Last Seven Words - Good Friday Service

Luke chapter 23 verse 34 then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do if you'd allow me to talk for a moment from the subject entitled ignorance is bliss ignorance is bliss many of us have heard the saying that there are three sides to every story it's your side their side and then there's the truth and oftentimes what separates one story from that of the truth is not that we are outright lying but that our perception of the events is distorted based upon our limited understanding of the situation we may not have all of the facts and we could be missing some information and therefore our side of the story may not be the gospel truth as we reflect this afternoon on Jesus being on that old rugged cross we must look at the trials that preceded his valiant march up that hill called Golgotha we know that there are multiple trials between Jesus and the Sanhedrin Council Pilate and Herod but for the time allotted for this Good Friday service I would like to draw our attention to the trial with Jesus on one side and the Sanhedrin counsel on the other side this particular trial ignored the policies and procedures of the Roman government according to the law a person could not be put to death without a testimony of two or more witnesses this Sanhedrin Council made up of the chief priests and the elders and the teachers of the law they sentenced Jesus based upon the testimony of false witnesses for the Bible tells us that the stories of the false witnesses did not agree they testified against Jesus and they couldn't even get their story straight this trial was a farce a sham a mockery of the judicial system and it reminds me of some of the trials of the cold-blooded killers of unarmed black and brown men women and children all across this nation folks are being murdered because of the perceived threat of bodily harm he had a knife one witness says no she had a gun another witness reports but soon after the investigation begins we find that no such weapon exists he only had a cell phone in his hand she did not pose a threat at all now a mother mourns a child and a family lost a loved one and Jesus trial the false witnesses testified saying we heard Jesus we heard him say I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days we will build another one not made by a man this testimony framed Jesus as an enemy of the state he was a threat to the Empire and that was one side of the story and when Jesus was asked to tell his side of the story Jesus first responded in silence and some of you and relationships know a little something about the harsh reality of the silent treatment it's the boisterous words unspoken through the deafening silence that reflects oceans that separate the two sides of the story I'll say that again it's the boisterous words of the unspoken silence that reflects the oceans that separate the two sides of the story and when Jesus finally responds to the question are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed one he says I am and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven so on one side of the story we have the sand the Sanhedrin they're worried about their own temporary transient power as they sit in the pocket of the Roman government the council is only concerned with two things the identity and the status of Jesus because it's those two things that are in direct conflict with their authority in the temple who is this man named Jesus and by whose authority is he teaching and performing miracles now on the other side of the story we have Jesus and Jesus is talking about the eschatological eternal existence of the presence and the power of God that the right hand of sitting at the right hand of God is the seat of power and the clouds of heaven represent the presence of the Lord as in the book of Exodus so oh the oceans that separate the two sides of the story these religious leaders had a distorted view of the realm of God they were operating in the old age then the old age was characterized by brokenness selfishness and a hierarchy of power that ruled the day this was this was not a trial about justice it was about the Sanhedrin councils attempts to maintain power and collude with the Empire so this council did not understand Jesus because Jesus was operating in that new age and the new age has pillars of reconciliation of living in harmony with one another of of an egalitarian approach to power but most importantly the new age has a pillar of love love is crucial to this new way of life that Jesus is offering to this world and if we're honest with ourselves we can be like the Sanhedrin at times misunderstanding the realm of God and for many of us that's the way we like it because ignorance is bliss we feel comfortable living as we are ignorant of the other side of the story maintaining the ocean that separates us rather than facing the consequences of knowing the ultimate truth cuz when we know better we must do better so the Sanhedrin thought Jesus was just the Son of Man but the truth is that Jesus is the Messiah the savior of all of our souls the council thought he was just a rabbi but the truth is that Jesus is a revolutionary sent to set the captives free they thought he was demon-possessed but the truth is that Jesus was possessed by the power of the Almighty God they thought he was just a carpenter's son but Jesus is the Son of God they thought he was just a nappy headed negro from Nazareth but Jesus is the Christ he is the king of kings he is the Lord of lords and the religious leaders could not comprehend the physical presence of the glory of God so they sentenced him to death for crucifixion and there we find Jesus on this cross they do [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the second word from the cross is found in the Gospel according to Luke verses 42 and 43 then one of the criminals said to Jesus Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom jesus replied truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise what Jesus brought to Calvary what Jesus brought to Calvary by all accounts this is the end of the road for three men crucified at Calvary Jesus is there flanked by two criminals one on his left and one on his right we don't really know the crimes they've committed we can only assume that the accusations and evidence were heinous enough to warrant the death penalty they each hang upon a bloody cross awaiting the inevitable final breath there is nothing left to do except to die by all accounts this is the end of the road have you ever been there at the end of your road convinced that