Good Friday - Mitch Levingston

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TRANSCRIPT

 

Hey, welcome to the Centre podcast. We're a church based in general, Sydney, who loves Jesus. And so want to make him the center of our lives, community and world. We pray that you, blessed by this word and that it reveals God's love for you in a new way.

Well, we gather this morning as Christians united through the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning we're going to go on a journey, a journey through each of those final moments of our Lord. We will relive Jesus heartfelt prayer he poured out to his father the betrayal by Judas, the false accusations, the denial by Peter. He's flogging, coronation of a crown of thorns, the journey to Golgotha, the crucifixion and burial.

This morning's reflections are focused on Christ's sufferings as we enter the story of Scripture through words, sounds and pictures, we can relive those awful hours of our Lord's suffering. But this is also an opportunity to remember. Remember the solidarity that Jesus has with us as we face the crosses in our life. All of us will encounter a cross.

There are apparent crosses sickness, death, divorce, or accidents. Maybe our crosses are the burdens of fear, loneliness, the uncertainty about the future. How are we going to put food on the table? Whether it's experiencing a life altering cross or perhaps it's a minor cross, none of us can escape the trials of life. The monotony of work, juggling children, strained relationships, friends, big and small crosses await each of us.

And these crosses are not here to punish us or torture us, but simply because we live in a broken world, in desperate need of redemption.

Jesus willingly accepted the cross he received. Jesus takes it all and the world is redeemed through his cross. The invitation of Jesus is to hand over your crosses and burdens to him. And today, friends, I invite you on this Good Friday to see the presence of our Lord in the burdens you carry today. May we become more aware of the crosses in others and seek to alleviate them before we have our first reading.

Open up in a word of prayer. God of power and mercy in love. You sent your son that we might be cleansed of sin and live with you forever. Bless us as we gather to reflect on your suffering and death. And may we learn from your example the way we should live. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

It's my pleasure to invite Isabel up to give our first reading from Luke 2239 to 46.

Jesus went as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, pray that you will not fall into temptation. He raised you about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed. Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will, but yours. Be done.

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him, and being in anguish, he prayed most earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from them from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sir, why are you sleeping? He asked him. Get up and pray so that you and you will not fall into temptation.

Jesus powerful prayer in this anime is a testament to the agony as he wrestles with the will of his father about the horrors that he's about to experience. We just given a glimpse in this moment of the turmoil that the cross brought to Jesus. This moment is a test of submission to his Father's will. And because Jesus succeeded in this test, he's now able to empathize with each of us as we struggle with our weaknesses and as we wrestle with God's will in our life.

We now have our second reading from Mark chapter 14 from 43 to 50.

Just as he was speaking. Judas, one of the 12, appeared with him was the crowd, armed with swords and clubs sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under God. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said Rabbi, and kissed him.

The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Am I leading a rebellion? Said Jesus, that you must come out with swords and clubs to capture me. Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.

But the scriptures must be fulfilled. Then everyone deserted him and fled.

We are not told what Jesus emotional state. What our state was, or his thoughts as Judas came in to betray him. We can imagine that there was hurt. There's nothing more painful in life than being betrayed by one who claims to love us. And most of us here in this room hopefully would not consider ourselves a Judas. Someone who portrays a loved one.

But think back to the moments when we had professed devotion to Jesus. But our thoughts, actions and our lifestyle reveal a divided heart. A heart that's not devoted to him, a heart that's willing to betray him. We'll now have our third reading, where Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin. From Matthew chapter 26. From 59 to 67.

Thanks for.

The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for the false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward and declared. This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Then the highest priest stood up and said to Jesus, are you not going to answer?

What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent. The highest priest said to him, I charge you under the earth by my living death. Living God's God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God. You have said so, Jesus replied. But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming down in the clouds of heaven.

Then the highest praise to his cousin said, he has spoken blasphemy. Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think he is worthy of? Death fancies and spit on his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him.

Jesus is sentence like a common criminal and accused of crimes that he did not commit. Yet Jesus humbly accepts this injustice. His trial and criminal status are all because of our sins. All the sins of humanity are placed upon his shoulders as our Passover Lamb. The injustice that Jesus experienced is a tangible reminder of the injustice that faces our world, as people are condemned for their race, beliefs, politics.

