Easter Friday
Matthew 26
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.
Isaiah 53
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
What does this day and the death of Jesus mean to you? Many don’t have a feeling for this day. If it was your own father’s funeral you would grieve, what do you feel about the death of Jesus? In German tradition this whole week was a week of mourning, women wore black, no singing or loud noises were allowed around the home. In a certain sense this day was the most terrible in history but also the most wonderful and sublime day.
Who killed Jesus? After a murder there is an investigation to find the murderer. Often several suspects are found. Sometimes the wrong person is condemned, maybe even killed. Some say the Jews killed Jesus. Matt.26: 3,4. The crucifixion began in the house of faith – the Jewish leadership were involved but others were too. The Jews had no right to crucify our Lord, it was Roman law that used the punishment of crucifixion. The Jewish leaders stirred up the crowds to such an extent that they were incited to cry, ‘Crucify him!’ There were people from many nations and races there. Herod and Pilate and the soldiers involved in the crucifixion of Christ were acting under orders. The burden of guilt rests on gentiles as well as Jews.
Isaiah 53:5-11 includes all of us. We murdered him. When we sin we put the nails through his hands. When we live in immorality with depraved thoughts we place that crown of thorns on his head. When we deny guilt or steal we whip him with the cat-o-nine tails. When we joke flippantly about godless evil things we hurt Christ. When we smoke we burn him, when we use drugs we mock him and spit in his face.
Do you know the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? Godly sorrow causes you to turn away from sin. Worldly sorrow makes you sorry for what you’ve done because you wish you hadn’t been caught.
There is no other way -you have to go passed Calvary and repent of sin.
God himself killed the Lord Jesus Isa.53: 10 , he was pleased to bruise him. This is difficult to understand. There was only one way to save you and me. He had to kill his own son, punish his own son on our behalf. We are so wicked, we take so lightly what God has done for us. The death of Christ should take hold of you forever, how he loves you. This should move you more than your carnality and flesh.
There is a story of two brothers. One murdered and ran to his brother covered in blood. The other said take my clothes and I’ll take yours. They changed clothes and the guilty one ran away. The police came and took the innocent brother wearing the blood-soaked clothes. He did not deny that he had murdered. He was put to death for the crime his brother had committed. Years later the brother came home only to hear about and truly understand what his brother had done for him in taking his punishment upon himself.