March 25, 2016 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Matthew 27:32-40 PORTRAITS OF JESUS FROM MATTHEW’S GOSPEL “MAN’S BEST FRIEND!”

GOOD FRIDAY

March 25, 2016

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Matthew 27:32-40

PORTRAITS OF JESUS FROM MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

“MAN’S BEST FRIEND!”

                                                      1. A Friend in Need.

                                                      2. A Friend in Deed.

Matthew 27:32-40 (NIV 1984) “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ³⁴There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁸Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

          Throughout our Lenten season we have looked at pictures of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel. We have seen Him most recently as a Forsaken Son. We also saw Him as a Betrayed Friend, Rejected Teacher, Maligned Messiah and more. On Good Friday we see a picture of Man’s Best Friend. Now I’m sure when I say that immediately what comes to mind is a dog. Because dogs are faithful, loyal and always happy to see you they have been called Man’s best friend. But I have to quibble with that a little bit. They can be man’s very good friend or really good friend for the title of Man’s Best Friend really belongs to Jesus. The Events of Good Friday show us why.

          First we see a friend in need. Now I know the way that saying works “a friend in need” refers to a friend who is there for you when you are in need. But here we see Jesus has a need. “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.” From the time of the Last Supper on Thursday evening until now Jesus had been under severe duress. He is serving as our substitute which means even though He is true God and knows all and can do all He has to face this as true man. Think of the wrestling with God in prayer, the betrayal, the farce of a trial before Caiaphas, the beatings, whipping, crown of thorns and mockery at the hands of the Roman soldiers. No sleep. He is tired. In need. Simon of Cyrene must carry the cross.

          Now brothers and sisters the point of Good Friday is not in any way what we can do for our Lord. We didn’t make Good Friday good for Jesus. Just the opposite. He made it good for us. And yet knowing what we know, if we had been there would any of us have helped Jesus with His cross? Yes. All of us. We’d be fighting each other for the privilege of helping Jesus if we could. Remember that later, not today, but later when the Lord has a need for getting His Gospel out. For now see that Jesus was a friend in need.

          And rejoice that Jesus is a friend in deed. Again, not the way the saying goes but a friend in action. “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ³⁴There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Payment must be made for sin. Payment in full. Jesus will not let anything deaden His physical pain. He allows Himself to be nailed to the cross.

          “Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In years past we have looked at the many ironies surrounding Jesus’ Passion. Here we see one of them. They taunted Jesus, saying that by coming down from the cross He could prove that He was the Son of God. In fact the opposite is true. Because Jesus is the Son of God and is man’s best friend he would not come down from the cross. The mission of the Son of God was to pay for sin in full. He stayed through the taunting. He stayed through the physical pain and emotional duress. He stayed even though it was breaking Mary’s heart. He stayed until He was forsaken by God and every single sin punished in Him. He stayed out of love for you and me. It’s what makes Good Friday good—for us and for all. Jesus didn’t just give His life for us who call Him friend, Jesus also allowed Himself to be punished for the sins of the taunters back then and all who to this day reject Him. Truly Jesus is Man’s Best Friend and He showed it by His deed, being obedient to death even death on the cross.

          It is Good Friday. It’s good for us to be here. It’s one of those services you just don’t want to miss. For the Tenebrae portion of our service we may feel a little more sorrowful but we are not going to be mourning Jesus. We’ll be mourning over the fact that our sins too made Jesus’ sacrifice necessary. But we’ll leave rejoicing have once again celebrated Jesus’ Triumphant cry. It is finished. And we’ll look forward to celebrating the victorious resurrection of man’s best friend. The one they call Jesus! Amen.