(March 19, 2024) Wayne Swift calls it as it is, challenging us to reflect on a great truth…

Good Friday next week!

The day Christians remember the life of a great man who lived some two thousand years ago, and recalling His deeds and with affection and gratitude we extend Him our appreciation for the gracious way He gave up His life for us!

But… what was the background here? Let me share a eulogy to this great individual…

1. Beginning
Two young people, Mary and Joseph, were betrothed to be married – Joseph, an honourable man and his fiancée Mary, a young virgin with an outstanding reputation. Out-of-the-blue Mary claimed to have had a dream about falling pregnant to God Himself (Luke 1:35). Joseph must have thought she’d lost the plot! But then an angel appeared to him confirming Mary’ story (Matthew 1:20).

And… sometime later Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger out the back of a crowded inn. Though the surroundings were inconspicuous, the visitors were surprising – humble shepherds, later wise men from the east with expensive gifts, all sent by God commemorating the birth of His Son.

As He was growing up, Jesus had an extraordinary interest in the temple and the scriptures read there. He astounded the teachers with His insight and knowledge (Luke 2:46-47). And as He grew Jesus gained wisdom and the respect of the people around and God also smiled on Him (Luke 2:52).

2. Baptism
Now Joseph taught Jesus the carpentry trade and eventually Jesus became the head of the home. He looked after His brothers and mother when Joseph mysteriously disappeared. By the time He was thirty Jesus was a well accomplished tradesman and had built the business to support the family.

At this time His cousin, John the Baptist, after some years in the wilderness had returned and was baptising people confirming their repentance from sin. Jesus Himself responded and despite John arguing that he was not worthy to baptise Him, Jesus insisted and was baptised (Matthew 3:14-16).

God Himself declared from the clouds that Jesus was His son and He was well pleased with Him (v17).

Jesus then embarked on a whole new field of endeavour. He left carpentry and began a ministry that involved gathering people who were willing to learn a new way of life. Huge crowds were attracted with His teaching and it wasn’t long before there were miraculous signs and wonders taking place all over and people were following Jesus everywhere (Matthew 4:24-25).

3. Bigotry
One not-so-hot result was that Pharisees and religious leaders began to get jealous of the crowds following Jesus, and were quite confused by both His teaching and the miracles. It seemed that Jesus was destroying the control they had over the majority of the people. Jesus was reinterpreting the Law and rather than condemning people He was encouraging them to receive forgiveness and move away from their sinful practices (Matthew 4:17).

He talked about being ‘born again’ if they wanted to see God’s kingdom (John 3:3). And He was setting people free from demonic possession, feeding thousands of people from nothing, and healing blind people, even touching lepers (Matthew 8:3)!

As time went on whispers about the coming Messiah began to surface. People began to talk like this Jesus was the Messiah… at one point they welcomed Him into Jerusalem as their king (John 12:12-13).

To the Pharisees and religious leaders it seemed that the only people Jesus mixed with were sinners (Luke 5:30). It really was all getting too much for them to bear; bigoted, they plotted against Him (Matthew 12:14).

4. Betrayal
All at once the mission Jesus was on suddenly changed. He talked of suffering, dying and returning again (Mark 8:31). He even talked consolingly to His disciples about the coming Holy Spirit who would lead them into all truth, that He wouldn’t leave His followers alone but would be with them always (John 14:16-17).

Then without warning He is hanged on a cross! (John 19:17-19).

Betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:14-16),He had been arrested, bound and unjustly interrogated, severely beaten, mocked, beard ripped from His face, His back torn by whips, cruel crown of thorns rammed on His precious head (Read the four gospels!).

This Jesus who hadn’t done any harm, this miracle worker who had focused on helping others, this teacher who taught about new freedom was hanged on a cross at Calvary! By His side were two thieves, one who begged for mercy, the other continuing in his indignation. Jesus offered forgiveness and the promise of a new life to the one who called for help; the other got nothing… which was exactly what he asked for (Luke 23:39-41).

At the foot of the cross Jesus’ mother Mary bowed weeping. The son who was conceived by God, the son to whom she had given birth, the one who had cared for her in her need. Jesus, who had both taught thousands and healed many, was at the end of His young life! No doubt she couldn’t help but wonder what this all meant…

5. Benevolence
The last words Jesus uttered were words of forgiveness; He forgave the very people who had crucified Him (Luke 23:34). He was altruistic… continuing to show His unselfish concern for the welfare of others! In reality, Calvary was a case of His life for humanity… His life for my life… for your life.

This man, the son of God, Jesus Christ gave His life as a ransom for the sins of all humankind. On the cross He cut a new covenant and was the sacrifice that our sin demanded. He bought the opportunity of new life, He paid the price that was required so that we could live without the death penalty over our heads. It was His life for ours.

Wherever we may be this Good Friday… in church, at home… let us deeply and sincerely reflect on the life of Jesus, appreciating afresh His sacrifice – and pledge to live our lives differently as a result of the pain He suffered!

Honour our Saviour… it was His life for your life!

In Titus 3:4-8NLT, Paul beautifully summed up what a repentant sinner saved by grace has gained: ‘… God our Saviour showed us His kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.He generously poured out the Spirit on us because of what Jesus Christ our Saviour did. He declared us not guilty because of His great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life. The things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.’

6. But –
I introduced this Good Friday article as an ‘ eulogy’ – from eulogia, meaning ‘good word‘ or ‘praise.’ The practice of delivering eulogies at funerals dates back to ancient Greece, publicly honouring the lives of individuals who had made significant contributions to society but were now departed.

Regarding Jesus I’ve recalled many of His contributions to society, humanity – especially dying for us on the cross to save us from sin’s penalty. It was a case of His life for ours! (John 3:16-17).

But… hallelujah, after Good Friday comes Resurrection Sunday! We can rejoice that our Saviour rose from the grave and is our great intercessor between us and Father God (1Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6NLT)!

We rejoice not only over His life on earth, His death to save us, but that He’s alive… in our hearts and mediating for us in heaven!

When you celebrate Good Friday – and Resurrection Sunday – reflect afresh on this great truth… that it was His life for ours, for yours!

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Wayne and Ruth Swift pastor Resound Church, Scoresby, Victoria. Link: Web resound.church
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