Good Friday- April 15, 2022

Here this evening not only to remember but to celebrate what this is. For us is a good Friday. So as right before we start singing tonight let's just quiet our hearts before him get our minds and hearts in the right place focused around remembering him and the pain that he went through and then later coming before his communion table.

A diva for me is the God the great divide to see.

The Sacrifice of Christ and the Meaning of Good Friday

And we'll spend some time in God's Word. Father we do praise you you are the God.

Of Calvary we thank you that you gave your one and only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. Thank you for the life that we have in Christ. And tonight we pray that you would help us remember the sacrifice that was made for us help us to dwell upon what Christ has done once and for all for the forgiveness of our sin in Jesus name.

Amen. Justice demands due process. That is to say Proverbs 18 17. One man seems right until another comes and examines him. There needs to be an opportunity for a person accused of to offer a defense and to give his side of the story.

I was once on a jury. Anybody here ever gotten jury duty. Oh boy it can be. It's a tough thing and yet it can also be very interesting. I was on a case where a man was accused of dealing drugs and we had to listen to the evidence against him.

There was an officer that testified that he sat in an unmarked car and watched these deals happen time after time. There was a stash of money that he had in his pocket small bills all wadded up amounting to a couple hundred dollars.

There was a stash that was found away from him but that people would go to after they handed money to him. All of this evidence was given to us the jury. Now after the prosecuting attorney pressed the case against him there stood a defense attorney and he began to question the credibility of that officer who had no pictures who had no video evidence only his word.

And then they began to question whether it was a crime to have a wad of cash in small bills. And they began to question whether he was at all connected with the stash that was just around the corner. All this to say in order for justice to be established there needs to be the hearing of a prosecuting attorney and then the defense.

Someone can speak on behalf of the accused and that defense is very important in order for there to be justice. Without that we don't know that justice was served. Well. How did the case turn out. It turned out a hung jury.

Some thought one way and the others were convinced by the defense. But all of it pointed to the need to have due process. Brothers and sisters those of you who believe in Jesus Christ something remarkable happened when Jesus was brought before the chief priests and scribes.

He was accused of many things. They tried to recruit witnesses against him. Finally two stood up who said that Jesus said he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. With this he was asked to give his defense.

Let's turn to Matthew chapter 26 and read the beginning of his sufferings. By the end of this part of the trial he will be ruthlessly attacked spat upon and mocked. But the point I want us to see as we read these few verses today is that Jesus voluntarily stood silent at his court in order that he would have something to say.

When we stand before the judgment of God. He stood silent willingly in order to take a punishment that we deserve so that he could speak up for us one day at the judgment seat of God. He did this. He took this punishment willingly.

Matthew 26 verse 57. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Caiaphas was indeed the high priest at the time. Some have wondered how there could have been two high priests according to the Bible's testimony.

But archaeological evidence has unearthed both Annas and Caiaphas who served during this time. In fact did you know that the very tomb of Caiaphas was discovered in 1990 and his bones in that tomb marked as Caiaphas.

He was a 60-something year old man when he died in 43 AD. So picture here this younger man standing in judgment over Jesus a real historical person proven by archaeology. These things actually happened.

It then says in verse 58. And Peter was following him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony.

That is false testimony. It says against Jesus that they might put him to death but they found none. Though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said this man said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.

Now pause there when Jesus said he could destroy a temple and rebuild it in three days we learn from him explaining to his disciples that by this he meant his body. The body which is actually the house of the Holy Spirit his own body being destroyed killed and laid in the ground he can resurrect on the third day.

And of course being God he could build a physical temple. No problem. If he can resurrect the dead he can do what he said. And yet they find this so incredulous. This claim actually to be blasphemous.

And so the high priest stands up in verse 62 and says. Have you no answer to make. What is it that these men testify against you. Now this again is the high priest. A true high priest is one who intercedes for people.

He is the go-between the the one who stands in on behalf of the guilty sinner to offer a sacrifice to reconcile the sinner to God. And yet this high priest has taken the opposite role. He is the accuser of Jesus.

He points the finger and he says. Have you no answer to make. Now before we read on which is the silence of Jesus in verse 63 I want you to think whether Jesus had an answer to make. He in fact had told the truth never had a lie past his lips.

Let God be true. And every man a liar Jesus had never told a lie. He could rebuild the temple of his body or a physical building. But more than that when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus they said who they were looking for.

And he answered to Jesus of Nazareth I am he ego a me. When he said I am the very power of his words not the soldiers to the ground. They became like dead men. Had he desired to speak he could have mowed them over with the power of his word the authority.

He has the very power of God in him. So considering that verse 63 it says. But Jesus remained silent. Those are the words I want for us to ponder right now and think about Jesus willingly held his peace.