you're out of options convinced that there's no way out no hookups no backups at the end of your Road if so then maybe just maybe you've been by Calvary maybe just maybe you've been the spectacle that people watch in pity as you slip deeper and deeper into death maybe just maybe you've been where the excruciating pain of your circumstance is matched only by the shame that you feel maybe just maybe you've been to Calvary for there is the end of the road and it is into this dark and deplorable circumstance that Jesus speaks words of hope for while Jesus is being crucified like a man he isn't just a man he is the son of God and amidst the dismal and depressing sights Jesus speaks hope would have imagined that they'd find hope at Calvary as the crowd gazes as the soldiers ridicule and as one criminal hurls insults upon Jesus the other criminal says Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom jesus replied truly I tell you today you will be with me and paradise in other words you thought this was the end of your road you thought you were out of options you thought this was how your story ends but truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise in the midst of death and despair Jesus opens up unforeseen possibilities Jesus reveals unexpected alternatives Jesus unveils unanticipated avenues who would have imagined one could find hope at Calvary when your circumstances saved dad in Jesus says intersection when your circumstances say roadblock Jesus says speed but when your circumstances say there and Jesus says new chapter the Lord is never out of options that's why the just saying he's the way out of no way bridge over troubled water water entrap places food when you're hungry Jesus speaks the word of Hope Jesus brings hope to Calvary but Jesus also speaks a word of assurance she's assist to the criminal truly I tell you truly I tell you Jesus emphasizes that these are words one can count on these are words one can depend on these are words one can stand on and truly I tell you these are not the words of mere mortals but these are words backed by heaven grounded in eternity and proven by history Jesus speaks words of assurance I can only imagine how many times this criminal had been lied to I can only imagine how many times this criminal had been lied on or lied about I can only imagine the distrust he bore and the suspicions he carried perhaps disappointed by so many so often but not this time because this time he gets a promise made by the one who was in the beginning before the beginning began Anna this time he gets a promise from the one who was present when all things were made truly tells you these are words you can count on Jesus brings assurance to Calvary but finally Jesus brings grace to Calvary for this criminal who has committed death warranting the crimes for this criminal who has been justly condemned to death for this criminal who by his own admission is getting what he deserves for his deeds Jesus offers grace Jesus says truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise but Jesus paradise I mean he gets paradise I thought paradise was further converted I thought paradise was further repentant I thought paradise was for the renew he has not asked for forgiveness he has not claimed you as his Lord and Savior he gets paradise and the Spirit says to you and me that's how grace works to those of us who are rather keep people out of the realm of God instead of in the realm of God for those of us who would rather exclude then include people in the unconditional love of God for those of us who treat heaven like it's a limited good operating on the Inca not the principle of scarcity if we let too many of them and there won't be enough room for us the spirit says yes he gets paradise that's hell twice work grace grants what you haven't earned grace gives what you haven't deserved grace offers what you can't afford yes breacher he gets paradise Jesus brings grace to Calvary and aren't you glad that in the midst of tyre and dusty situations aren't you glad that when you've reached the end of your road aren't you glad that Jesus brings hope assuring that grace to Calvary that's why the songwriter said through many dangers toils and snares I I've already come twas grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and now the third word when Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by he said to his mother woman behold your son then he said to the disciple behold to your mother and from that hour that disciple took her to his own home gonna preach for just a moment from the subject making provisions for his mother John who is called the apostle of love emphasizes in his gospel the deity of Jesus the Incarnate son of God who is both human and divine this third word from the cross expresses the humanity of Jesus Christ as Jesus hung on the cross in awesome agony and pain suffering beyond what one may never be able to express or explain we here now the third saying with great humility and compassion to his mother and he said woman behold thy son until the disciple he said behold thy mother can you imagine how these words from the mouth of her dying son must have resonated within her sorrowful spirit and no doubt with tears in her eyes and not being able to do anything to help relieve his pain she hears these words woman behold your son many have tried to make something more than there really is out of the fact that Jesus referred to his mother as woman but woman does not convey any idea of disrespect nor of unconcern as many have indicated man and woman were titles of as much respect among the Hebrews as sir and madam our mom us today he said woman behold thy son and perhaps if he had called her mother some say she might have been looking for a special place in heaven but as I see at that place had already been prepared for her when Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also you see Church this word is not about having a special place up there but a special place down here on earth her place would now be with the beloved John in John's home but what we need to understand is that Jesus no longer belong to his mother he belonged to God but God used Jesus's mother as an instrument not as an icon what I believe we see is a loving son who wants to provide loving care for this woman his mother he may not have called her out as a mother but she had been his mother from birth and mother I believe was in his heart that day all the thoughts that must have gone through his mind as he hung on the cross that day perhaps the thoughts I can't leave her to care for herself it