Walk Of Life – Day 07, April 2023 – Thoughts For Good Friday

Death of Christ – Good News or Bad News

Two thousand and twenty three years ago, a great sorrowful event occurred at Jerusalem in Israel, a great teacher named Lord Jesus was crucified on the Cross. Many believed him to be the Messiah for whom the Jews have been waiting to come, preferably to deliver them from the Romans. But God’s plan for his children was no longer limited to freeing them from earthy authorities but to free them from unseen powers which has made mankind bound to sin. The Jewish spiritual leaders could not understand this and accused Christ of blasphemy and said, ‘He is worthy of death’, Matthew 26:65. They did not believe the Lord Jesus was the Messiah even though He told them directly that He was. Matthew 26:63, 64.

When John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Lord Jesus if He is the Messiah or do they have to wait for another, Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” Matthew 11:4, 5. It was as if He was asking what more confirmation is needed than this.

Although they were waiting for a Messiah, they only had in mind a great leader like their predecessor will rescue them from their enemies (Romans). They could not accept the claims of him being God, as they believed God is ‘Spirit’ and cannot be in human form. They chose to ignore the prophesy made by Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6, 7. Even after seeing all the miracles that He performed, their hearts were hardened and Caiaphas the High Priest send him to the governor of Judea, Pilate to be judged and punished by death.

Mode of punishment in this case was crucifixion. It is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthaginians and the Romans. It was a sorrowful moment for all the followers who loved him and believed him to be Christ. For a moment they were broken, lost and were terrified and went back to their old profession(fishing) till their sorrow was turned into joy on the third day.

At the cross there were two other criminals punished, both justly for their criminal activities on each side of Christ. The three crosses represent the spiritual state of mankind.

• Cross of Condemnation – One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” This criminal represents the man’s sinful state and the punishment that he deserves for it, death.
• Cross of Justification – But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  This criminal represents those who are condemned to death, but they fear God and with a heart of repentance are willing to follow godly ways. Although the criminal died, he was promised to be made righteous in the sight of God.
• Cross of Glorification – Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Lord Jesus here represents a lamb without blemish who willingly became a holy sacrifice for the atonement of sin of all mankind once and for all. By providing a way of salvation, redeeming mankind and empowering them to once again honor God with their lives, God is glorified through his creation again.

Psalm 51:5 says that all are born in iniquity, but fear of God brings forth repentance. Just like in the court, the guilty cannot escape judgment, eternal death awaits all who are born of sin.  But, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16.”

With thanksgiving in my heart I pray that his children will not wander away from his righteous path. Amen.