He did not defend himself for a very important purpose. It was to become that Lamb of God that dies the death that we deserve. See we were guilty before the court not the court of man but the court of God.

And if Jesus had escaped this punishment he would not have died the death that we deserve. Isaiah 53 7 prophesied these words. You don't have to turn there. But you can if you like it says in the words of the Prophet 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 when it says. But Jesus remained silent in Luke 26 63 it is because like a lamb he is offering himself to go to the judgment to take a punishment that he doesn't deserve but a punishment that we do deserve.

Reading on it says. And the high priest said to him I adjure you by the Living God. Tell us if you are the Christ the Son of God. You see the priest at this point in the story does not have good enough evidence to crucify him.

He's trying to entrap him. And so he asked the question. Tell us are you the Christ the Son of God. It's not that he wants to know. He has already rendered judgment. Moreover he adjures him by the Living God not understanding that he's talking to the Living God God and flesh standing before him.

So he adjures him. If Jesus at this point continues to remain silent what would that say about his guilt. Well because he has been adjured by the name of the Living God it would be disrespecting that name for him to remain silent.

The priest would conclude you do not respect the name of God enough to answer this question. So he would be found guilty. But see he has nothing to hide and he answers said to him verse 64 you have said so now many have been puzzled by that expression.

But it's really just a way of saying yes. That was an idiom that was used at the time to say everything in your preceding question. I affirm what you have said namely that I am the Christ the Son of God.

I'm saying yes to what you've asked of me. He's not saying that he believes it. He's that that Caiaphas believes it but rather that Caiaphas has rightly spoken of who he actually is. You have said so yes I affirm.

But then he goes on to answer from the prophets again. But I tell you from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. This is a strong claim to be the Christ.

Turn back with me this time to Daniel chapter 7. The prophet Daniel had seen a vision of the ancient of days that is God the Father. But something remarkable happens that the Jews understood in reading the book of Daniel that it referred to the Messiah.

They understood that Daniel 7 pointed to the Messiah and so they were looking at this passage and would have understood clearly the reference that Jesus made in Daniel 7 9 to 12 we see the ancient of days and then reference to the Antichrist which will one day come.

But look at verses 13 and 14 it prophesies the Christ. Daniel wrote I saw in the night visions and behold with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. Mark two phrases there in your Bible clouds of heaven and son of man.

And he came to the ancient of days. So there is some distinction between the ancient of days that is the Everlasting Father and this one who is presented before him verse 14. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples nations and languages should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. The coming Messiah was to be the king the ruler with dominion in fact that all of the nations and all peoples of the earth would serve him and he would receive glory and kingdom and dominion.

All of these high praises for the coming Messiah. Now I told you to mark clouds and son of man. Turn back to Matthew chapter 26 and we're almost finished. Let's tie it all together. When Jesus says to Caiaphas in Matthew 26 verse 64 he is referencing Daniel chapter 7.

You have said so. But I tell you from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. He takes Daniel's prophecy and he applies it to himself affirming that he is in fact the Christ the Son of God as he affirmed but also the Son of Man fully God and fully human.

Going on in verse 65. Then the high priest tore his robes and said he has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need. You have now heard his blasphemy. His claim to be the Christ. They consider blasphemy.

His claim to be the Son of God the Son of Man they consider blasphemy. And so the judgment comes. And here the judgment is rendered against Jesus in verse 66. What is your judgment. They answered. He deserves death.

This is the judgment rendered against Jesus falsely accusing him of blasphemy. Had he desired to vindicate himself in this moment he had the power to do it. Yet like a lamb before the slaughter. Look what he does not for himself but for us.

They speak judgment death over him. The soul that sins shall die in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were told if you eat of this fruit you will surely die. The wages of sin is death. We deserve death.

We deserve judgment. And look what he allows them to do to him verses 67 and 68. Finally then they spit in his face and struck him and some slapped him saying prophesy to us. You Christ who is it that struck you.

In all of these things he could have fought. He could have spoken a word and mowed them down with the confession of who he is. But instead he remained silent in order that he would have something to say for us.

And this is the great gospel message that accepting a judgment that was owed to us Jesus then suffered in our place. From this point on he was mocked again and again treated mercy mercilessly beaten beyond the resemblance of a man and then given a crown of thorns upon his head to mock him.

He was led forth on the road to Calvary carrying a cross that was too heavy for him he stumbled under it and then going to the top of the hill called Calvary. He laid down and willingly gave himself for us.

He allowed the nails to be driven through his hands and his feet. He was hoisted up to hang and to die. This was a punishment but not a punishment that he deserved the soul that sins must die. But he was innocent.

We like sheep have gone astray but the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He is the Lamb of God. He went silently to the cross suffered and died in our place. He died the death that we deserve.

