normal Good Friday remembrance services are not available for attendance in person. I will miss my “normal” Good Friday events but I pray that we all still remember this day in a way unique to our circumstances. All of you SRT friends are in my prayers today. Let us hunker down, in our homes, before the Cross today.
This Good Friday is a gift. Good Friday 2020 is like no other. Even the weather is different. There is unexpected snow on the ground. I am not getting up and going to the local community Women’s Good Friday Breakfast. I’m not going to my church’s evening Good Friday service. Instead I am noting this day at home with my husband. We are not relying on the efforts and talents of others to mark this day. My husband and I will be a congregation of two. Though only two, we are no less the church. We have planned our own remembrance. It will be personal and private and it will be perhaps the most memorable Good Friday we will ever have. Thank You, God, for this gift.