THE WORD 4 ev 1

Blessed Good Friday. Today will be the last post until the 12th of April when we will resume with Luke 11. Today I provide you with the Good Friday Sermon that will be preached tonight at 7:00 p.m. May the Lord hold you in the resurrection hope!

Sermon--Good Friday 2010

In his marvelous book author and pastor Tony Campolo points out the great and dynamic distinction in the Christian life—a life constantly juxtaposed between the darkness of Good Friday and the Living Hope in the Sunday Resurrection . I’d like to share a portion of it with you now:

Campolo writes, “ It was Friday, and my Jesus was hanging dead from the tree. But that was Friday, and Sunday's coming.

It was Friday, and Mary was crying her eyes out. The disciples were running in every direction, like sheep without a shepherd, but that was Friday, and Sunday's coming.

It was Friday. The cynics were looking at the world and saying you can't change anything in this world, so why even try. See what it got Jesus? But those cynics didn't realize that that was Friday, and Sunday's a coming.

It was Friday. And on Friday, those forces of darkness that oppress and destroy were in control. But that was Friday. Sunday's coming.

It was Friday, and on Friday Pilate thought he had washed his hands of a lot of trouble. The Pharisees were strutting around, laughing and poking each other in the ribs. They thought they were back in charge of things. But, they didn't know that it was only Friday. Sunday's coming.”

Have you ever looked at your life that way? I’ll tell you, it makes all the difference in the world. Are you going to stay living in the events of Good Friday or are you willing to go beyond? To look beyond the present horizon, through the dark and terrible night, and know that Sunday is still a comin’?

I fear too many people, who profess faith in Christ, live as if Good Friday is the end of the road. They live as if Sunday never came or will ever come. But I'm here to tell you, Jesus was dead, as dead as dead can be, but now he is alive, and because he lives, we can live beyond the Fridays of this world—the Fridays of this life.

Make no mistake about it, the Friday's hurt. Sometimes they look as if they might even be permanent, but for the Christian, Friday always gives way to Sunday. For the Christian, after death there is always the resurrection. In the midst of sorrow there is comfort. In the middle of trials and tribulations there is always hope!
That’s what Good Friday is all about: Hope in the midst of suffering; Comfort in the midst of sorrow; Resurrection in the midst of death. Not because of anything we have done, but it is all ours because of what Christ has done for us as our sacrifice.

The book of Hebrews says, “But he (Jesus Christ) has now appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:26-28).
The book of Hebrews was written to people who were being tempted to leave the true faith. They may have been tempted by persecution, or hardship. They may have been tempted, which is more likely the case, by false teachers who wanted to bring them back to the old time religion of the Jews. Whatever the case was this was the author’s way of saying to the people in the midst of their trials and temptations: Hang in there. Your trials will pass. Your temptations will come to an end. Right now you are experiencing the pain of Friday but Sunday’s comin'.

Remember, friends who are dearly loved by God, because Jesus sacrificed himself for you, your Friday’s are not permanent. Your Friday’s must give way to resurrection Sunday! THEY MUST!!! It can be no other way. For Jesus died to take away your sin. Jesus paid the price in full. He suffered the penalty of death for us. That is why the Scriptures triumphantly declare, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” We are free from sin and the condemnation it brings. And sure… Fridays do come, even for God’s people. Pain, suffering, hurt and sorrow are all things we experience. They are realities of living in a Good Friday World! But through it all remember Sunday’s coming. And that means victory is at hand!

And I don’t mean vague and spiritual, I mean specific… So let me get specific:

For some people it’s Friday in their marriage. It is coming apart at the seams, but remember, it is only Friday, and Sunday's coming. Nothing brings new life into a dead marriage like the Resurrected Jesus. For some, it is Friday and you might be struggling with some particular sin which is dragging you down and it looks as if it is going to pull you under, but it's only Friday. Sunday's coming. The Resurrected Lord has promised in His Word that “sin shall no long be your master” because in your Baptism you were given power for living a new life to the glory of God.

For some, it is Friday, and the bills keep rolling in, and the pressure keeps mounting because times are tough, and you are on a fixed income. But it’s only Friday. Sunday's coming. And the resurrected Jesus has promised that even as he cares for the birds of the air and the lillies of the field so he cares for you not just spiritually but also physically.

It is Friday and someone you love may be suffering and you don't know how you are ever going to cope, but my friends, it's Friday. Sunday's coming. The same Jesus who bound up the broken hearted in the Gospels is the same Jesus who promises to mend our broken hearts as he applies the healing balm of the Gospel to our lives. He will give you the strength to go on, until you finish the race, until He brings to completion the good work He has begun in you.

And yes, today is Good Friday, and we remember that on that fateful day, outside of Jerusalem, on a place called Golgotha, Jesus really and truly breathed his last and he really and truly died. And that news in and of itself is not good at all. And it’s hard not to be touched by Christ’s pain. It is hard not to be touched by the blessed suffering of God’s Son. Through it all, we must remember that God was in control of the event of Good Friday. He was working out his plan to bring us live, forgiveness and peace. I have no idea who ever first decided to call the day Jesus died: “Good Friday,” but whoever did it new Sunday was coming.

And yes, on one Friday every last one of us will die as our Savior once died, but, that will be a Friday, and Sunday is coming. For the same Lord who said, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” is also the one who has promised to say to all who finish the race and die in the one true faith, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

May you find hope and comfort this Good Friday, and all the Fridays of life, in the assurance that Sunday is coming! Amen.