The list is endless. As people continue to be unjustly condemned in our world, it is a powerful reminder that the one who faced the ultimate injustice will bring justice to this earth. When he comes. We will now have our fourth reading from Luke 2254 to 6062. Peter denies Jesus.

Then, seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the High Priest. Peter followed at a distance, and when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked at. She looked closely at him and said, this man was with him.

But he denied the woman. I don't know him, he said, a little while, a little while later someone else saw him and said, you are also one of them, man, I am not. Peter replied. About an hour later, another asserted, certainly this fellow was with him, for he is Galilean. Peter replied, man, I don't know what you're talking about.

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him. Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.

It's the second betrayal our Lord faced on that night, and Peter's threefold denial of Jesus is ultimately driven by fear. Fear of man. But before we criticize Peter too harshly, consider the times where you also have feared man more than God and denied Jesus through your words or actions. This moment is pivotal in Peter's life. It's not the walking on water, not the confession of Jesus as Messiah.

It's this moment when Peter recognizes who he is weak and broken. But in this moment that our Lord uses when he's resurrection to restore and Saint Peter out as one of his chief apostles. Lord, grant us the gift of honesty, so that we may not fear to speak the truth even when it is difficult. We'll now have our fifth reading.

Barabbas is released from Mark chapter 15 from verse 6 to 15.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?

Asked Parliament, knowing that it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priest stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the King of the Jews? Pilot asked them. Crucify him! They shouted. Why? What crime has he committed as Pilate?

But they shouted all the louder, crucify him! Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified.

In Aramaic, Barabbas means son of the father, and ironically the true son of the Heavenly Father was condemned and the evil son is free. What do you imagine went through Barabbas mind as he was granted freedom? Do you think his life changed better for that day? Was he grateful for the horrific death that he avoided? Did he use his newfound freedom for God's glory?

Or did he waste that precious gift of mercy? We will never know. His tale is a mystery, but yours is not. Friends. What will you do with the pardon? Jesus has offered you. What will you do with your life? For the great gift that he has given? I now have our six reading. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns.

From Matthew chapter 2727 to 31.

Thanks Ben.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the pretorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a star in his right hand, then they now in front of him and mocked him. How? King of the Jews, they said they spat on him and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again, after they had mocked him.

They took off the road and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Imagine for a moment the physical pain that Jesus endured.

Imagine a whip going against the skin of your back. Imagine fist against your face. Or a crown of thorns being placed upon your head. Mocked as King of the Jews. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Stands humiliated in a makeshift purple robe. The cruel crown of thorns on his head. Friends, that image is the cost of sin.

While we can never fully appreciate the extent of Christ's physical pain, all we can do with it is live lives worthy of the calling and the sacrifice he made. Lord, I pray that you grant to us patience in our times of suffering. There are times of suffering. May result in a sacrifice of praise. I come to our seventh reading.

Jesus takes up the cross from Luke chapter 23 from the stats 26 to 31. Right now.

As the soldiers lead him away, they seized Simon from Sarina, who was on his way in from the country and put the cross on him. And made him carry it behind. Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me.

Weep for yourself and for your children. For the time will come when you say, blessed are the childless woman, the wombs that have never bore, and the breasts that have never nursed. Then they will say to the mountains, fall on us, and to the hills cover us. For if people do these things, when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?

Jesus taught us that to be one of his followers, we must be prepared to deny ourselves and to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. How many of us are willing to pick up the cross? When faced with the challenges of life, no matter how great or small, it provides us an opportunity to do what Jesus did. Accept our suffering gracefully.

We learn in this moment that not every cross is meant to be born alone.

Simon's sacrifice. Simon's willingness to pick up the cross is an example for us on how we can help carry each other's burdens. I pray, Lord Jesus, that each day we faithfully bear our crosses and bear the crosses of each other. We now come to our eighth Bible reading. Jesus is crucified for Matthew chapter 2733 to 43.

They came to a place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall, but after tasting it he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots and sitting down, and they kept watch over him. They over his head. They placed the written charge against him.

This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, you who were going to destroy the temple and building in three days, save yourself. Come down from the cross. If you are the Son of God.