is too much for her to do alone it is really too much to ask when I think about all that she's done for me now is the time for me to do for her my mother my mother who was obedient to the will of God that I would be supernaturally conceived to become the savior of the world my mother who nursed me my mother who clothed me mother who fed me my mother who taught me the Hebrew Scriptures my mother who took me to church my mother who cared for me this is my mother who stands at the foot of the cross and I have a responsibility to care for her even after my death you see its mother stands at the foot of the cross beloved because she should be there and because of her love for him and yes to let those who were no-shows Jesus's disciples and siblings to know they should have been there too an unknown author has said life does not come with a manual but it does come with a mother it is so sad beloved when children do not care enough to do what is right by honoring their mother and father as God has commanded in his word Jesus was now showing great honor for his mother and women during jesus's day much like ours today were considered second-class in citizenship and once the man of the household was dead and gone and near his husband Joseph you know is dead though women oftentimes became a subservient servant to her extended family or even worse all alone and having to care for herself with no help from others but Jesus shows us how to care for our mother then he said to the disciple behold your mother Jesus now entrust his mother's care to his dear and devoted disciple John that word behold means to look upon to look after or to take care of this is now your responsibility John my dear friend you see John was not just an acquaintance someone to get together with someone to talk with someone to party with someone to have a good time with but John was both a loyal disciple and a real friend one who stuck closer than a brother John is now her son and from that hour the Bible says the disciples took her to his own home and a new family relationship was then established but in this day and time in which we live we all need to have a loving family relationship just as God blessed the first family of Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply I believe that is what God wants smooth but when the family has grown in number God wants that family to grow in love love for one another you see it's a sad commentary when you see so many children being sent to foster homes and just as many parents being sent to nursing homes to die because there are those family members who will not take the time or even worse have little concern about the well-being a welfare of their parents but beloved we should never forget just as Jesus made provisions for his mother and because He loves us and was willing to die for our sins he has already made provisions for you and for me that is for our eternal care and while too many of us we get lost in thinking about how to care for ourselves down here and making provisions for ourselves but God already knows what we stand in need of but the question is do we know God does not need to see our portfolios he just needs to see that we have parental love in our hearts God does not need to see how many degrees we have hanging on our walls he just need to see that we've made a 360-degree turn from our sins to full repentance and faith in Him God does not need to see all of your material blessings because that's all you're concerned about but he needs to know that you truly love your mother God does not need to know how many members are in your family that he already knows but God wants to know do you want to be a member of his family the family of God and if you do today and you are willing then follow the example of his son and make sure you take good care of your mother all the days of her life [Applause] oh we we can for get God's sacrifice to say this world from his son's life God must've made then dream to watch his child suffer and Lee and buddy knew their sons that his son spilled their to save this world from his despair so they're 2,000 years ago God put this power [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] me healing for your life you've tossed and turned and prayed all night because the doctor said to you that there was nothing he could do my friend no matter how you feel keep saying bye I'm healed the blood won't take and there with you every sickness feedback gee [Music] [Applause] [Music] so if you're sick in your body and if you are a sinner and if you are in trouble [Music] was [Music] [Music] miraculous pie [Music] oh come on say it feel Clinton [Music] come on in town say it damn piece come on a building never lease and guess what it's still healing nice anybody know about us Aguila today and then it says his still repeating [Applause] [Applause] and it here we go [Applause] miraculous [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the fourth word and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli lama sabachthani that is to say my God my God why hast thou forsaken me if you would just allow me to speak from the subject for a moment father can you hear me I want to ask you all if you would pray for me I have a few areas where I'm still trying to grow you know a few pet peeves that I'm struggling with for example it absolutely drives me crazy when I go somewhere to spend my money but the cashier acts as though he or she is doing me a favor to take it or you're hosting an event and you asked your guests to please RSVP yeah you know this you know this story but then you have about 15 of your cousins that show up believing that RSVP is a suggestion and not a requirement but the thing that bothers me the most is when I sent a text to someone and I get no response I'm not talking about an acquaintance or a business associate I'm talking about someone that I have a personal relationship with 99% of us walk around with our cell phones connected to us like an appendage so nine times out of 10 that means you saw my text [Music] [Applause] you saw my text and just didn't reply oh that thing frustrates me to no end it feels like a rejection and nobody likes to be rejected you know I need you but you're not going to answer that must have been how Jesus felt hanging there on that cross you see this fourth word from Jesus is not one of finality but one of frustration this is Jesus the same Jesus who was whipped with a cat of nine tails his skin sheared open by the middle at the end of those leather straps he was beaten he was spit on his hair ripped out of his beard by his root