And now brothers and sisters you who believe in him he speaks. He speaks for you. He did not speak for himself but he speaks for you. Consider every sin that you have committed past present future. Every one of those sins is grounds for your condemnation grounds for you to be punished eternally separated from God cast off into hell outer darkness lake of fire the death that we deserve.

Yet he speaks for you. He is the true high priest a high priest who himself became the sacrifice. He is the lamb. And now that he has accomplished this once and for all death the punishment given to him now that he has done that brothers and sisters he speaks for you.

The book of Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 says. He ever lives to make intercession for you because he was silent he can plead something for you not that you are innocent but that he has satisfied your punishment.

And so he sits at the right hand of the father. He seated because the work is done nothing left to be done. And he intercedes on your behalf before the judge of all the earth. He pictured you when he was suffering when he was accused when he held his tongue it's because he knew what sins you and I would commit.

And he pictured you before the bar of God. When your sin would accuse you no one would have to stand up to accuse you. Your own conscience would testify against you. And here comes an intercessor a great high priest a true high priest who stands in for us and advocates and pleads his own blood over us that he died for us and he rose from the dead.

And now he ever lives to make intercession. Amen for what Christ has done for us. So an application on this Good Friday. Remember that Jesus speaks for you. Consider what mistreatment he had to silently accept in order for our sin to be imputed to him.

Having drunk our judgment in full he can now speak for us. Intercede for us as our high priest. He ever lives to make intercession for us. Moreover since all Jesus's claims are true offer him the praise that he deserves.

Fight the world's rage with highest praise. Did you see how they raged against him. And us and all the scribes Caiaphas they hated him. In Psalm chapter 2 we were told that the nations would be in a rage against him.

And it remains so today. And if that's the case if the nation's rage how much more. And how much louder should we praise. So with the remainder of this service we're going to sing again. Now worship team if you would come and then we're going to take communion in all of these things.

Let us worship as those who have been spoken for those who have an advocate a high priest at the Father's side who held his tongue at.

That bar in order to speak for us. Amen. Let's stand and sing Oh deep the Father's.

Love for us beyond all measure that he should give his only son a wrench his treasure. How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns his face away. Which bar the chosen one. These sons to glory show ashamed.

I hear my mocking voice. My sin that held him there until it was a calm. His dying breath has brought me his faith. Most in it will boast in Jesus Christ. Why should I gain from his reward. I cannot give an ass.

I know with all my have paid my ransom. Wonderful to hear how Jeff described the crucifixion. To see the pain written on his face. With the weight of sin heavy on him. Every bitter thought every evil deed crowning the dog of the darkest day.

It's not the road Christ communicating to us through his scriptures has ordained two.

The Lord’s Table, Baptism, and Personal Participation in the Story

Ordinances. One is in front of us right now it's the Lord's table. This is a unique opportunity for us to be partakers to what actually has happened through what Jeff has already talked about. The other baptism where we get to proclaim to the world the reality of the change that has been brought into us by his grace through faith that we become regenerated would become sanctify his propitiation of his blood.

We get to proclaim to the world that is our faith. Pastor Jeff has taken us into a narrative of what took place on that day. I want to challenge you to rethink what he has told you and not go like you were going to sight and sound and to see a production and to be at all at the message of that production.

I want you tonight to realize that you are part of that story. Each one of us are part of that story. I take that I take that on a foundation that we're taught that my sins were on him when he hung on that cross I was there because my sins were there.

And as he stood silent before the accusers we are all part of this narrative. This should be personal for us this should be life-changing for us. And we get to look at this elements that are in front of us right now.

And we are told by Paul do this in remembrance of me is what Jesus said. This is personal for us now Jesus was preparing for that and pointed time. He was preparing for what was to come. Why he came in the first place that cross was there perhaps as significantly as he knelt in the garden sweating drops of blood realizing that for that one instant in all of eternity the father was going to have to turn away because my sins were on him and God cannot abide sin.

And when he's on the cross Jesus said my God my God why have you forsaken me. The depth of his love. And so as he's getting ready as the time is coming near he starts to make preparations for one last moment of fellowship one last opportunity for teaching one more celebration of the Passover with his disciples.

And so he says as they approach go go and make preparations. It says in Luke 22 8. It was only four days earlier that they had walked into Jerusalem Jesus riding on a donkey and the people responded by saying Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

And now they would be yelling crucify him in just a few short hours. So he goes go make preparations for us to eat. The time of the prophecy has come as Isaiah says in Isaiah 53 verse 5. But he was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities. We were there. The punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed. Now as we prepare for the elements I'm gonna ask the service come forward and take a seat please.

I want you to realize three important aspects of what we're about to we're about to be part of. And the first is as he was taking his followers up to that upper room to celebrate the Passover. This is no coincidence you see the Passover points to the cross that blood that had to be slain that land had to be slain of the blood on the lentils.

