03/04/2026
😇 hi All,
A belated Good Friday Sermon.
TitLe:
Sᴇᴇɴ Aᴛ Cᴀʟᴠᴀʀʏ
Txt: Luke 23:34-56
Here are some of the people that were seen at the Cross of Calvary on Good Friday.
□ A Forgiving Savior - Luke 23:34-38
The love of Jesus never fails. On the cross, He prayed even for His executioners, asking God the Father to not hold this sin against them.
Jesus probably prayed in this manner for His enemies all thru’ His ministry. This prayer was heard and noted because He had no quiet place to pray. Also, in doing so, Jesus fulfilled His own command to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good for those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you - Mt. 5:44
Jesus recognized the blindness of His enemies in His prayer. This did not, however, excuse the guilt of those who put Jesus on the cross; but Jesus set His enemies in the best possible light in His prayer to the Father. Likewise, we must pray with the same heart, after the same pattern.
If ignorance do not excuse a crime, it at least diminishes the atrocity of it. However, these persons well knew that they were crucifying an innocent man; but they did not know that, by this act of theirs, they were bringing down on themselves and on their country the heaviest judgments of God. - Isaiah 53:12
□ A Repentant Sinner - Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged with Jesus joined the crowds in the mockery and scorn. He reasoned that if Jesus were the Messiah, He should save those who were crucified with Him (save Yourself and us).
But the other, answering, rebuked Him. Both the gospel writers Matthew and Mark indicate that both criminals mocked Jesus. Though at first, they both mocked Him, in the hours spent on the cross, however, one of the criminals came to see things differently, and to actually put his trust in Jesus.
Listen to what he said, “Do you not even fear God?” A closer scrutiny reveals the following:
1. He knew his own sin (under same condemnation… we indeed justly, for we received the due reward of our deeds).
2. He knew Jesus (This Man has done nothing wrong)
3. He called out to Jesus (he said to Jesus)
4. He called out to Jesus as Lord (addressed Him as Lord)
5. He believed Jesus was who He claimed to be (remember me when you come in your kingdom).
6. He believed the promise of eternal life from Him.
It is noteworthy that this man appears to have been the first who believed in the intercession of Christ.” - (Clarke). Perhaps here is the only biblical example of a deathbed conversion who received an immediate pardon and promise of Paradise with Him after death.
An inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: *This is the King of the Jews.* In Jn. 19:21 we read that the religious leaders among the Jews objected to this title. They felt it was false, because they did not believe that Jesus was the King of the Jews. They also believed it was demeaning, because it showed Rome’s power to humiliate and torture even the “King of the Jews.” Yet Pilate would not alter this, and when asked to take down the inscription he answered, “What I have written, I have written.” - Jn. 19:22.
According to Trapp: This venerable eulogy and epitaph, set upon our Saviour’s cross, proclaimed him King of all religion, having reference to the Hebrews; of all wisdom, to the Greeks; of all power, to the Latins.”
□ A Satisfied Father - Luke 23:44-46
The above verses revealed that God was satisfied with His Son’s sacrifice for sin evidenced by the veil in the Temple torn in two, and Jesus’ assurance of God’s acceptance.
The tearing of the temple veil signified at least two things. First, now man has free access to the throne of grace by the cross. Second, on one should ever think again that God dwells in temples made with hands.
Let’s take note that the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. God tore it from heaven instead of man tearing it from earth.
Let’s take a look at the love of Father God and His amazing grace over each of us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. - John 3:16-18
Today if you have yet to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I want to assure you that indeed you can be part of the recipients of God’s gift of salvation.
□ A Converted Centurion - Luke 23:47, Mark 15:39
Surely, this centurion had witnessed many people crucified before. Yet there was something so remarkable about Christ Jesus that he said something about Him that he could say about no one else.
To me, this is a picture of all who come to Jesus thru’ the cross, fulfilling Jesus’ promise if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John 12:32).
□ A Loyal Following - Luke 23:48-56 - The women who followed Jesus were there to the end. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple saw to the burial of Jesus in his own brand-new tomb. Read Mt. 27:57-60, Jn. 19:38-42.
Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus: Customarily, the bodies of crucified criminals were left on their crosses to rot or be eaten by wild animals. But the Jews wanted no such horror displayed during the Passover season, and Romans were known to grant the corpses to friends or relatives for proper burial.
Joseph did not serve Jesus in many ways, but he did serve Him in ways no one else did or could. It was not possible for Peter, James, John, or even the many women who served Jesus to provide a tomb, but Joseph could and did. We must serve God in whatever way we can.
That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near, hence, they were unable to properly prepare the body of Jesus for burial because of the coming Sabbath. So in hurried preparation, Jesus’ body was placed in a borrowed tomb.
In the hours of crisis, it is often the Peters who have sworn loyalty to Jesus with big gestures and fullness of self-confidence, that disappoint, and it is the secret and quiet followers of the Master (like Joseph, Nicodemus and the women) that do not hesitate to serve Him in love - at whatever the cost.” - (Geldenhuys).
😇 My beloved and friends,
Suppose you are part of those people that were seen at the Cross of Calvary on Good Friday, what would you do today?
Christ died for us on Good Friday. Hence, is not it biblical and logical that we live for Him?
Many years back, a popular catchphrase: What Would Jesus Do? Perhaps today after knOwing Jesus sacrifice and died for us, U should be asking, "What Would I Do for Him!"
🙏🏻Shalom
Ps. Paul Ng
Church of Christ the Rock
4th Apr. 2026
0030
*Imperial Hotel (Melaka)*