and a crown of two-inch thorns embedded in his head he was then placed upon a wooden cross nails repeatedly driven not into his palms but into his wrists as the palms would not have held his body weight then through the tops of both feet they drove nails having suffered all these things he then cries out my God my God why have you forsaken me father can you hear me are you really there imagine this is Jesus the holy son of God he is holy he is perfect he is righteous but still something in him believes God is not listening if Jesus had that experience with the absence of sin you can believe that you and I can expect to experience it with sin that we carry even if you haven't already all of us have been in a place where we wondered if God was listening I've lost my job and all my bills are passed to father can you hear me I want to be free from this addiction father can you hear me I've just buried my child and I can't do this anymore father can you hear me my cancer has returned for the third time father can you hear me what do you do when you believe God isn't listening how do you handle it when you don't hear the one voice you need to hear what do you do when you're talking to God but he's not talking back to you when the will of God doesn't line up without want what do we do and what undoubtedly for Jesus has to be his darkest hour he turns to scripture he reaches back to the Old Testament the twenty-second song when it seems you can't hear what God is saying you need to hold on to what he has already said [Applause] [Music] I want to say that again for somebody that may have missed it when it seems you can't hear what God is saying you need to hold on to what he has already said you can't find the light in the midst of a dark situation without the Word of God when your finances are in trouble you may not be able to find the right words for an eloquent prayer but you can remember Jehovah Jireh the Lord is my provider when you're in the midst of a storm and just one a few moments of peace it's easier to remember the Lord is my shepherd than to drain a bottle of whatever makes you forget I'm just saying [Applause] everybody in here can't be that holy [Applause] that word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee in other words Lord I'm going to hold on to these scriptures so when the struggle comes I won't give up think back to when you were in school the teachers stood at the front of the class back in my day and don't worry about how long ago that was he or she wrote on the board now in this age of technology they connect their laptops to a smart board but one thing that hasn't changed after all of the lessons have been taught and reviewed you know that there will be a test and while you were taking the test the teacher never speaks the expectation [Applause] the expectation is that you've been paying attention so when the test comes you will already know how to respond even if the teacher is silent the teacher has already taught us all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose the teacher has already taught us they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength the teacher has already taught us my word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path the teacher has already taught us he will not leave nor forsake you although there are 31 verses in Psalm 22 Jesus only repeats one my God my God why have you forsaken me my God my God he's calling out to his God he claims God as his own even when he believes that God has forsaken him he still hasn't let go of God Paul tells us in Romans eight and 28 nothing shall separate us from the love of God so often we hear this to mean that God won't let go of us but maybe we need to remember not to let go of God hell or high water he's still my god trial or tribulation he's still my god sorrow or suffering he's still my god what or worry he's still my god pain or problem God is still my god growing up I always knew there was a God as a little girl I saw him as a mystical figure he was kind good and made wonderful things happen to good boys and girls then one day in fifth grade my mom received a phone call that one of my classmates Angelina ancelotti had died suddenly my whole world turned upside down I couldn't understand how this good God could let something so bad happen to an innocent child I went to my mother and I asked mommy how do you know God is real she took me in her arms and began to hum that song still resonates in my spirit today there are some things I may not know there are some places oh lord I cannot go but I am sure of this one thing that God is real for I can feel him in my soul yes God is real he's real in my soul yes God is real for he has washed and made me home his love for me is just like pure gold my God is real for I can feel him in my soul from that day I knew I could trust that my God would be there because he is the omniscient and omnipresent all-wise God first John 5 and 14 says this is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us it isn't always necessary to recite a mile-long prayer or to even quote an entire passage of scripture in his darkest hour Jesus quoted one verse of one song and that was enough it's like taking a piece of fried chicken or a spoonful of collard greens that just doesn't taste right you pull out some Louisiana Hot Sauce and bam there it is just a DAB just a DAB it takes what's wrong and makes it alright and it doesn't take a lot just a little of the right ingredient will go a long way a little faith goes a long way a little patience goes a long way a little prayer goes a long way a little forgiveness maybe a lot of forgiveness you know sometimes it's like that but it goes a long way there will come a time when we are in our ninth hour will we still claim God as our God will we remember to draw on our faith will we be able to recall an utter a verse of scripture to sustain us will we find comfort in knowing that even though we can't hear him our father hears us I have three sons I remember coming home one afternoon to find my then three-year-old son Travis crying at the front door I asked what's wrong why are you crying he said I can't find daddy I said why didn't you go upstairs and just look for him he said I was scared my feet wouldn't move I kept calling him but he wasn't answering me I said Travis you know that daddy and I love you and we would never leave you in this big old house or this big old world by yourself you are our responsibility we always know where you are and what you need you may not always see your father but he is watching you you may not always