Good Friday Theme: The Cross – Accomplishment of Salvation.
Scripture Readings: Exodus 14:15-22 ; Psalm 22; Hebrews 13:8-17 and John 19:23-30
Good Friday is a day of solemn remembrance, where we reflect on the incredible act of love, sacrifice, and victory that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. It marks the moment when the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, gave His life for us. On this day, we contemplate not only the suffering that Jesus endured but also the profound meaning of His work. As we read through the scriptures, we understand that the cross is where God’s plan of salvation was fulfilled. It is the pivotal moment where grace was extended to us, and through Christ, we are redeemed.
In this sermon, we will dive deep into the significance of the cross, understanding that it is the culmination of salvation, and how its power resonates in our lives, especially during times of trial, suffering, and challenge.
- The Cross: A Symbol of Suffering and Fulfilment:
Let’s begin by turning to John 19:23-30, where we see the culmination of Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice on the cross. In verse 30, Jesus declares, “It is finished.” These words are not just a statement of the completion of His physical suffering but a declaration of the fulfillment of the work of salvation. Every prophecy, every promise, and every purpose for which He came had now been realized.
From the Psalms, particularly Psalm 22, we see the emotional anguish that Jesus felt on the cross, mirroring David’s cry of abandonment and pain. Jesus quotes the first verse of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This cry captures the depth of the separation Jesus experienced as He bore the sins of the world. However, as we read through the psalm, we see that it transitions from despair to hope, from suffering to ultimate victory, foreshadowing the resurrection that would follow.
Just as God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptian oppression, as seen in Exodus 14:15-22, Jesus’ death on the cross becomes the ultimate deliverance for humanity. The Israelites passed through the Red Sea, escaping the clutches of Egypt, but now, through the cross, we are delivered from the grip of sin and death. The cross is our Red Sea, our deliverance, where Jesus parted the waters of our spiritual bondage and led us to freedom.
2.The Cross: An Act of Divine Love:
As we reflect on Hebrews 13:8-17, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His sacrifice on the cross is timeless, eternal, and sufficient. The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity. It is through His sacrifice that we are made holy, not through ceremonial rituals or works but through the grace of God made manifest in Jesus’ death. Jesus’ blood, poured out for us, cleanses us from sin and reconciles us with God.
Jesus, who suffered outside the city gates, bore the disgrace and the shame, enduring the punishment that was meant for us. This was not a moment of defeat but the moment where the victory over sin, death, and Satan was secured. It was a divine exchange—Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness.
3. The Cross: A Challenge and an Invitation:
The cross is not just an event of the past; it is a living reality in our present lives. Hebrews 13:13 calls us to “go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.” This speaks to our call to follow Jesus in His suffering. As Christians, we are not promised an easy life, but we are promised that in our suffering, we are not alone. Jesus walks with us, and through Him, we can endure, overcome, and find ultimate victory. His presence in our trials is the assurance that our pain is not in vain.
The cross challenges us to look beyond our present circumstances and fix our eyes on the eternal city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14 reminds us that “here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” No matter the hardships we face, the cross encourages us to live with a heavenly perspective, remembering that our salvation is secure, and God’s promises are true.
4. The Cross: A Call to Live Out Our Faith:
Hebrews 13:15-17 speaks about offering a “sacrifice of praise” to God through Jesus Christ. This is not just a one-time offering but a continual act of worship. In a world that constantly challenges our faith, Good Friday calls us to live out our salvation in gratitude, in holiness, and in service to others. Our lives should reflect the grace we have received through Jesus’ sacrifice.
When we live out the grace of the cross, we become vessels of God’s love, mercy, and truth. We are called to share what we have received—to do good, to share with others, and to be a light in this world. Just as Jesus suffered and gave, we are called to give and to live sacrificially for the benefit of others.
5. The Cross – Our Victory, Our Hope:
The cross of Jesus is the focal point of our salvation. It is where God’s love and justice meet. It is where sin was conquered, and redemption was made available to all. It is where suffering and glory collide. The resurrection that follows Good Friday is the assurance that through the cross, we have life, we have hope, and we have victory.
As we face challenges in life, whether they are personal struggles, emotional battles, or relational difficulties, we must remember that Jesus, who went through the ultimate suffering, is with us. He has overcome, and through Him, we too can overcome. The cross is not just a reminder of the past but a call to live in the present with the hope of the future.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. On this Good Friday, we reflect on His pain, His suffering, and the incredible love that led Him to endure it all for us. Lord, we are humbled by the grace that You have extended to us. Help us to live in the power of the cross, remembering that Jesus’ work is finished, and we are set free.
Lord, we ask that You strengthen us in our trials, that we may always look to the cross as our source of hope and victory. May we live lives of worship and sacrifice, continually offering our praise and good deeds for Your glory. Teach us to follow the path of Christ, to bear His suffering, and to live with the expectation of the eternal hope that awaits us.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Sermon in Brief:
- The Cross as Accomplishment: Jesus’ death on the cross marked the completion of God’s plan of salvation.
- The Cross and Suffering: The cross reveals the depth of Jesus’ suffering and fulfills Old Testament prophecies, such as Psalm 22.
- A Symbol of Love: Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are made holy by grace, not works.
- Living Out Our Faith: The cross calls us to follow Christ, live sacrificially, and offer continual praise and service to God.
- Hope and Victory: The cross is our victory over sin and death, and through it, we can overcome life’s challenges.