So Great A Suffering
April 18, 2025 – Good Friday
Pastor Jim Danielson
Opening Illustration
Why?
Introduction
Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? What did His death accomplish? Why was the cross so necessary? Good questions.
Jesus’ Suffering Means Everything
“Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate … had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him.” Mark 14:15-19
These were seasoned, hardened and merciless men who were an occupying army in Israel. These soldiers weren’t respected and when they got the chance to inflict torture on an Israelite, they inflicted pain and suffering with pleasure. They were tough, callous men who thought nothing of torturing a criminal handed over to them and Jesus was no exception.
Isaiah described this day when he spoke of the effects of ttorture upon the suffering servant.
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
Jesus’ suffering means everything to us because in His suffering, He took the punishment that we deserved because of our sins upon Himself. He took our place and carried our guilt.
The unbroken hero came home broken.
2. He was taunted by the people.
He was mocked, despised and ridiculed by the nameless, faceless, merciless mob, by the jealous religious leaders, by the hardened soldiers and even one of the criminals. All three taunted those being crucified because they didn’t care about them. They were criminals so they deserved what they got. Jesus was no different to them than the other criminals. In looking at the gospel accounts, we learn of four groups of people who tormented Jesus while He hung on the cross.
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- He was taunted by the crowd.
“Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and 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!” Matthew 27:29-30
The unthinking crowd is always ready to join in and express their common disdain for the ones who can’t defend themselves. They were the passersby who stopped to watch the show. They had the time and they weren’t in a hurry so they stood and watched. Then they got swept up in the drama and began to taunt Jesus to come down off the cross and save yourself if you are the Son of God. - He was taunted by the religious leaders
“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Matthew 27:41-43
These were the ones who wanted Jesus out of the way. He’d accused them of hypocrisy and confronted them with their spiritual abuse of the people. He’d showed them for what they really were, men who loved the praise of men over the praise of God. They’d made a mockery of the true worship of God and they continually plotted against Jesus. Now they believed they’d beaten Him and he would be rid of. They shouted, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself. He trusts in God, let God rescue Him.” - He was taunted by the soldiers.
“The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Luke 23:36-37
Soldiers were the third group mocking Jesus. “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” What they and everyone else missed was that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, not Himself. He entrusted His life to His Father. - He was taunted by one of the criminals
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:43
Sadly, even one of those abused becomes an abuser. He cries out, “Save yourself and us!” He doesn’t want to die but in his fear his voice joins the chorus of mockers. Even though he will soon die without hope, he fails to see Jesus as his Saviour.
- He was taunted by the crowd.
Illustration
The Three Crosses by Rembrandt.
3. He was triumphant in His death.
Against the unrelenting abuse aimed at Him, there is one small voice on a cross next to Jesus. This man, who is about to die, whose body is wracked in pain and agony, his throat burning up with thirst, cries out to Jesus. His life is all but over with no chance to escape his eminent death. In his agony he whispers, Jesus, I need you. Help me. I believe in you.
“Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus gave him the hope he desperately needed. “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with Me in paradise.” As Jesus fulfilled the Father’s plan. He found one last sinner to bring into His kingdom. His final words were a shout of triumph! Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30
Closing Illustration
Jesus’ final words, “It is finished!”
Thoughts to consider this week: No Cross, No Crown
- Growing up, were you one who would defend the person who was the underdog or would you more likely join in on the teasing? Looking back now, what would you change?
- Read Mark 15:15-19 and Isaiah 53:4-5. What was Pilate’s motivation in handing Jesus over to the soldiers? If you were in the Praetorium as the soldiers abused Jesus, would you have tried to stop the abuse? Why or why not? What motivated them to inflict such cruelty? How does Isaiah 53:4-6 give us a greater perspective and purpose to Jesus’ pain-filled experience? How did we benefit from Jesus’ excruciating suffering?
- Read Matthew 27:29-30, 39-44 and Luke 23:36-39. What three groups taunt Jesus? What was each group demanding of Jesus as proof of His claim to be God’s Son? What irony do you see in the cry for Jesus to come down from the cross? If He had, would they believe? Without the cross could any of them or us be saved? Without the cross, where would our hope lie? Without the cross who could offer us what Jesus did?
