During this Easter Week, I thought that it would be helpful to look at some of the events and teaching on each day running up to Resurrection Sunday - The Greatest Day! Today we look at some of the events of Easter Friday - ‘Good Friday’.
You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast)
On the Friday of Easter Week, Jesus was arrested, condemned, was crucified, died and was placed in a tomb. Let’s consider a few aspects of this day in which we see the greatest vision of the goodness of God in history. I encourage you to read each of the accounts in all four gospels in full. Below I’ve included a few key elements from the Gospel of Luke.
i. See His goodness in His Betrayal
‘While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48)
ii. See His goodness as He is disowned
‘About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a 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. (Luke 22:59-62)
iii. See His goodness as He is mocked
‘The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.’ (Luke 22:63-64)
iv. See His goodness as He is Crucified
‘Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”… But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.’ (Luke 23:20-21; 23-25)
v. See His goodness in His death for sinners
‘It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.’ (Luke 23:44-46)
vi. See His goodness as he is Placed in a Tomb
‘Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.’ (Luke 23:50-54)
Response - See and enjoy God’s goodness
This Good Friday, I hope we can see that God’s goodness is most clearly seen in the death of Christ, and His goodness is most enjoyed by those who live near the cross. Paul, when speaking of knowing the love and goodness of God points to the cross:
‘”But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“‘ (Romans 5:8)
I wonder where we find confidence that God loves us? Many of us are tempted to judge God’s love for us by the circumstances of our lives and our feelings. However, circumstances and feelings change for good or bad, but the love of God, as seen in the cross - His death for sinners - is the unshakable foundation of God’s love. We all continue to make mistakes and sin, and oftentimes we are reminded of past failures and regrets. Added to this, the devil, who is called ‘the accuser’ (Revelation 12:10-11), assaults us with condemnation. If we are to find victory and joy, it’s vital that we live near the cross and see that in Christ ‘there is now no condemnation’ (Romans 8:1).
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals which is accessed in Church News or the Teaching button on the website.
In particular, please ensure that you know the details and arrange travel for our Good Friday walk.
Please also be praying for and inviting to next week’s Easter service.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message from our series in Luke on Sunday was entitled, The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few - Jesus sends out the Seventy-Two (Luke 10:1-24). In this section, as Jesus heads for Jerusalem, Jesus continues to teach His disciples about the mission that they are on, and the harvest that they are to be involved with.
Please read Luke 10:1-24, and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What did Jesus say about the harvest and how are we to respond?
What did Jesus say about the workers and why is this the case?
How is prayer important to the success of evangelism?
How often do you pray about your and the church’s effectiveness in evangelism? Do you have a list of friends that you are praying for?
What is the message that we are to ‘sow’?
What is a ‘person of peace’ and who are they in our lives?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that’s come out of our time in God’s Word.