GOOD FRIDAY: April 22, 2011

Introduction:   I’m going to do something here today that I’ve never done before as pastor of this congregation, and I’ll most likely never do it again.  I’m going to read a direct quote to you from the muslim “Holy Book” – the koran:  Surah 4:157 reads, “And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’  And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it.  They have no knowledge of it except the following assumption.  And they did not kill him, for certain.”  (direct quotation). 

Today we’re going to look at the FACTS.  First of all, it’s a FACT that Muhammed wasn’t there.  He wrote this (I’m assuming he wrote it) about 700 years after the fact, and it’s based upon absolutely NO evidence.  There have been many theories put forth in an attempt to explain how so many people saw Jesus alive again after Good Friday.  People say that he didn’t really die – that the cool dark tomb gave him a chance to “catch his breath” and he got up after a few days, and was just fine.  

Well, today we’re going to look at the evidence.  We’ll begin with prophets who spoke about this event in amazing detail 1000 years and 700 years before it happened.  We’re going to examine eye-witness testimony of people who WERE there on that day.  We’re also going to hear the words Jesus himself spoke from the cross in our responsive readings between the lessons. 

THE ANCIENT PROPHECIES:

I’ll begin with Psalm 22 – written by King David 1000 years before Jesus died on Good Friday.   Notice the striking detail with which he describes the events of this day.  Someone claiming to be the Messiah couldn’t fake this – they couldn’t go back in time and change a Psalm everyone knew, they couldn’t put these words in the mouths of their enemies, they couldn’t make them cast lots for their clothing . . . no one would WILLINGLY expose themselves to the horror of crucifixion . . . no one, except Jesus, who had a plan – He had a rescue plan in mind. 

Psalm 22:1-31

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? [Jesus spoke these exact words from the cross]  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? . . . .

I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”  [His enemies said exactly that while Jesus was crucified.] . . . .

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.  12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. [Crucifixion would dislocate the shoulders] My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. [The Prophet knew this would result in death, and he was right.]

16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. [David would never have known about crucifixion, the Roman empire wasn’t on the scene at his time, and this method of execution was unheard of.]

17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. . . . .

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.  [How could David have known that we would be praising this One who suffered and died so tragically?  How could this “victim” be a champion?  The prophecy said He would be!]

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.  . . .  all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn— for he has done it.  [When God promises to do something, it’s as good as done.  He died for David’s sins too.  We are still talking about His righteousness to this very day – for our sin became His, and His righteousness has become ours by faith . . . and we are thus saved.]

           

One ancient prophecy isn’t enough, we’ll also see what God said through Isaiah the prophet, 700 years BEFORE Jesus came along.  He tells us what this sacrifice would mean for us all:

 

Isaiah 53

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.  [just think how incredible it would be for one to be crucified as a criminal, something any Roman citizen would not have to endure, then be buried in a rich man’s tomb – how could someone fake that?  Yet, that’s exactly what happened to Jesus.] 

10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; [What??? After he suffers and dies, He will live again?  How on earth could this possibly apply to anyone but Jesus?  It can’t]  by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

Take any Hebrew Old Testament from any synagogue you like, and you’ll find these words.  Search the Dead Sea Scrolls that are 2000 years old and you’ll find these exact words.  Christians didn’t make this up, far from it – God was fulfilling His prophecies, and God was rescuing humanity . . . . on GOOD FRIDAY. 

 

JESUS PREDICTED THIS:

            This was no accident.  Jesus was not “caught off guard”.  He knew exactly what was coming, and why.  He told the disciples all about it, but they wouldn’t understand until it all came to pass. 

Mark 8:31-38

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” [Jesus would not let ANYONE – even his friend and disciple Peter deter Him from going to the cross – the stakes were just too high – our salvation was on the line.]

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  [Think how confusing that would be for them to hear?  Cross?  What does he mean?  Boy – when they saw him carrying the cross toward Golgotha, these words must have struck them like lightening.]  35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

            We’re not ashamed to worship a Saviour who was crucified.  We know it was OUR shame that nailed Him to the cross, not His.  May we never be ashamed of who our Saviour is, of what He did for us, and what we believe. 

 

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN:

Luke 22:39-44

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 

            Doctor Alexander Metherell explains that this is a known medical condition called hematidrosis.  Severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands.  As a result, there is some blood coming out with the sweat. 