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders mocked him. He saved others, they said, but he can't save himself. He is the King of Israel. Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trust in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. For he said, I am the Son of God.

By the time Jesus has reached Golgotha, he suffered many indignities already. Betrayal, denial. False judgment, the beatings, the mockery and the ridicule. And these moments before he is crucified, Jesus is stripped. The mere dignity, the protection, the comfort of his clothing is stolen. And there he is, naked before the crowd hanging upon the cross. Out of love for us, Jesus is made vulnerable.

Jesus is dehumanized. Jesus laid himself down on the cross and willingly stretched his hands and his feet to be crucified.

It's on a it's upon a cross. A person dies with his arms spread out. When our Lord spread his arms out, he did it to draw all people to himself. This great sacrifice has opened the gates of heaven for all who believe in him can share in Etern all life. We will now have our ninth reading. Jesus promises his kingdom to the criminal from Luke chapter 23, verses 39 to 43.

Your. One of the criminals who hung that hill and sold it at him on your Messiah. Save yourself and us. But but the other criminals rebuked him. Don't you feel God? He said, since you are under the same sentence, we are the. We are punished just justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.

Then he says, Jesus, remember me when he comes into your kingdom. Jesus answered, truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

As Jesus life ebbs away. His words are not of condemnation or pity for himself, but of forgiveness. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Amid his anguish and suffering, Jesus calls upon his father to forgive and not to condemn. This is the real challenge of the cross. We give those who have hurt us most, despite the mocking of the crowds, the curse of the other criminal, immense, excruciating pain.

Jesus offered mercy and salvation to the penitent criminal in his humanity. Jesus suffered, but in his divine nature he loves and pardons sinners, even dying upon a cross. And friend two. Today we can join Jesus and that criminal in Paradise. Our 10th reading is Jesus dies on the cross from Matthew chapter 27. This is 45 to 56.

From noon until three in the afternoon. Darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon. Jesus cried out in a loud voice. Eli, Eli, lema sabbath Danny? Which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? When some of those standing there heard this, they said his calling Elijah. Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.

He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stove, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died will rise to us. They came out of the tombs after Jesus resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, surely he was the Son of God!

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Majd Dillon, Mary the mother of James, and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee. Sons.

Our Lord Jesus, you offered your life for everyone, even for your enemies, to transform their hearts. Your love should not shy from death as you offered your life for all. May we do the same. Jesus once said, very truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds. It's through death that, paradoxically, life is found. And we find life by joining in the death of Jesus. As we join Jesus in his death, will you make the decision each and every day to die to yourself and follow after Jesus? Lord, we thank you. You offered your life for all.

Lord, have mercy upon us. We now come to our 11th and final reading. Jesus is placed in the tomb for Mark chapter 15, verses 42 to 47.

It was. It was preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath. So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

When he learned from the centurion that this was that, it was so he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph brought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in the tomb. Cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, saw where he was laid.

That night, as Jesus body was laid in the dark heart of the earth, and they cried, stone rolled in front of it. Be natural for his followers to think. God, why did you permit this? How could a loving God allow this to happen? As Jesus mother Mary gazes upon the lifeless body of her son crucified and broken. Mary is not only the mother of our Lord, but many ways she can come to represent the mother of all who suffer loss.

She stands in silent grief of all who have lost loved ones, whether to the cruel hands of violence, the slow embrace of sickness, or the sudden shock of tragedy. There are times, friends, where it seems the darkness of the tomb will overcome us, that evil is victorious. But the answer to all our grieving and despair lies in this place.

The tomb is transformed into a womb, a place of new birth, a place of hope. And our presence here this morning is witness to that. That Jesus death was not in vain. That his suffering and death are not in vain. May we have eyes to see the promise of new life that darkness cannot contain. And as his body sits there in silence, patiently awaiting resurrection and new life.

Friends, that's the hope. We also carry. Lord Jesus, we thank you. Your death is a sacrifice that unites heaven and earth and reconciles all people to you. May we who have all faithfully reflected on your death and your great sacrifice. Follow in your footsteps so that we too can share in your glory when you live and reign, when the kingdom comes in its fullness.

Amen.

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Be blessed.