For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.
1 Pet 3:18a (ESV)
Injustice brings Justice
Good Friday. Such an understatement for the pivotal day in all of human history.
Good Friday was a day filled with irony and injustice. In all four of the gospel accounts you hear the confession of who Jesus is: "King of the Jews" (Matt 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 19:3), but it is not used to honor Jesus. It is used to condemn Him. (John 19:12) The Jews use it sarcastically and mockingly to condemn Jesus as a liar and traitor. (Matt 27:42; Mark 15:32) Pilate uses it to goad and put it to the Jews. (Mark 15:9, 12; John 19:21) The Roman soldiers use it to belittle Jesus as if it were all just made up. (Matt 27:29) The words are even posted on a sign above Jesus as He hung on the cross as an act of dishonor. (Matt 27:37) How ironic and unjust that the One who was truly King of the Jews was crucified as if were lying about it. (Matt 27:11) Truly they did not know what they were doing. (Luke 23:34)
The very reality of who Jesus was is what brought His condemnation. He was King of the Jews. (Matt 27:11) He was the Son of God. (Matt 27:54) And these realities are what brought men to crucify Him.
And while we can see the great injustice, that an innocent, blameless man was crucified, we must see the greater truth: the crucifixion of Christ was the greatest injustice in human history to bring the greatest justice in human history.
Christ chose to go to the cross. It was His own doing. But this was not suicide; this was sacrifice, sacrifice for sin. (Eph 5:2; Heb 10:12) God was entirely in control of all that went on. He was accomplishing His purpose even when sinful men thought they were accomplishing their own purpose. God used the injustice of man to accomplish the justice of God.
The events of the crucifixion are the gospel in its most condensed form. Humanity for sins against God, but God acts to save us from our sins.
Yes, Good Friday is good. It is good in the ultimate and greatest sense. It is the day that God uses the greatest injustice in all human history to bring the greatest justice in all human history, the Just dies for the unjust that He might bring us to God. (1 Pet 3:18)
Good Friday was a day filled with irony and injustice. In all four of the gospel accounts you hear the confession of who Jesus is: "King of the Jews" (Matt 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 19:3), but it is not used to honor Jesus. It is used to condemn Him. (John 19:12) The Jews use it sarcastically and mockingly to condemn Jesus as a liar and traitor. (Matt 27:42; Mark 15:32) Pilate uses it to goad and put it to the Jews. (Mark 15:9, 12; John 19:21) The Roman soldiers use it to belittle Jesus as if it were all just made up. (Matt 27:29) The words are even posted on a sign above Jesus as He hung on the cross as an act of dishonor. (Matt 27:37) How ironic and unjust that the One who was truly King of the Jews was crucified as if were lying about it. (Matt 27:11) Truly they did not know what they were doing. (Luke 23:34)
The very reality of who Jesus was is what brought His condemnation. He was King of the Jews. (Matt 27:11) He was the Son of God. (Matt 27:54) And these realities are what brought men to crucify Him.
And while we can see the great injustice, that an innocent, blameless man was crucified, we must see the greater truth: the crucifixion of Christ was the greatest injustice in human history to bring the greatest justice in human history.
Christ chose to go to the cross. It was His own doing. But this was not suicide; this was sacrifice, sacrifice for sin. (Eph 5:2; Heb 10:12) God was entirely in control of all that went on. He was accomplishing His purpose even when sinful men thought they were accomplishing their own purpose. God used the injustice of man to accomplish the justice of God.
The events of the crucifixion are the gospel in its most condensed form. Humanity for sins against God, but God acts to save us from our sins.
Yes, Good Friday is good. It is good in the ultimate and greatest sense. It is the day that God uses the greatest injustice in all human history to bring the greatest justice in all human history, the Just dies for the unjust that He might bring us to God. (1 Pet 3:18)