The Passover path points us to the cross. And this table should be pointing us back to the cross. Do this in remembrance of me because it was my sin that put him there. The second point Jesus knowing that his time was come encouraged his disciples to participate.

Go and prepare the room. We cannot come here this evening having heard the message the pastor just gave us having heard these songs that we've just sung and just be participating as if we were sitting here.

We're participating as if we are here. This table is meant for us to remember. This table is meant for us to draw close to him. We cannot come here and just observe. We must be participating. And the third is that what was foretold by Isaiah was God's will from before the foundation of the earth.

God knew what a scoundrel I was going to be but yet he loved me anyway. And when Lucifer stood up in front of the throne of God and said his five I wills and the last one being I will make myself like the Most High.

And that lie has come into us. But God knew that this was going to happen and he knew that we could not fix it ourselves. So he ordained his son to go to the cross to shed his blood. He ordained that last supper in that upper room.

And he ordained that we would do this in remembrance of him bringing ourselves personally personally to this table. And before the throne we could come here in this evening with sin that has not been confessed.

Whether there's a pattern. And we're coming unworthily. How much worse we made it on that cross. It says that every person examines himself. Then in sowing of the bread and drink of the cup before we take these elements.

Take your time in your heart before the Lord. Prepare yourself for this time of the prayer. My Lord God I confess my unworthiness and I confess the sins. The sins that I quite frankly I do them with joy but that my heart is broken.

So I come to you Lord in confession in repentance seeking the cleansing of the blood that was shed on that cross claiming you standing in front of the throne on my behalf we claim this Lord. We come to you with hearts broken for our sins we come to dire to remember to celebrate your love.

We pray in Jesus name that says in starting at verse 23. For I received of the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me.

And so as we take this bread in your heart look to Jesus.

Remember his body on that cross. Lord Father God out of your great love you.

Sent your son to earth. We needed forgiveness that could only come through your son on that cross his body broken his blood shed as we take this element.

We remember the body of Christ take in the same way. Also he took the cup after.

Supper saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as off as you eat and this bread and drink.

This club you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Hey if Christ shed on.

That cross it must be shed for the forgiveness of sins so that when the father looks at me he sees not my sin but he sees me white as snow. And his son.

Saying I got that cover the blood of Christ. Take. Can we stand together is our.

Hope in life and death Christ alone Christ alone. What is our own confidence that a soul to him belong. Who holds our days within his hand. What comes apart from his command. What will keep us to the end.

The love of Christ in which we stand. Oh Christ our hope in life and death. Troubled soul is great in our grave holds our faith when fears arise. Who stands above the storm unto the shore the rock of Christ.

Oh a grave what shall.

We say.

Christ our hope in life. Oh sing hallelujah.

Return.

Oh sing I can bless Christ our hope in life and death.

Prayer Requests, Revelation 12, and Benediction

The benediction and close the prayer. Just wanted to share an update that.

Tomorrow is the funeral for Sue Lyons and the young lady who lost her mother there. Rachel and John please be in prayer for them. Also our beloved Fred Moore some of you know that the Messianic Jewish couple that attends here and has since a couple years ago he was riding his bicycle.

Fred was on Hartford Road and got hit by a truck and it is very tentative whether he he could still live. In fact I got to go in last night to the trauma center and they said he can't make it and his organs are shutting down and they're just trying to make him comfortable.

But today Bonnie called and said he seems to be stabilizing and so I'm hoping that a miracle could still happen. We read actually Psalm 118 over him which says he shall not die but live and we don't know if the Lord is in his will to do that.

But we read that and we're just praying for a big miracle that Fred would not die but live his whole family they're all still Jewish. It's only Fred and Bonnie that have come to believe in Messiah. And the daughters were there and they got to hear us praying and talking about Jesus the resurrection the life.

So pray for their salvation. But we're praying for our brother Fred to pull through. We believe that God can do it. So let's let me read first of all Revelation chapter 12 about that accuser and about the blood it says.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of God and the authority of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down. Who accuses them day and night before our God and they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony for they love not their lives even unto death.

Let's pray so father God we thank you so much tonight for the Jesus and we know that you have interceded for us to make us right before the father. Thank you so much for this Good Friday. It's your blood shed for us that makes it good the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

We do pray for Fred that he would not die but live in Jesus name that you would do a great miracle that confounds the doctors but even if it be your will to bring him home we trust in the resurrection in the life that we have eternal life with you.

We pray also for Rachel and John tonight and the whole family tomorrow as they grieve Lord that you would show up in a special way to comfort and bring the hope of salvation in Jesus name. We pray. We thank you again for this Good Friday in Jesus name amen go in peace.