hear your father but he always hears you he will never leave you alone it is said that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this ninth hour was not 9 p.m. as some may think it is actually 3 o'clock in the afternoon so it goes to show you that bad things can happen under the darkness of night or the brightness of day but the good news the good news is that God is the maker of the Sun and the moon his power reigns over both day and night you can call him in the morning you can call him at night or like Jesus you can call him in the middle of the afternoon but be assured no matter when you call him your father will hear [Applause] [Music] John 19 and 29 states after this Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scriptures might be fulfilled said I thirst we hear from Jesus again as he is inching closer and closer to the end of his time here on earth the sentiments that are expressed are not ones that we necessarily expect to hear from the one that affirmative Lee spoke numerous times about his identity in the same gospel I am the bread of life I am the light of the world I am the gate I am the vine I am The Good Shepherd you remember what he reminded us that I am the resurrection and the life and took it a step further when he said I am the way the truth and the life I search through very simple words with a very complex meaning I thirst words that propel the fulfilling of prophecy as recorded in Psalm 69 and 21 I thirst words that came from the same mouth that spoke to the woman at the well saying whoever drinks of the water that I shall give them shall never thirst I thirst the one and only time the Jesus speaks solely of himself on the cross I thirst a statement that expresses weakness right before his enemies I thirst I am thirsty I have a request that needs to be fulfilled I am drains in in need of replenishment I have taken care of everyone else and now I leave someone to take care of me preceding this moment Jesus experienced physical mental and emotional suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane but now on the cross he adds physical suffering to his resume I believe that it's safe to assume that Jesus is suffering greatly he is drawing closer to his actual death so it comes as no real surprise that he's calling out now for some relief the human side of Christ helps us to see how we should handle our suffering I believe that Jesus came through trials and tribulations trials and difficulties becoming intimately acquainted with suffering in order to show us that he could empathize with us there are moments in our lives when it seems that we have drawn from every bitter inner strength and we can Muck that we can muster and we'd like Jesus have to call on external resources for assistance we need someone other than ourselves to provide what we lack it seems as if times there are times in our lives when our suffering seems beyond what we can handle despite the promise for an easy yoke and a light burden their seasons that we feel they were crossing the burning sands on the road to knowing and doing the will of God we're left as feeling though carrying out these places leaves us and when lonely roads that leads us to a dry and barren land we feel like travellers that have somehow taken a wrong turn and ended up in the desert it is in times like these that we must rest in knowing that God sees beyond what we can see in the here and in the now just as Jesus endure we too must endure we can rest in the fact that God is able to aid us in every dry place that we experience in our lives whether it be physical mental emotional or spiritual Jesus chose to help us by showing us his humanity while fulfilling a divine assignment the purpose of his suffering was in the process of being completed Jesus was offered wine on the cross but he refused it this one was offered to anesthetize the pain it would have given him an easier out it would have given him a shortcut on the pathway to purpose but he did not take it take it and he chose to endure with full consciousness the sufferings appointed for him in this moment of weakness I believe that Jesus found strength in knowing that he was in the will of the Father and the will of the Father was being accomplished this thing on the cross allows us to see that Jesus is able to literally identify with our sufferings we go through situations and it seems as if no one understands could it be that we take our situations to people they cannot truly identify with what we're going through we take our situations to the psychic hotlines we take our situation to the writer or horoscopes we take our situations to our co-workers and even our closest friends all the ones that can't fully help us in our time of need if our efforts to face them in our efforts to face difficulties we should look for the face of Jesus because he understands the writer of the hem put it this way Jesus knows all about our struggles and he will guide us until the day is done there's not a friend like the lowly Jesus no not one no not one he could have gone another route but he chose to go through the trials and the difficulties of a human life so that he could understand us and empathize with us during our trophy's moments the one who cried out our first knows what suffering is and can help us when we suffer thank God he knows our mothers may not know our fathers may not know our best friend and our confident may not know but he knows when I experienced grief and loss he knows when my friends walk away and turn their backs on me he knows when people ridiculed me he knows when my body is full of pain he knows when I am misunderstood and misrepresented by people he knows when I am sir by people yet I feel lonely he knows no matter how deep in despair I find myself no matter how rough the path becomes he knows in our cries of anguish he knows and he understands at times I believe that we rush too quickly off the proverbial cross of our lives yes we do get off and get up but they're going to be times when we have to rustle in through in and through those Good Friday moments God has a pain put my plan and a purpose for every phase of our journey it is during these times that we come to know Christ in the Fellowship of his sufferings we take Jesus off the cross too quickly and it leaves us with a false sense of reality we end up feeling like suffering and showing our humanity is not in the will of God indeed there will be times where we experience unpleasant moments but we find comfort in knowing that if we endure our cross like moments that God will fulfill his promise to us our good