On Good Friday, we remember the value of Jesus’ death to mankind. Scriptures confirm that Jesus died on the cross. He said it is finished, John 19: 30; he breathe his last, Matthew 27: 50; Mark 15: 37; Luke 23: 46, 50-63; water and blood flowed from his pierced side, John 19: 30, 32-37; his body was embalmed, John 19: 39-42. Jesus knew he would be killed. He said in Matthew 17: 22-33, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” Read also Matthew 26: 2; Mark 9: 31.
Jesus told of his death in a parable in Mark 12: 7; Luke 20: 15. Jesus’ death was also long known to the prophets. Isaiah 53: 5, he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. Jesus said, I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades, Revelation 1: 18. Jesus died for a noble cause. Jesus suffered and died for us. Are we also ready to die for Jesus?
Why did Christ Jesus die?
On this momentous occasion, we appreciate the reasons why Jesus died, some of which are discussed as follows: (1) Jesus loved us unconditionally. John 15: 13 says no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 1 John 4: 19 says we love because he first loved us. (2) Jesus purposed to restore all mankind to God. 2 Corinthians 5: 15 says he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. (3) Jesus wanted to give us unrestrained access to God. This was fulfilled when the temple curtain was torn into two when he died, Luke 23: 44-46. (4) Jesus died so that we may know the truth in order to be free, John 8: 40.
(5) Jesus accepted the challenge to die for us. Isaiah 6: 8 wrote, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I; send me!” (6) Jesus was the only worthy person to die for us. Revelation 5: 12 says “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” (7) Jesus died to be Lord of the living and the dead. The bible says in Romans 14: 9 that Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. (8) Jesus died to end death. Paul said in Romans 6: 10, the death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Will we allow Jesus’ death to waste away because of sin?
Price and reward for betraying Jesus
On this solemn day of remembrance, we are reminded of the reward for betraying Christ Jesus. Jesus warned Judas Is Chariot about the consequences of betraying him to the religious leaders. Jesus said in Matthew 26 : 24; Mark 14: 21; Luke 22: 22, the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” However, for his selfish agenda, Judas betrayed Jesus and suffered death. Matthew 27: 5 says throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.
Many of us equally betray Jesus in public and in private for worldly favours contrary to God’s will and warnings. Worldly attractions and favours demand betrayal in many forms so we must be mindful of the consequences. Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 26: 41; Mark 14: 38; Luke 22: 46, stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Our only remedy against betraying Jesus is by prayer. God demands faithfulness, not disloyalty from us.
The way of Jesus’ death
On Good Friday, we appreciate Jesus for the injustice he suffered for mankind. We summarize from Isaiah 53: 7-9, he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
It is also written in Jeremiah 11: 19 but I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered. The gruesome details of Jesus’ death are succinctly recorded throughout the New Testament. The total accounts show that Jesus suffered denial, bruises, betrayal, pain, abuse and humiliation till death yet he endured for love for us.
The way to honour Jesus is to be crucified with him. Paul said in Galatians 2: 19, I have been crucified with Christ. He said further in Galatians 5: 24, those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. To be crucified with Christ Jesus means we must look up to Jesus in all circumstances and to allow God’s love to lead us by his will. Paul said in 2 Corinthians Christ has died for all; therefore all have died. Are we also crucified with Jesus in heart, not the lips only?
Jesus died still a friend of sinners
Jesus was always the friend of sinners in order to save their souls. Jesus said in Matthew 9: 13; Mark 2: 17; Luke 5: 32, “For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” He was crucified with sinners on the cross and even there, he continued to save the souls. He said in Luke 23: 43, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Jesus saved the world by his death. John 3: 17 says God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jesus likened his relationship to a doctor and the sick and said in Mark 2: 17, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Paul said in Romans 6: 6, we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. It is written in 1 John 1: 8-10, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not with us.
John’s revelation says of Jesus in Revelation 3: 20, Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. It is written in Acts 2: 21; Romans 10: 13, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Good Friday is Jesus’ day of salvation through sacrifice. 1 Peter 2: 24 says of Christ Jesus, he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. Jesus our King suffered and died for us. Let us celebrate his death with the meaning of holiness.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the shameful death you suffered for us. Let your death, your blood, and your suffering heal our iniquities and restore us to you as worthy soldiers of the cross, never to betray you again else we will face eternal death. In perilous moments, wash our eyes with your blood to behold your presence in glory so we may find comfort in you. Thank you Jesus for your blood, Amen!!
