Good Friday
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Notes
Transcript
Tonight, we will have a series of readings and reflections—from the Gospel of Luke.
We chose Luke’s account because right now, our church is in a series in the book of Acts. Both Acts and the Gospel of Luke—were written by the same person—Luke.
After each reading, we will give you a chance to think, pray, even discuss with your neighbor or a friend or family member you brought.
I will have a brief comment or 2, especially if something is confusing.
During that reflection time, We have a sheet that you can write something down if you feel so led.
I will read the first one in Luke 22:63.
This is after Jesus had been arrested.
5 Readings:
Rick reads:
Luke 22:63–23:12 (NIV)
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.
64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.
(so this is the Jewish religious council—and they could only “officially have a formal trial after daylight)
67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
(Jesus is in an impossible situation)—if he says “yes” they will accuse him of blasphemy and stirring up the people; if he says “no” it will invalidate his entire ministry.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me,
68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” (that’s a claim to be God)
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. (Roman governor)
(this fulfills Luke 18—where Jesus predicted he would be handed over to the Gentiles)
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” (notice how the charges from the Jewish leadership are more political than religious in nature)
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
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.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.
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.
12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
Comments:
Reflection:
What is your reaction to this passage?
What do we learn about Jesus here?
how do I relate to Pilate—do I want to please people more than God?
how do I relate to King Herod—do I want to have Jesus do what I want—do I demand things from Jesus?)
(delete — How was Jesus treated—by the guards? By the Roman governor Pilate? By King Herod—Jewish king?
Certainly—Jesus experienced massive injustice all around…how does this make you appreciate and worship Jesus more?)
someone else read: ____________
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,
14 and said to them, “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.”
17
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
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.
Comments:
back then, the Jews had the right to sentence a person to death only if that person violated the sanctity of the temple. but in other cases like this—they relied on the Roman authorities to carry out the death sentence.
Reflection:
How do you react to this passage?
Why do you think Barabbas is introduced...
(Pause)
I personally believe Barabbas is introduced to illustrate what Jesus is doing—Jesus is taking the place of a murderer, for someone who started a rebellion. quite the opposite of Jesus. and this reminds us that Jesus is dying in place of criminals, rebels…he is the substitution bearing Barabbas’ sins and ours in our place.
let’s go to our 3rd reading....
someone read: ______________
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar
37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
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.”
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.”
Comments:
—explain verses 28-31?
let’s look at those again because they are unique to Luke...
28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
why weep for themselves? because judgment from God is coming. because they refused to accept Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, and Lord...
verse 29
29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
that is opposite of what they wanted back then. People were considered blessed if you had lots and lots of children.
but since judgment is coming—it is better if they don’t have children.
vs. 30 continues that theme of judgment
30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
that’s language from the book of Hosea in the OT—language of God’s judgment. God’s judgment will be so intense for rejecting him—they will long for even the mountains and hills to fall on them and cover them from the wrath of God.
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
when the tree is green—reference to Jesus and his good news—they are present.
dry = the time of God’s judgment.
and while this passage talks about judgment...
it talks about the one who is experiencing God’s judgment for us—in our place—we don’t have to go through God’s judgment b/c Jesus took it...
even in the criminal’s last moment—he believed in Jesus—and that was enough…to spend eternity with Jesus. amazing!
Reflection:
How does this passage make you appreciate Jesus more?
someone else read: ______________
Luke 23:44–49 (NIV)
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
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.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Comments:
with the temple curtain being torn—this would have most likely been the curtain separating the most holy place from the holy place in the temple.
the most holy place was where the ark of the covenant was held, symbolizing God’s most sacred presence, and only the high priest could enter behind the curtain once a year on what is called the Day of Atonement.
now that it is torn—this means
we now approach directly into God’s presence b/c of Jesus’ death on our behalf—we don’t need a high priest. Jesus was the perfect high priest.
the temple in Jerusalem is no longer considered to be the center of God’s presence.
Time of Communion from Luke
We are going to transition to a time of communion. (have baskets up front)
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
bread = body
wine/cup = blood
Reflection:
Take a moment and reflect on the death of Jesus
rick read:
Comments:
Holy Saturday…final comment
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,
51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
what is the point of Holy Saturday…we think about Good Friday and Easter Sunday…but what about Jesus’ burial? what was Jesus doing between His death in the grave Friday, and His resurrection Easter Sunday...
good question—I can’t answer every thing about this—it’s a little debated.
but we know from Jesus’ words on the cross—that he told the thief hanging next to him—You will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
his soul/spirit went to be with the Father and other righteous believers....
we don’t believe he actually descended into hell as the apostle’s creed says.
I have an article up here that dives a little bit deeper into this—where did Jesus go when he died..where did the OT believers go when they died. It’s extremely helpful.
but there is a pastoral point to Holy Saturday.
It’s worth noting that Jesus was not raised immediately. There was a waiting time.
and Paul says this burial time was significant
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
surely, the disciples back then on Saturday were waiting, and dejected, and grieving. they tried to make sense of the shock of what had happened. could this really be the end of Jesus? and His movement? they hid behind locked doors in fear and despair.
one writer says “We have similar feelings when we face death or disappointment. no matter how strong our faith....this is just not how it’s supposed to be....we find ourselves waiting…lamenting…groaning...”
Holy Saturday reminds us of that time of waiting...
Holy Saturday tells us that Jesus entered death and stayed dead. The gap was long enough that he truly tasted death (Hebrews 2:9) and experienced the pangs of being in death’s grip (Acts 2:24).... And his disciples experienced his death as if it were permanent. Stunningly, this is good news for us. (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-day-jesus-stayed-dead)
why? because Christ can relate to us…
why? because God doesn’t always show up right away…there’s a gap between Friday and Sunday—a time of waiting on Saturday...
why? because we are reminded that even in the waiting, when all hope seems lost…God has a plan…
Holy Saturday reminds us of that....that we are to look to God in the sorrow of waiting....
I want to invite Mike and Gabe forward...