friday moments ready us for the resurrection experience below the beloved of God you must find rest in knowing that as with this situation God sees beyond what our weary eyes can see and what our weary bodies can feel what Jesus was experienced encompass more than that moment on the cross Jesus God Jesus knew that the payoff was much greater than the pain Jesus knew that what he was enduring was preparing him for a much greater purpose God knew that he would move him from grief to glory the he broke reprove writer put it this way for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross the writer Romans wanted us to know that the suffering of this present time was not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us I want to encourage you on this afternoon in there because God has a plan for your pain it may look dry to you right now but God's always got a greater plan in mind [Applause] amen praise the Lord everybody hallelujah well this next hymn is everybody should know this when I surveyed the wondrous cross the words are the same but we just put a little twist on it and kind of made it a little churchy amen so just we just want cha to just have some church okay can we do that come on put your hands together [Applause] [Music] when I survey [Music] this one's wrong [Music] on which the bricks my riches game Oh Oh [Applause] [Music] that so amazing my phone come on baby nice baby Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] a jar of wine vinegar was there so they soaked a sponge in it put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus lips when he had received the drink Jesus said it is finished with that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit it is finished this six word easily gets confused with the seventh word because it is a statement of finality finished done as if there cannot possibly be anything more to be said but what exactly is finished his life yes his mission yes his cup of suffering yes because he swallowed his last sip of suffering and sedation when they offered him the wine vinegar can I just borrow of about 30 seconds and to say that that last step of suffering all suffering is not redemptive and all sedation is not sinful because Jesus took the sour wine or the vinegar whatever you want to call it he took it he drank it he received it but there was suffering mingled with sedation when they offered him that drink what else is finished his reign as King of the Jews well the Bible says that Pilate wrote an inscription on the cross and the ascription said King of the Jews in three languages in the Aramaic in the Latin and in the Greek Aramaic is the Semitic vernacular of the Jews Latin is the language of empire and Greek is the language of culture and commerce Pilate wrote it so that everybody could read it in their own language with no translation necessary [Applause] perhaps pilots intention was to mock Jesus or to force the Jews to accept the title and authority that they had tried so desperately to deny Jesus but I want to suggest to you that when Jesus uttered the words it is finished he was declaring the fulfillment of his divine destiny as king and as priest and as prophet on the cross he was enthroned as king enthroned with nails and boards he was it was a coronation with a crown of thorns but he was not make just king of the Jews he was king of all people in all of the world now you will recall people have short memory but last Sunday was Palm Sunday and on Palm Sunday we recall that when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the donkey his own people and they were perhaps using the Semitic vernacular of aramaic but whatever language his own people declared his kingship with loud hosanna shouting blessed is the king of Israel and then he continued his conversation with them after he got off the donkey and he said when I am lifted up from the earth I'll draw o people to myself that's what he said and if I had time I would explain about Moses and the snake in the wilderness the people with snake belt bitten it and Moses made a bronze snake it held up and everybody looked on the snake was healed but I'll have time so as Jesus got ready to draw his last breath Jesus was lifted up he was not being praised he was not being exalted as the song we sing says but he was executed he was lifted up on a cross whose inscription clearly endorsed his kingship in multiple languages but buried the official stamp of Empire it is finished but Jesus would resume his kingdom reign on the other side of death today is Good Friday and I know we would be jumping ahead of ourselves to preach about the resurrection on Good Friday even though we went from surveying the wondrous cross to him raised we just did that a few minutes ago but I can remind you the business Good Friday and the Apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 15 about the final fulfillment of the kingdom reign of Jesus he said the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all Dominion authority and power for he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet the last enemy and we say these words when we do services of committal the last enemy to be destroyed is death Jesus not only fulfilled his divine destiny as king but also his divine destiny as a priest who offers the sacrifice not of lambs or goats or bulls but of his own blood on Good Friday when we celebrate Good Friday we don't have to slaughter lambs and goats and bulls because we celebrate the fact that there was a once and for all sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb of God the writer of the Hebrews says the day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties again and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins but when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of God and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool this commentary from Hebrews chapter 10 on the fulfillment of the priestly role of Jesus on the cross also leads me to my final observation that not only did Jesus bring completion to his roles as king in his priests but also to his role as prophet if I can read on Hebrews chapter 10 verse 21 and we have a great priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful few weeks ago I read a blog about the witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer he was the Christian ethicists during the time of Hitler who was imprisoned and was executed in Nazi Germany for his role in resisting the atrocities of the Nazis and he stood apart from many Christian did you know Hitler was a Christian many of the churches many of the