“The Friday Before Easter”
CD No.______
Time: 4/17/ 2011 – Sun. 11 am
Text: Luke 23: 32-46 - www.coolspringsbaptistchurh.org
------Introduction: I want to use the subject, “The Friday before Easter.” Now, there are some that says that this is not the exact date, but we have been observing this time for many years. The exact time is not important; what happened is important. Briefly, I want us to think about three things in our message today.
1. The Suffering
2. The Salvation
3. The Silence
I. The Suffering
From Luke 22; 63 to Luke 23:25 we find that Jesus went to trial before Pilate. Pilate finding no fault in Jesus sent him to Herod. Herod also found no fault in Jesus. Then Pilate finally gives in to the people who want to crucify Jesus and release Barabbas who was a criminal. I don’t have time to get into all of that in this message.
I. The Suffering Prior To The Cross
If we go back to Matthew 27: 26-31 we can get a picture of how bad Jesus was mistreated before he got to the cross.
V.26-Then release he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.27-Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the hole band of soldiers. 28-And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.{ they were mocking him}29-And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews.30.And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.31-And after that they mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put on his own raiment on him, and led Him away to crucify him .Etc. on the thing they done to make Him suffer.
Now, in case you don’t see how bad this was that took place before Christ was put on the cross, listen to this verse.
Isaiah 52: 14-As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men.
I believe that Isaiah 42:14 has reference to how Jesus looked before they put him on the cross. You could not even recognize that Jesus was a human being when you looked upon his face.
Eventually they nailed Jesus to a cross, which was unbearable within itself, and then they dropped the cross into the hole which tore the flesh loose from his hands and feet.
The Suffering Prior To The Cross
II. The Suffering Pain On The Cross
There was the suffering from hanging on the cross from the nails or spikes that were driven through his hands and feet.
There was the suffering from the reproach.
There was the suffering from the Father having to turn his back on his Son because his Son who knew no sin became sin.Mattthew 27:46 –My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.
There was the suffering that came about from hanging in that hot eastern sun. Listen to these words in Psalm 22: 14-I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15-my strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
He was so dehydrated that his tongue stuck to his jaw.
The Suffering
II. The Salvation
A. The Salvation That Was Mentioned On The Cross
1. One Man Wanted To Be Saved From His Suffering
V.39 –And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
This man did not want to be saved from his sins, but from his suffering.
He wanted himself to be saved.
Did you notice the word “if” in V.39? You see, this man was in doubt about who was hanging on the cross.
The other malefactor was not in doubt, but believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
There are a lot of people like the first malefactor mentioned. They think more about self instead of their soul on their death bed, and therefore die lost.
2. One Man Wanted To Be Saved From His Sins
V.40 –But the other answered rebuked him, saying, dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?41-And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.42-And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.43-And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This sinner was honest and realized that they were paying for their unjust deeds on the cross, and then this man turned to Jesus and asks him to save him.
This sinner didn’t know the Roman road passage in Romans 10, but he turned to the one who knew his heart and was saved.
Jesus took time out from his suffering to save this repentant sinner. What a Savior!!!
The Salvation That Was Mentioned On The Cross
B. The Salvation That Was Made On The Cross
The main reason that Jesus died on the cross was to make salvation possible for all men.
Jesus didn’t die for his sins, but for our sins.2 Corinthians 5:21-For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus became our substitute on the cross. It should have been us who died on the cross for our sin.
Under the Law there had to be an animal slain in order to be forgiven.
Jesus became the perfect Lamb to be slain on an old rugged cross.
1 Peter 1:18-Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.19-But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. –
Revelation 5:12 –Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Jesus provided salvation by dying on an old rugged cross and becoming the supreme, perfect sacrifice for all mankind.
The Suffering
The Suffering
III. The Silence
For approximately 6 hours or more there has been a lot of activity around the cross and on the cross. For over 6 hours there was a lot of conversation around the cross and on the cross.
We now come to the last words spoken from the cross that is recorded, and then there would be silence on the cross.
Luke 23:44 –And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.45-And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.46-And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost
John 19:30 –When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished: and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Notice what Jesus didn’t say, he didn’t say, “I am finished.
Do you know why he didn’t say, “I am finished; because he wasn’t? This was not the end for Christ.
Question: What was finished? What did he mean by saying, “It is finished?
Answer: Jesus came into this world to fulfill being the Savior of the world; he accomplished his purpose
Next Sunday morning, we will notice that He wasn’t finished, He resurrected on Easter Sunday morning.
Conclusion: This is the time of the year that we put special emphasis on what Jesus did to provide salvation for mankind. I hope that you don’t get caught up with Easter eggs or Easter bunnies, but the main reason for Easter. Enjoy your children and grandchildren, but when they get old enough to comprehend spiritual truths; explain to them what Easter is all about.
It is a time of celebration; we celebrate having a risen Savor and having that blessed hope because of what Jesus did some 2000 years ago.
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