Good Friday Service 2023

April 10, 2023

Book: Matthew

Bible Passage: Matthew 27:36-38

Welcome to North Village Church.  We are a non-denominational church in Austin, Texas.  We are a Christian church in Austin, Texas.  We are a bible church in north Austin.  It’s great to be here!

My name is Michael.  It’s great to be with you here this evening.  We have children in the room with us, so that this is a family event.  We love children.  We know children make noises, so please know your children won’t be a disruption for us this evening, because this evening is an important evening to capture.

We are here to reflect on Jesus’ death on the cross and Jesus’ death on the cross is always mixed with feelings.  Should we lean into the lament and the grief of Jesus’ unjust death on the cross?  Should we lean into the celebration of what was accomplished on our behalf?

Jesus’ resurrection is easier.  On Sunday we will gather to celebrate Jesus resurrection.  That’s easy!  But for Jesus’ death, what’s that supposed to look like?  Are the songs supposed to be upbeat?  Is the lighting supposed to be dim and somber?  Is the tone of the message supposed to be reflective?

I mean, the cross is an instrument of torture and death and yet we call it Good Friday, so if you find yourself a little off balance this evening, know that you are in good company and this evening we’re going to lean into God’s Word to better understand Jesus’ death on the cross.  Let’s look at Matthew 27, verses 36-37:

Matthew 27:36-37, “36 And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

The death of Jesus is captured by 4 different perspectives knowns as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  These are 4 different perspectives of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, so that in Matthew Jesus’ birth is described, Jesus gathering the disciples, Jesus performing signs and wonders, wowing the crowds, being handed over to the authorities, so that Jesus is put before a corrupt trial.  Did you know that?

If Jesus’ death is uncomfortable to you, it’s because Jesus’ whole death is set in a context of discomfort.  First, the governing authorities couldn’t find anything wrong with Jesus.  Jesus has been chased by the religious leaders, betrayed by his closest friends, hated by the crowds and when you read Matthew 27 on your own, it’s incredibly uncomfortable because Jesus never defends Himself.

Jesus isn’t helpless in those moments.  Jesus could have called down the glory of heaven but in this case, Jesus is quiet so that the uncomfortableness of Matthew 27 jumps off the page.  So much so that the governing authorities are uncomfortable.  The governing authorities are pleading with Jesus, “Why are you not responding?” Do you not hear what these people are saying?  It’s glaringly uncomfortable.

In fact, the context of Matthew 27 is so uncomfortable because the governing authorities had a tradition of releasing someone from judgment at this time every year and at this time there is Jesus, seemingly innocent, and a rebel leader named Barabbas who was a known offender.

Barabbas terrorized the people, Barabbas stole from the people, Barabbas was a known threat to the people, therefore, the governing authority turns to the crowd of people and asks, “Who should I release?  Who should I show mercy?  The obvious answer is Jesus but the crowd begins to shout in unison, “Barabbas!”  What!

It’s at that moment that Jesus is handed over to the authorities.  Jesus is stripped of His clothes, beaten and whipped, and eventually nailed to a cross, so that in Matthew 27 the crowds are witnessing the execution of an innocent man and they love it.  If you’re uncomfortable on Good Friday it’s because Good Friday is incredibly uncomfortable.

You see, Jesus’ death wasn’t just uncomfortable for the governing authorities, it wasn’t just uncomfortable for the religious leaders, it wasn’t just uncomfortable for the strangers in the crowd; it was uncomfortable for Jesus’ closest followers.

Jesus’ closest followers had walked with Jesus and seen His power.  They had heard Jesus’ teachings and been in awe.  They had seen Jesus’ miracles, people literally raised from the dead, but now Jesus is dying right before their eyes.  It didn’t make any sense.

Can you imagine the disciples watching this unfold?  Can’t you imagine they were probably asking themselves these same questions?  Can’t you imagine how helpless they felt?  Can’t you imagine how angry they might have been at the people?  Can’t you imagine how embarrassed they might have been?  They had given up their lives to follow Jesus and now this…Look at verse 38:

Matthew 27:38, “38 At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.”

I don’t know about you but as I read verse 38 this week I found myself thinking, “Barabbas is supposed to be the one hanging on that cross.”  Does that make sense?  In a normal situation, Jesus should have been released that day and Barabbas should have been the one hanging on that cross.  Does that make sense?

Barabbas was the known criminal.  Barabbas was the one that should have been hated by the crowds.  Barabbas was the one who was a threat to the governing authorities, therefore, can you imagine how strange and uncomfortable this day must have been for Barabbas?

We don’t know the details but we can imagine Barabbas would have woken up on Friday expecting to be executed.  Barabbas knows he is guilty of his crimes.  There’s no appeal process for Barabbas.  Barabbas knows his execution is coming.  Barabbas knows the pain of someone being put to death on a cross.

We don’t know the details of the day, we don’t know what Barabbas could hear but can you imagine Barabbas hearing the soldiers walk down the hall, knowing they are coming to prepare him for judgment, knowing they are about to drag him before the crowds to be stripped, whipped and beaten but instead the soldiers reach for him to undo his chains.  What?

The soldiers turn the key to the door of his cell and instead of force and intimidation the soldiers grab his chains to release him from prison.  The doors are opened.  The soldiers step aside.  The soldiers say, “Barabbas, you are free to go.”  Is this a trick?  Is this real?  Can you imagine how confusing this must have been for Barabbas on that day?