Christians many of the ëthe angelical 's and the catholics went along with the program but Bonhoeffer not only resisted but he was a part of a plot to assassinate hitler he was trying to take Hitler out but Bonhoeffer was an ethicist and Bonhoeffer defined prophecy as hope projected backwards what that suggests is that because of the cross because of the prophecy that was fulfilled by the way Jesus died we have an eternal point of reference not only for dealing with our own sin in our own suffering but also a point of reference for all that we hope for our faith and what God has promised is guaranteed to us by the Cross nothing we ever experienced in life or death will exceed the suffering or the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross yes is what we look forward to hope is what we dream about hope is what we learn for but because of the cross our hope is no longer held captive by our future instead hope is available to us where we can use it the most in the present moment that's why he talked about you projected backwards everybody knows how to project Hope forward but do you know how to protect hope on to the present moment or Project Hope into the past this prophetic point of view injects hope projects hope backwards to illuminate present challenges and to help us to make better decisions about what to do next prophetic discernment brings healing when projected backwards into our past to administer truth as a remedy for past mistakes and wounds and trauma do you know that make sure people are telling us teaching us this do you don't a certain trauma certain wounds certain things is you can't fix it unless you're willing to tell the truth about it and that's only the beginning when you allow hope to be projected backwards on your pain and your trauma so when Jesus said it is finished he was speaking prophetically into our present moment now when we need to help to figure out how to keep hope alive near when we need assurance that all that Jesus accomplished for us is available to us as we seek soul salvation and as we work to achieve social justice in a divided nation and a broken world his finish brings us hope so again from the Hebrews let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful dude your confidence which has great reward for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what it's promised it's trendy now for black intellectuals to deny hope and as I close I want to suggest you that next time you meet up with one of these afro pessimists they even have a name for it next time you engage in conversation with an afro pessimist my suggestion is that you go old-school on them that's how you project hope backwards and remind them that my hope is built and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name his oath his covenant his blood support me in the whelming flood when all around my soul gives away he then is all my hope and stay go old school on her because past present future is that the cross of Jesus Christ prophet priest and King it is finished [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Jesus cried out in a loud voice father into thy hands I commend my spirit it's finished but it's not over speak Lord for your servants are listening in Jesus name we pray amen on the Friday of the opening of the movie Black Panther we kicked back and reclined in our reserved seats popcorn in hand waiting for the movie to start me all dressed in my colorful African style vest and my husband in his authentic Nelson Mandela shirt that we bought in Cape Town last year we were all set and excited having arrived early at the theater wanting to be sure not to miss one minute of this great movie so that when the lights dim the movie held us in rapt attention from start all the way to the end and we were not disappointed for one second I mean come on now the way all of those beautiful brilliant black bodies decorated that giant screen with their sunkissed skin and their captivating scenery it was so good that we didn't want the movie to end so when it was finished since we dared not leave Wakanda too soon we just sat there savoring every moment that we had just seen on the screen and if that meant sitting through the credits until the screen went black we'll so be it because we were in Wakanda forever then something marvelous happened it was beyond what we had been secretly hoping for when the credits finished instead of the screen going black the movie picked up where it left off and wonder of wonders what we had seen was not the real ending it was finished but it was not over [Applause] there was still more to the story suddenly the characters our affections were struggling to release reappeared on the screen again live and in living color and we've realized our willingness to not leave too quickly had paid off you saw it too didn't you you stayed to the end and then the end again didn't you that's really where we find ourselves in this twenty-third chapter of Luke Jesus has just declared it is finished but that didn't mean that it was over even though the veil between heaven and earth had been torn from top to bottom and even though the earth shuddered in an explosion of grief and despair like wakandan warriors and even though the screen had gone black on the stage of human history as if the Sun could no longer stand to shine light upon the brutality that humanity was inflicting on the Savior little did they know that even though it looked like it was finished there was more to the story this was just the first ending before the credits now we come to the second ending where after it is finished that it's here that Jesus cries out in a loud voice father into thy hands I commend my spirit his voice was loud I believe because he wanted them to know that nobody was taking his life from him but that he was handing it over on his own terms it was loud I believe because he wanted them to understand that he might look finished but he was still in control of the situation it was loud I believe because he wanted them to know that even though he felt forsaken for just just a few words back he was still certain of who his father was he wanted them to understand that it was finished but it was not over because there was still more to the story you see that's the way it is with Jesus you've got to stay with him all the way through the credits because if you quit before the credits you'll look at that bloody body with all those nails in his hands and nails in his feet and piercing inside and then and you'll hear that six word and you'll conclude erroneously always over now but when you stay