            Think of Jesus’ anxiety – what was pressing down on Him?  Imagine how you felt when you did something really bad and / or hurt someone greatly.  Now, multiply that by all the guilt of your life, by all the humans on planet earth, and by everyone who ever lived – THAT was pressing down on Jesus. 

            What would this condition do to Jesus?  Well, the doctor explains that it would make extremely fragile and extremely sensitive.  And – guess what was about to happen. . . . [i]

 

UNDER THE WHIP:

Matthew 27:26-31

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged . . . [I’m going to stop there, because it’s far to easy to gloss over those words and not fully appreciate how horrific a Roman flogging was.  The whip was made of leather strips that were braided together with metal balls woven into them. They would also have sharp pieces of bone attached to the ends.  The lashings would cause deep bruising and the flesh would rip open – causing intense blood loss.  Strands of hanging flesh would be torn away deep into the muscle, and often the backbone or ribs would be visible. 

The massive blood loss would lead to a condition known as hypovolemic shock – the heart would race, and there would be swelling around the heart and lungs / intense thirst and . . . often, fainting, as Jesus experienced on the way to Golgotha.[ii]]

and . . . . [Pilate] handed him over to be crucified.

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 

NAILED TO THE CROSS:

 

Mark 15:20-27

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Here’s some additional information for you:

·        The nails would have gone through the wrists (they considered that part of the hand back then) and it would have crushed the median nerve going to the hand.  Have you ever hit that nerve on your elbow – the “funny bone”?    Imagine taking a pair of pliers and crushing and twisting that nerve.  The pain caused by this was so unbearable, that they had to invent a new word for it: excruciating.  Literally, “from the cross”. 

·        In order to breathe, Jesus would have to press down on his feet to lift the chest and exhale.  Each breath would have been intense torment as His torn up back moved against the rough wood, yanking on those nerves and his dislocated shoulders. 

THIS WAS HELL.

 

PIERCED IN THE SIDE:

John 19:31-37

31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

John was there.  He was his disciple.  The women were there, and others who knew him – including his enemies.  There was NO mistaking his identity.  This was Jesus. 

John explains how Jesus avoided getting his legs broken, which fulfilled yet another prophecy.  He was pierced in the side – John seems surprised by the sudden flow of blood and “water” – but, given the hypovolemic shock, this would total sense.  There was swelling of fluid around his heart and lungs.  This thrust of the spear went right into his lungs, and likely his heart – the Romans knew how to assure someone was dead.  The sudden flow of fluid and blood is proof: Jesus was dead.   John was there – he saw it. 

 

DEAD AND BURIED:

 

John 19:38-42

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

 

If the disciples of Jesus made this up, why would they name the two prominent Jewish leaders: Nicodemus and Joseph - who took Jesus’ body down and put it in his own new tomb.  These people were still alive when this was written, there’s no way they could make this up. All the details are mentioned – names / places / dates / facts – that anyone could check out for themselves, and all of this within the first century A.D.  Add to that all the prophecies that were fulfilled, and the evidence is overwhelming. 

So . . . . where does it all this evidence lead?   Well, this Jesus is the promised Messiah, and He died on Good Friday, as the Scriptures clearly say.  But – who is responsible for this crime?   You could point to Judas / the religious leaders / Pilate / the Roman soldiers . . . but, when you look again at the evidence in places like Isaiah 53, something quite shocking happens. 

It’s like some crazy plot twist in a book, show, or movie.  All of a sudden the investigator who is chasing the evidence realizes that he committed the murder!  Perhaps he was drugged / sleepwalking / drunk – whatever . . . it doesn’t matter, the evidence points right back at him.  What does he do?  He can try to point the finger at someone else and hope he doesn’t get caught – but if he does, that guilt will follow him the rest of his life.  Or, he can turn himself in and let the courts decide what happens to him.

Look carefully at the words Isaiah the prophet recorded:

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows . . . 

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

WE – you / me / Isaiah – WE put Jesus through HELL.  I suppose we can pretend we’ve done nothing wrong and point the finger at someone else and try to hide from this fact.  Or . . . throw yourself on the mercy of God’s Court – and, you will find: mercy.   Jesus is not angry with you – He did this because He loves you, He went through HELL so that you never have to.  That’s what makes this Friday GOOD.

Amen. 

[i] (Information taken from “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel, page 195). 

 

[ii] (Information taken from “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel, page 196-7).