Surely Barabbas would have seen the commotion of the people.  Surely Barabbas would have started to realize what’s taking place but what would Barabbas be thinking in those moments?

Surely there is relief.  Surely there is confusion.  Maybe indifference?  As Barabbas walks into the streets he has to see the crowds of people gathering for an execution.  It should have been his execution, but someone is standing in his place.  Can you imagine?

We don’t know.  It’s conjecture.  Maybe Barabbas was relieved?  Maybe Barabbas doesn’t care?  Maybe Barabbas was cheering for Jesus’ death?  We don’t know for sure but surely this had to be uncomfortable and maybe that’s why Jesus’ death is uncomfortable for us today because the whole context for Jesus’ death is uncomfortable.

I mean, we probably don’t have anyone in the room who is as criminally offensive as Barabbas but God’s Word makes it clear that all of humanity is guilty before God.  Our offense isn’t against the governing authorities of the day but our offense is greater, our offense is against the Creator of heaven and earth.  Did you know that?

All of humanity was created to be in intimate step with the God of Scripture and yet we rise up against Him.  We don’t want Him to be in charge of our life.  We want to be in charge.  We want to make the decisions.  We want to call the shots.  We want to be in control.

We are like a giant toddler in north Austin sitting at the core of our soul, hands folded, determined to do what we want to do.  We teach the bible.  The bible calls this sin.  The bible teaches us that all of humanity is layered with sin, so that sin spoils our relationship with God and separates us from the God of Scripture.

It’s nice to think that all of humanity is sweet little angels but you only have to go to your favorite social media to see the brokenness of humanity put on display, so that God’s Word makes it clear, like Barabbas, all of humanity is guilty before the God of heaven and earth.

All of humanity is worthy of judgment before the God of heaven and earth, which is what makes Good Friday so good because like Barabbas, someone has come to stand in our place to take our judgment upon Himself at the cross.  His name is Jesus!

It’s because of Jesus that our beatings will never come.  It’s because of Jesus that our nails will never come.  It’s because of Jesus that our judgment will never come.  Theologically, I know this might be a bit much, but theologically this is called Penal Substitution.  It means Jesus stood in our place as our suitable sacrifice.  Write that in your devotional.

This is important because some people today are dismissive toward Penal Substitution.  Some people will say Jesus’ death on the cross was just a picture of sacrifice for us to model.  Some people will say Jesus’ death on the cross was just an example of His love for us.  In fact, some will say Jesus standing in our place is unnecessary because why would our sin be worthy of judgment?  Does that make sense?

People aren’t arguing that we are sinners.  That’s undeniable.  Humanity is broken.  But people will conclude, “Surely the God of Scripture doesn’t need to judge our sin, right?”  Surely the God of Scripture is so loving, so gracious, so kind, so benevolent, so generous He can overlook our sin, but deep down you know that’s not true.

Deep down you know every offense has consequences.  If someone hits you on Mo-Pac in a traffic accident, you want justice.  A person can say their sorry but your car is still totaled so you want to be made whole.

If someone in your circle of friends throws your phone on the ground you can be a really nice person who says, “No big deal.” But deep down you will always remember that person as the person who threw your phone on the ground, because offenses have consequences.

Therefore, in the same way, when all of humanity offends the glory of God there are going to be consequences of cosmic proportion.  Does that make sense?  It is a cosmic offense against the glory of God that carries cosmic consequences.

This is why Jesus’ death on the cross isn’t just anyone’s death on the cross.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  Jesus is innocent of sin.  Jesus stands in our place, so that the God of Scripture doesn’t overlook offenses so that injustice goes on for eternity.  No, He does the unthinkable.  He takes on flesh.  He lays down His life willingly.  He stands in our place.

I want to invite Jasmin and Michelle to lead us in worship, I want us to finish how we started by acknowledging the uncomfortableness of Good Friday.  I don’t think you can read Matthew 27 and feel comfortable.  I am not sure we are supposed to attend a Good Friday Worship Service and be comfortable.  I think the intent of Good Friday is to make us a little uncomfortable.

Barabbas’ story is our story.  Barabbas’ sin is our sin.  Barabbas’ substitute is our substitute, therefore, the only way we can respond to Good Friday is gratitude.  How weird it would have been for Barabbas to get back into his cell that day?  How weird it would have been for Barabbas to nail himself to the cross that day?  How odd it would have been for Barabbas to sit in a place of judgment when Jesus has already taken his judgment for him?

Therefore, let us not do that either.  I don’t know where everyone is in the room this evening on their spiritual journey.  It doesn’t matter.  We all know the depths of our offenses against God.  We know the offenses in our heart and mind.  We know we are guilty on some level.  We know something is off.  We know life is supposed to be different.

That’s why we speak shame and condemnation over ourselves.  It’s why we beat ourselves up.  It’s why we have to numb ourselves to the pain through substances, food, entertainment, busyness, shopping, romance, and the Spirit of God is calling out to our souls, “Look to Jesus!”

Look to the One who stands in our place.  Look to the One who brings forgiveness.  Look to the One who reconciles us to God.  Look to the One who took our judgment at the cross.

Listen to me, if you have never received the gift of God’s grace in your life, then do that this evening.  You don’t have to do anything to earn this gift.  You don’t have to do anything to deserve this gift.  But you do you need to receive it!

Our father in heaven we praise you.  We thank you for Jesus death at the cross.  I am sorry for my sin.  I am sorry for rejecting you.  Please forgive me.  I trust Jesus has paid my debt.  Jesus has made me clean.  Help me to follow you.