past the credits you'll find out that Jesus has just placed the situation into his father's hands and that's where the rest of the story comes in where the son hands things over to the Father for the father to handle it like a relay runner handing over the baton to the next person in goods Trinitarian fashion he says in a statement of faith father you take this from here it's into thy hands I commend my spirit and that's a lesson for all of us in here this afternoon as we journey through this thing called life when somebody declares you're ending too soon don't skip out just yet don't believe the hype don't roll over in despair don't drop out in defeat just because it looks finished does not really mean that it's over remember there's always more to the story when you place it in God's hands some of us some of us you have to admit are just plain old too prone to quit too soon so that when the first screen goes black before the credits get rolling good we quit we out of there but you've got to learn to stick around for the second ending when your hands are tied and your back is up against the wood and it looks like your situation is finished don't let it go too soon stick around for the rest of the story stick around pass worrying about who gets the credit hold on past the midnight at midday past the quaking rocks and the torn veil stick around after the haters have had their say stay there with Jesus through the agony as a testimony of your faith save it long enough to place your washed-up situation in God's hands because when you put it in God's hands there's always more to the story we quit too soon when the going gets tough we gone and nobody wants to deal with the struggle of life anymore we just want the victory and I get it I get it all the haters were on blast running around talking smack saying what kind of savior lets himself get crucified what kind of people follow a crucified God hit we just want the victory we don't really want to deal with Friday only if it just takes us onto Sunday we want to always and only win Richard John Niehaus said no wonder the Gnostics wanted to quash the story and to remove the scandal by claiming that the real Christ did not die they declared fake news and because they could not stand the thought of humiliation the embarrassment the shame they opted for the cover-up you know they wanted to go around and say Jesus really didn't die I mean that was what she saw him on the cross but he was really at that point up in heaven and nothing really happened to him but here's the problem with that the danger in quitting too soon and the danger in trying to go for the cover-up is to miss the real point of the story what they fail to understand is that we can't turn away from what we have done to God less also we be made to turn away from what God has done for us is there anybody in here who can testify that God has done something for you that you almost let go but you turned it over to the Lord and the Lord God did some stuff in your life to show you that there was more to the story anybody in here know that he'll heal your body when you're sick that he'll lift up your bow down head that he'll give you strength for your weakness that he'll give you joy unspeakable joy the power to live right the peace that surpasses all understand some of y'all ain't look like you're getting it he ain't done nothin for you today bringing everybody didn't they wake you up this morning didn't he start you on your way didn't they give you the activity of your lives but running in your feet and clapping it at me come on somebody oughta recognize that even though it looks like it's over it looks like it's finished it ain't over you can wait on the Lord and be of good courage because it's not finished there's always more to the story you can hold on a little while longer you can trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding you can wait on the Lord and be of good courage for he shall strengthen your heart for they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall run on and not be weary let me hasten to my seat and give you the rest of the good news the rest of the story is that Jesus the Son goes back to the Father all bloodied and all beaten but when he goes back to the Father he's not going by himself because the cross did not just make a way for Jesus to get home the cross made a way for us to get home to he's bringing with him that thief who was at his side the tax collectors and the sinners the lepers and the lame the brokenhearted in the harlot the poor and the dejected the least the last and the lost amid choirs of waiting angels he's bringing home the saints and the martyrs the disciples and the dedicated the loved and the loveless and best of all unless you think I left you out he's bringing home you and he's bringing home so that when he gets to the father he stands before the father and said Lord a mission accomplished I did what you sent me to do that's enough right there for you to go home shouting you ought to go home celebrating that where he is there we may be also because one of these days all of us is gonna reach that part of the road where we have to declare from our own lips it is finished our time on earth is done but when that day comes make sure that you remember that there's still more to the story just cuz it's finished don't mean that it's over be sure that you cry out father I stretched my hands of II no other help I know if they'll withdraw by itself from me whither shall I go place your spirit in the hands of the one who can handle it for he's the author and the finisher of our faith and he's prepared a place for the penitent a respite for the repentant grace for the loser mercy for the sinner a dispatch for the displaced and Habitat for the homeless for we know that if this earthly tent our physical body which is our house is torn down through death we have a building from God not made with hands eternal in the heavens may the Lord God bless you real good but it looks like it finished us remember it ain't over God is getting sorted you only have part of the story say behind for the credits and see what else the Lord is trying to do is anybody happy about that this evening anybody glad to celebrate that the Lord will have the final say that when it looked like it was all done God said it ain't over just yet

Channel: Alfred Street Baptist Church

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Keywords: Alfred Street Baptist Church, 2018, Good Friday 2018

Id: NRSdPqSAoL8

Length: 93min 31sec (5611 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 07 2018