Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at some of the incidents in the passage
• Strange that we call today 'Good Friday' - the death of Jesus
  • The cross is the centrepiece of the Bible
  • The cross if the centrepiece of the Gospel
  • We sing about the cross
  • Paul wanted to know nothing but Jesus Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:2)
  • The cross is something wonderful and glorious
• Example of Welsh Artist - James Innes - 'come and see'
  • Looking at a more wonderous mountain this morning
  • Mount Moriah: prefiguring the cross
• Look at the attending wonders of the cross

A Great Darkness (v45)

• It is midday but there is a darkness for 3 hours
• This reminds us of Exodus - when darkness covered the land for 3 days leading to the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb
  • God is painting a picture about the great Lamb of God
  • Isa 53
  • "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"
• He steps into darkness
  • The forces of darkness come against Jesus
  • Jesus is entering into the darkness of (our) sin
• He emerges from this darkness as the light of the world
  • At conversion - people are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light
  • God's light has shone on our hearts (2 Cor 4:6)
  • We were once in the dark but are now in the light
• Example of ministry in Tenby

A Torn Curtain (v51)

• Not a frail veil - this was a weighty, 60ft curtain
  • It was a sign that only one person - the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the 'Day of Atonement'
  • The High Priest bore the names of Israel on his breast plate and represented the people
• It was a symbol of Christ representing His people before God
  • Moving from the Old Testament to the New Testament - from the lesser to the greater
  • Christ is the Great High Priest
  • He has made a single sacrifice of Himself - His body broken for us
• All ceremony and ritual has gone - we can come boldly to God through Jesus alone
  • The curtain is opened - we can come to God
  • We can 'turn back to God'
• Come as a sinner to Jesus
  • Are you still in the dark?
  • Are you still outside?
  • Example of Sylvia

A Mighty Earthquake (v51-52)

• This goes back to Mount Sinai and the law given to Moses
  • But there is a more stupendous occurrence at Calvary
  • Christ enduring out punishment
  • Gal 4:4-5
  • Not just acquitted of our sin but adopted into God's family
• A great earthquake - graves open and the dead are raised to life
  • A prelude to a greater resurrection
  • The one who would rise on the third day and give live everlasting
  • Rom 6:23
  • We are alive in Christ
• There is new life in Jesus

A Roman Centurion (v54)

• A legion was about 5,500 with 59 centurions
  • Someone who has risen from the ranks - battle hardened and scar
  • Assigned to a stubborn people
  • Assigned to crucifixion
• All that he sees is impressed upon him - he grasps "Truly this was the Son of God"
  • He sees there is one mediator between God and man - the Son Christ Jesus
  • Never the same since meeting the Man on the cross
  • Every Christian wonders at the cross

A Dying Thief

• Not here but in other gospels (Luke 23:39-43)
• He begins by ridiculing Jesus
  • Example of Russell Watson
  • The other thief rebukes him
  • He becomes aware of his sin and calls out to Jesus
  • Jesus tells him "today you will be with me in paradise"

Closing Remarks

• Have you come to Jesus?
  • If not, when will it be?
  • Why not today?