Significance of Good Friday

The Passion Week two thousand years ago, Starting with the Palm Sunday the people shouted

Luke 19:38English Standard Version (ESV)

38 “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

to a number thing happens in the life of Jesus Christ.

Cleansing the Temple, Washing the disciples feet, Prayer at Garden of Gethsemane, betrayal, denial trials, etc

The Seven Sayings on the Cross. Considered to be the most important sayings of Jesus Christ, Last saying before his death on the cross has both spiritual and theological messages.

Jesus Christ like none other knew his mission on earth, he declared his suffering and death even before it really happened. When he declared this to his disciples:

Matthew 16:21-28English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![a]This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[b] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Jesus The Savior:
One of the most important aspect of his death on the cross is to save the people from their sins.
Sin and its implications is death. No other person claimed to save people from their bondage like Jesus did. He just did not say to relieve us from our sins, but took our place of sufferings and ultimately the penalty of death.

The Sacrifice for the sins of whole human kind required God to punish and suffer his own son Jesus Christ. Jesus chose to suffer for the sake of Love. Taking responsibility and accountability to save us from the guilt, shame and ultimately the punishment of death.

In the Old Testament, the priest would offer sacrifices for the sins. Sins of his own and the sins of the people. Here again there is nothing to do with the sacrificing itself, it is the sovereignty of God, who allowed and accepted the sacrifice of his people. God requires the repentance and mercy more than sacrifice itself, it is very evident from the example of Saul who thought that sacrificing the animals that was bought from the enemies in the battle(1 Samuel 15).

Hebrews 10:8-18English Standard Version (ESV)

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[a]had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
    and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin

The Psalmist wrote this very clearly:

Psalm 40:6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.

Why does Sin require a Sacrifice?
The first story of sin and rebellion against God by Adam bought Death into the world. But God made the first sacrifice in the Garden of Eden by that sacrifice he clothed Male and Female.

Hebrews 11:4English Standard Version (ESV)

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Jesus The Redeemer:
Redemption through his blood is needed.

Leviticus 17:14 ►NIV
because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off."

Jesus The Christ:
In the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible, the word Christ was used to translate into Greek the Hebrew mashiach (messiah), meaning"anointed." Christós in classical Greek usage could mean covered in oil, or anointed, and is thus a literal translation of messiah.

The Significance of this day in the history of mankind is unexplained. God making a way for the salvation for the people. Coming down from the high privilege. Emptying himself (Philippians 2) Serving being a Leader and Teacher. Being God himself. Obeying to the point of death, cruel death, beaten, forsaken by the Father. Making redemption through his blood to make the guilt the guiltless, to cover the shame, to strengthen the weak. To Love the lost, To save the sinner.