SERMON 494

GOOD FRIDAY - APRIL 14, 2006

ISAIAH 52:13 – 53:12, JOHN 18:1 – 19:42

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES!

Beloved in the Lord, grace and peace be unto you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.

We are gathered here again on Good Friday to recall and to listen to the story of our redemption. We have heard the prophet Isaiah foretell that story in language quite incredible. “He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities,” the prophet exclaims. Then we heard the passion story from the Gospel written by John where he tell us, “So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.”

I am going to begin this meditation with a story entitled, THAT’S WHAT BROTHERS ARE FOR.

Cindy heard a knock at her dorm room door. “Hey, Cindy! Are you in there?”

“Peter?” Cindy asked as she opened the door to find her younger brother standing in the hallway. “How did you get here? Where are Mom and Dad?”

“I took the train,” he said, looking her room over. “Mom and Dad are out of town,” “What are you doing here,” she asked?

“I heard that frantic message you left for Mom where you said you needed help with your math and thought you were going to flunk this big test that was coming up,” said Peter. “So I thought I could help.”

“Peter, I know you’re good at math,” explained Cindy, “but this isn’t like one of your high school classes.”

“I know that. But I’m taking college-level calculus now. So show me what you’re working on,” said Peter. “Wait, let’s go and get a pizza or something first. I’m starving and I work better when my stomach is full.”

Cindy stared at her brother in disbelief. Was this the same kid who used to chase her around the house with frogs? For the next couple of hours they ate and caught up on the goings on at home. Then Cindy explained the difficulties she was having in her math class and upcoming test.

“Don’t worry, Cindy, I’ve got you covered,” Peter said. He spent the next couple of days camped out in Cindy’s dorm room tutoring her in math, coaching her in more effective study habits, and making her laugh. When the week end was over, Peter gathered his things together as Cindy began to sniffle. “What’s wrong he asked?”

“I just realized right now how much you mean to me,” said Cindy.

“No,” said Peter. “You just realized how much you mean to me.”

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSION, CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES! That’s what brothers are for.

When we see Jesus in his suffering for us we begin to realize not only how much he means to us, but also how much we mean to him.

We were having trouble to be sure. Our difficulty was not with a high level calculus math class in college. We were lost in sin and disobedience. We had been captured by the evil one. We had received the sentence of death. We could not love or trust in God or find him on our own.

We did not know, nor could we even begin to guess how much we meant to the living God who created all things. The living God, the holy one, in whom all glory and power and dominion and honor and wisdom reside, decided to take a trip to earth. Casting all his glory aside, the only begotten of the Father became our brother, and, as our brother, came to do for us what we could never have done for ourselves.

Our brother, who loved us with an everlasting love, came to take upon himself our sin and shame and disobedience and bring us back to God; to bring us back home. He was born in our midst, ate and drank with us, talked with us about the home where our Father dwells, and then did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

He was crucified. HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES.

Let us listen to and reflect on again the last words that our brother and Lord spoke to us as he rescued and redeemed us.

On the cross the first words that he spoke were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” We did not know what we were doing when we put him to death by crucifixion, but he knew. It was for our salvation. It was for our forgiveness. In his speaking there was no anger, no resentment, no bitterness, no judgment, only forgiveness. That’s what our brother was for.

On the cross the second words that he spoke were, “Truly, I tell you that today you will be with me in paradise.” These words were spoken to a criminal who recognized the innocence of Jesus and asked to be remembered when Jesus came in his kingly power. Even the most unworthy can find a brother and a Savior in Jesus Christ, and even at the very last moment.

On the cross the third words that he spoke were to his mother and his disciple John. What should one expect of a son or a daughter, but that they take care of their mother? That is what brothers and sisters are for.

On the cross the fourth words that he spoke were expressions of his deepest agony, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” On the Day of Atonement sacrifices were made for the sins of the people. On that day one goat was separated from the others. The High Priest laid his hands upon the goat transferring to that goat the sins of the nation. The goat was then driven into the wilderness to be lost and forsaken. On the cross, our brother and redeemer had not only the sins of the world laid upon him, he was forsaken, with no one to comfort him. Even his Father in heaven had withdrawn from him. He was truly wounded for our transgression and crushed for our iniquity. Everyone has been given a brother like that if only they will believe in him.

On the cross the fifth word that he spoke expressed his deep agony, “I thirst.” Jesus, our brother and the only begotten son of the Father, did thirst first and foremost for our salvation. He was himself the living water and told us that any one who drank from him would never ever again thirst. Our Lord thirsted so that we would never thirst. Everyone should have a brother and Savior like that.

On the cross the sixth word that he spoke was a most glorious word indeed. Jesus said, “It is finished.” It was finished indeed. The physical suffering remained until he died. The task for which he had come, the task of being the sin bearer and Savior of the world was completed. He had been wounded. He had been crushed by the weight of our sin. But he never wavered in his trust, in his obedience, and in his love for all his brothers and sisters. Is it not absolutely amazing to know that we meant that much to him?

On the cross the seventh word that he spoke was a word of such joy and relief, “Father, into your hands, I commend my Spirit.” Jesus knew where he was going. Jesus knew what God was about to do for him. Jesus knew that the love with which he had loved us would reach its goal; that we, his brothers and sisters, would become, through him, the very children of God. He was going home and taking home with him all that he loved.

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITY. That’s what brothers are for. Glory be to Jesus the brother and savior that brought us back to God!