Today we continue our PASSION WEEK 2020 series as we follow Jesus down The Road to the Resurrection. Today is Good Friday. In today’s message, I will answer a simple question: What’s so good about Good Friday? Let’s get into it.
(Luke 23:46 KJV)
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God is intentional/purposeful in everything He does.
a) Jesus made seven statements from the cross. Several of the statements fulfilled prophecy. When you consider this, it serves as just another reminder that Jesus’ death was pre-planned, intentional and completely purposeful. Our God is Sovereign. He knows all things and He calls the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Jesus went to the cross on purpose. Even while Jesus was dying, our God was still reigning! Even while Jesus was dying, the Father’s plans and purposes were being manifested.
b) By the time we get to our text for this morning, Jesus had already spoken six statements from the cross. The sixth was, “It is finished.” God is so much a God of order that there was even order in Jesus’ death. When you read the creation account in Genesis you notice that He finished His work of creation by creating man on the sixth day. On the seventh day God rested. Jesus’ sixth cry was, “It is finished.” With the seventh Jesus would be translated from the cross into God’s rest. Jesus said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” and just like that, Jesus gave up the ghost.
c) When you consider the fact that God is completely intentional about everything He does, you can apply this to your life in a myriad of ways. I will highlight two for this morning. The first is that Jesus’s death was part of God’s preplanned and carefully calculated purpose. This means that God was doing exactly what He wanted to do, even in a situation that seemed like the devil was winning. This is a good reminder for us. Especially when things don’t go the way we planned or wanted. The second point I will make is that since God is a completely purposeful God and since He is completely intentional about everything He does, it means you are on this planet for a reason. That reason is God’s purpose. You are not a mistake. Life may not always be easy. It was not easy for Jesus. Life may not always turn out the way you wanted. Even Jesus struggled with the reality of the cross. But in the end, God’s plans and purposes shall come to pass. When it is all said and done, God’s will shall prevail! It did for Jesus and it will for you!
2. No one took Jesus’ life and no one can destroy you!.
a) No one took Jesus’ life, because no one ever could. No one had the power to do so. If you read the text carefully you will realize that no one killed Jesus. They tortured Him, yes. They nailed Him to a cross. They ripped His back wide open. They drove a crown of thorns into His head. But no one had the power to kill Jesus. Jesus gave up the ghost. This means He released Himself into death. He willingly gave up His life and He did it FOR YOU!
b) Until the very end, ’till the final cry, Jesus had the power to destroy all those who were attempting to destroy Him. But He restrained Himself and endured this horrible death because of our sin. He did it FOR US!
c) Jesus faced death on the cross and through the entire process, God was still God, He was still on the throne, and He still had ALL POWER. Remember that the next time you are facing a challenge. Especially remember that now, while the world is dealing with COVID-19. God was God before this pandemic and He will still be God when it is over!
d) The fact that you will face tribulation in this world does not lessen the power of God in any way. It should actually motivate you to tap into God’s power with your faith. God’s grace is available to you and if you use your faith to access His grace, you will be empowered to overcome everything you face on the road to your destiny. Jesus overcame death. He died. But He rose again. You will also overcome all you need to overcome in order to become the man/woman you are born to be. Not because you are so good, but because God is. Not by your power, but by His grace!
3. The devil lost the day Jesus gave up the ghost. This is really the GOOD NEWS about GOOD FRIDAY!
a) The foolish devil thought he was destroying Jesus, but he was actually helping Jesus attain the ultimate victory. When the first drop of Jesus’ blood hit the ground it sealed satan’s fate forever!
b) I was at The Potter’s House in Dallas, TX man years ago when Bishop T.D. Jakes preached a message entitled, “The Blood Trap!” He referenced 1 Cor 2:8, where the Bible explains that if the princes of this world would have known what they were doing, they would have NEVER crucified the Lord of glory! When they thought they were winning, they were actually losing. And that dirty devil makes the same mistake in your life all the time. The more he attacks you, the stronger you get!
c) Jesus went down into hell during those three nights and three days. During that time He took the keys to hell and the grave with Him as He ascended for the Resurrection. Jesus, like Joseph, could say that the devil meant it for evil, but the Father turned it around for good. Guess what? You can say the same! If satan were smarter he would leave you alone. So no matter what you are facing this morning, you have to remember that God is still God. He is still on the throne. He still has all power. He still loves you unconditionally. He still has plans for your life. His plans are still working. Even when it looks like God is not moving, He is moving. Even when it looks like He is not working in your life, He is working. He is intentional. His plans and purposes are not always understood in the moment, but looking back, you will always see the hand of God.
4. Here’s what GOOD about GOOD FRIDAY!
Jesus took your place on the cross!
Jesus paid the debt for your SIN… FOREVER!
Jesus took the sting out of death!
Jesus robbed the grave of its victory!
Jesus took the keys to the Kingdom BACK from satan!
Jesus has all power — in heaven, in the earth, and even under the earth. Based on that power, He said, “GO!” There is POWER in the name of Jesus, and we have been deputized! We have been given the POWER and AUTHORITY to operate in His name!
We don’t have to ATTAIN anything. Jesus ATTAINED it for us. We can OVERCOME because He already OVERCAME!
Our job is to simply RECEIVE and MAINTAIN (by faith) what Jesus already OBTAINED for us (with His sacrifice).
That’s the GOOD NEWS about GOOD FRIDAY!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for Jesus this morning and every morning! I will never cease to give You the praise for what Jesus did for me. Jesus willingly endured the pain of the cross FOR ME. Jesus took my place on Calvary. I now take His place on the earth. Jesus never stopped and I never will either. No matter what I face, I know that You are still God and I still have a purpose. So I become the Jesus people can see, hear, and touch in the earth. I pray for the sick, I encourage the discouraged, I uplift the downtrodden, and I bind the powers of darkness. I honor Jesus’ sacrifice today and every day by becoming a conduit of His light and His love in the earth. As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! Nothing can stop me, because nothing can stop YOU! I will never allow a challenge, obstacle, or roadblock to cause me to quit! Jesus kept going until the very end. He only died when He was DONE! I live my life with the same mentality! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