- Read Luke 23:40-46 and John 19:30. In what way are verses 40-43 a summary of the gospel message? When the lone person expressed his belief in Jesus, what did he ask of Jesus? How did Jesus respond to his request? How did Jesus’ answer give him hope as his death quickly approached? What does the death of Jesus mean to you? How would you explain to someone the necessity of the crucifixion? What hope does Jesus’ death give to you? What did Jesus’ words, “It is finished,” mean to you?
- Pray for one person to share the good news of the gospel to.
Beginnings of Belief
April 20, 2025 – Easter
Pastor Jim Danielson
Opening Illustration
Larry King’s greatest fear.
Introduction
To believe comes from the word pisteuo and it means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to place confidence in, to trust in. Belief in Jesus comes in different ways. We may know a believer whose life shows us somethings missing in ours. It may have been from our parents, or it may be a friend, a neighbour or a co-worker who first tells us about Jesus. God uses each of them to bring us closer in relationship to Him that transforms us.
Three Ways Belief Can Begin in Us
“He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27
These men were lost in grief as they walked home to Emmaus. Then a stranger appeared and opened the Scriptures to them about Jesus. Like a bright star that appears on a dark night they were mesmerized as they listened. The Word of God has that effect on us when we read it and discover the truth it contains.
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32
Jesus broke bread and disappeared. He opened God’s Word to them, and this caused their hearts to be set ablaze. Their eyes were opened to the truth of God’s Word about Jesus and why He came to earth. Now they understood what they hadn’t before. Now His suffering and death made sense to them. It was in the Word all along. God’s Word is the greatest treasure ever and its hidden until our hearts and minds are opened to its truth.
F. Schaeffer read the Bible and it came alive in him.
2. Thomas believed when doubt was satisfied.
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:24-25
Thomas loved the Lord and was willing to die for Him on one occasion. But at that moment, he needed proof that Jesus was alive.
There’s nothing wrong with having doubts, but they can keep us from moving forward in faith or coming to Christ. When Jesus showed him the proof he needed, he responded with immediate obedience. Yet Jesus also challenged His reluctance to believe. His message is for us too when we’re tempted to doubt.
“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29
Friends it’s ok to have doubts and questions but don’t let them keep you from putting your faith completely in Christ.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Josh McDowell set out to disprove Christianity and then believed.
3. Mary believed when Jesus called her name.
“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” John 20:11-13
Mary Magdalene had lived a sordid life having seven demons tormenting her day and night. Then she met Jesus and He set her free. In gratitude she followed Him and helped take care for His needs. She freely gave out of her love for Jesus. She came to the tomb on Easter Sunday to give Him a proper burial.
When she saw the empty tomb, she wept. Then Jesus came to reveal Himself to her. He called her by her name. Just one word and it was enough to turn her darkness into day, her sorrow into joy and her sense of loss into a sense of wonder! He simply said Mary and everything changed forever.
“…she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). John 20:14-16
Has Jesus called you by name? For some, that profound personal greeting is all it takes to come to Him. He is not an impersonal God. The Bible says that He knows the plans He has for you, that your sins can be forgiven, and that He died for you because you matter to Him. He promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Before you were created in your mother’s womb He knew you personally. And if you were the only person living on this earth Jesus would have died for you. He loves you that much!
Closing Illustration
He knows your name
Thoughts to consider this week: Do You Believe
- If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, when did you first believe? How did you go from unbelief to belief? What happened? If you are not yet a believer, what would it take for you to believe?
- Read John 9:1-12 and 24-38. How did Jesus get this man’s attention? What did this lead to in his life? How did he respond? What did he lose and what did he gain? Would he say it was worth it all?
- Read Acts 9: 1-9 and 15-22. How did Jesus get Saul’s attention? What changes came over his life after this moment? What did he lose and what did he gain? Would he say it was worth it? How have we benefited from his life?
- Read John 11:21-27. In Martha’s terrible grief, how did Jesus comfort her? What did He want her to believe about her brother’s fate? What question did He ask her? How important was that question to her? What did her answer say about her faith in Jesus? How important is that question to you? How would you answer His question today?
- Write your own story of meeting Jesus. How did Jesus get your attention or how is He trying to get your attention now? What changes have come into your life? What have you lost? What have you gained? Has it been worth it? How have others benefited from your new life?
- Pray for courage to continue the changes that Jesus has begun in you until the time He takes you to be with Him forever in eternity.
© 2025, Jim Danielson