My brothers and sisters, there is so much that can, and should, be said about “Good Friday” and the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s so very hard to succinctly write about the Creator of all that was ever created willingly suffering the agony and weight of not only His crucifixion, but the burden of carrying humanity’s sin to the cross.
Scripture shows that the disciples themselves didn’t fully realize the meaning of all that Jesus had forewarned them about – even during the last communion supper or in the garden as Jesus allowed Himself to be taken away by the Romans. What amazing love is demonstrated as Jesus heals the soldier’s ear in the garden during this unthinkable time – you see, God is love and He never changes!
The whole world, including our salvation, was hanging in the balance as Christ went to the cross because the blood of Jesus was, and remains, the only acceptable sacrifice (propitiation) for our sin.
Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to the Father, removing our sin as far as the east is from the west, and brings us everlasting life in the very presence of Almighty God (as it was always intended to be before the fall of man in the Garden of Eden) – if we will only accept His gift of salvation by believing upon Jesus [Ref. John 14:6]!
I’d like to share about a part of the crucifixion story that is documented briefly in the New Testament of the Bible at Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21-22 and Luke 23:26. Scripture records that Simon, a man from Cyrene (located in northern Africa), was in Jerusalem at the time Jesus was being led to the cross. As Jesus (whether by plan or necessity because of His physical condition) was carrying His cross, He collapsed and the Roman soldiers ordered Simon to help Jesus carry the cross the remainder of the trip to Golgotha (“Place of the Skull”), where He and the two thieves would be crucified.
You see, it would not have ended well for the Roman soldiers if Jesus had died before being crucified. Thankfully, Simon was there to help assure that the plan of God for Jesus to be our sin sacrifice upon the cross was brought to fruition.
As horrible as the crucifixion was, Jesus put Satan to shame (putting him on notice that his days were numbered), and that Satan’s plan to kill and therefore destroy the Savior of the world failed completely, as the perfect and only acceptable sacrifice for all of mankind’s sin had been made!
It’s rather clear that Simon’s involvement in the crucifixion wasn’t voluntary, as he was forced to help carry the cross. Simon’s actions seem representative of many things, including the importance of us to deny ourselves and take up His cross (daily) as we walk out our faith in Christ [Ref. Mark 8:34], because simply knowing about Jesus is not enough.
Perhaps the story also symbolizes how we, as believers, are dead, buried and resurrected with Christ – as represented by water baptism [Ref. Mark 10:38-39 and 1 John 5:6].
And, perhaps Simon’s actions are representative of our calling, as believers, to co-labor with Christ. After all, for believers, faith without works is dead [Ref. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 and James 2:17-19].
As one who is always ready to worship God in music, I’d like to share a song composed and sang originally by Darlene Zschech, formerly of Hillsong Worship. Here is the original recording of Worthy Is The Lamb. There is no better time than now to slip away to your quiet (secret) place to worship Jesus – thanking Him for the cross, His blood and the amazing gift of our salvation!
[Video Credits: Hillsong Music & Resources LLC, Hillsong Worship, Shout To The Lord Platinum 2, Composer and Producer: Darlene Zschech, via YouTube.com]
Here are the Lyrics:
Thank You for the cross, Lord
Thank You for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came, and gave amazing grace
Thank You for this love, Lord
Thank You for the nail-pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know, Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus, Son of God
The Darling of heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Scripture to consider:
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Matthew 27:32 (NLT)
“Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.”
Mark 15:21-22 (NLT)
“A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means ‘Place of the Skull’).”
Luke 23:26 (NLT)
“As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”
Mark 8:34 (NKJV)
“When He [Jesus] had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’”
Mark 10:38-39 (NKJV)
“But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They said to Him, ‘[w]e are able.’ So Jesus said to them, ‘[y]ou will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with[,] you will be baptized…”.
1 John 5:6 (NLT)
“And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by [H]is baptism in water and by shedding [H]is blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, [W]ho is truth, confirms it with [H]is testimony.”
1 Corinthians 3:7-9 (Amplified Bible)
“So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building.”
James 2:17-19 (NKJV)
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
