King of Glory: The King's Death | Good Friday Service | Josiah Smith

A message by Pastor Josiah Smith on John 19

Compass Bible Church South Valley is located in Kuna, Idaho

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Transcript

Good Friday And King Of Glory

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Well, today is a very somber but special day. For thousands of years, Christians have gathered on this day to remember the death of our Savior, to reflect on the reality of his death and what it was he accomplished on the cross. That's really what Good Friday is all about. Reflecting on Jesus' death, the perfect, spotless lamb who knew no sin, but became sin on the cross, so that you and I might become the righteousness of God in him. In this resurrection season, this Easter season here at Compass Bible Church South Valley, we are focusing on the theme of Jesus being the king of glory. The scripture tells us again and again that Jesus is the king. He's the king of righteousness. He's the king of all kings and lord of all lords. And the king of glory, as we saw on Sunday, he had humble beginnings as he rode in on a donkey into Jerusalem rather than on a war horse. And tonight we're going to continue to think about this theme, this idea of the glory of King Jesus.

What Glory Means In Scripture

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But to do that, we need to kind of zoom out for a second and recognize and understand what glory is according to the scriptures. If we're going to say that Jesus is the King of glory, and that's connected somehow to his life, his death, his burial, his resurrection, and ascension, we need to understand what glory is. There are three primary senses of glory throughout the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. If you've been following with us in our Bible reading plan, the lamp and light Bible reading plan, one of those senses of this word glory represents the presence of God. It's called the the tent of meeting. The idea is that God's glory fills the tabernacle specifically, and that represents God's presence. It's the glory of the Lord, the presence of the Lord. He is with his people. So in scripture, when you see the glory of the Lord, sometimes the scriptures are referring to his presence, that God is there, that he is among his people. Perhaps more familiar to you, the idea of glory can also speak to the greatness of God. This dominates the Psalms. Think of what the Psalms say again and again. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable. They are speaking of the glory of God, the greatness of God, his magnificence. That's another sense of this word, glory. So we have the presence of God with his people, the greatness of God, but we also have the place promised by God. Perhaps you've heard a Christian say, I'm headed to glory. That's a destination, that's a place that is promised in Christ. We are promised to be with him in glory. So that's a time after the new heavens and the new earth where we spend eternity with Christ, our Savior, where there is no more sorrow, there is no more suffering, and there will be nothing but eternal joy because we are in the presence of the glory of the Lord. So three senses of glory: the presence of God, the greatness of God, and the place in the future promised by God.

The Cross Redefines True Glory

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But from a kind of secular perspective, whether we would think biblically or not, when we we hear the word glory, we tend to think of glory in grand terms, right? We think of victory, we think of military conquest, might, uh, accomplishment. There's a sense of being dominant, there's a sense of uh maybe even a sense of beating your chest. That's often what we think of when we think of glory. But the crucifixion of Christ, the death of Christ turns all of that and that understanding and that way of thinking of glory upside down. The crucifixion of Christ shows that Jesus was in fact victorious, that he does in fact live and reign today. But he was not victorious with a sword, he was not victorious with an army, he was victorious through suffering and sorrow. And that's why we are here tonight to reflect on the victory of Christ that was accomplished in the most unexpected of ways. We think of might and grandeur and beating our chest and bravado, but Jesus shows us a different way, an unexpected way. But friends, a far more better way. Jesus is victorious, not through a sword, but through suffering. And as we reflect on the suffering of our savior, there's two things that I want us to really meditate on tonight. Two simple things to help us just to think about, to reflect, to recall the death of our Savior, and ultimately the victory of our Savior, who is the King of Globe. Two things I want us to reflect on.

John 19 And The Suffering King

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Here's the first one: Jesus' path to glory was marked with suffering and sorrow. Jesus' path to glory in the most unexpected way, at least from the crowds, at least from the Pharisees, even the disciples to some extent, the most unexpected way, Jesus' path to glory was marked with suffering and sorrow. Let's look at John 19 just to see this reality unfold. If you've got your Bibles, turn there, the Gospel of John, one of the four Gospels that details the crucifixion, the death of Christ. But I want us to look at John 19 to see this reality, that his path to glory was a path that led him through suffering and sorrow. So John chapter 19, beginning in verse 1, it says, Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him, beat him, mocked him, tortured him. Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of forms and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They dressed him like a king. And they came up to him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews, and struck him with their hands. This was Jesus' chosen path to glory. Not on a war horse, not with a sword in his hand, but through suffering and sorrow at the hands of men. Pilate and the Roman soldiers, they flogged him mercilessly. They beat him. They treated him in a mocking, jeering kind of way as a king, twisting a crown of thorns on his head and saying, Hail, King of the Jews. And the most incredible part of Jesus' suffering, Jesus' sorrow, is his willingness to endure it and the gentleness that he displayed throughout it. In 1 Peter chapter 2, Peter reflecting on this, he says in verse 21, For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin. Neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued in trusting himself to him who judges justly. This is the gentleness of Christ on full display. In the midst of his suffering, though he was innocent, though he committed no sin, though he was falsely accused, though he was relentlessly mocked, he kept silent. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. And this reality amazed Pilate. He was thrown off by Jesus not arguing his case, Jesus not taking up his arms. In fact, in John chapter 19, beginning in verse 8, it says, When Pilate heard this statement where the Jews are talking to Pilate, and they're saying, Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of Caesar. And when Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, it says. And he entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, Where are you from? He continues to question him, but Jesus gave him no answer. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth, the one who created the universe, the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power, the one who by all things are made, and for all things are made. Opened not his mouth. The one who calmed the Sea of Galilee with just a word. The one who brought the death back to life with just a word. Opened not his mouth. Now remember, Jesus has already said in the Gospel of John that no one has authority to take his life. No one has authority to take Jesus' life. He lays it down, he picks it up. But no one outside of him has the authority to take it up. And Pilate, of course, doesn't know this. He doesn't know that Jesus is willingly heading like a lamb to the slaughter. He doesn't understand why someone could be mocked and falsely accused and not state his case. You will not speak to me? Do you not know who I am and I have authority to help you? Pilate says. And Jesus opens not his mouth. He willingly, because of the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. And he opened not his mouth. The king of glory, this path to glory was one that was marked with suffering and sorrow. And Jesus knew full well that this was what was on the other side of his entry into Jerusalem. He knew that those whom he created, the very men that draw their breath in their lungs because he sustains it, would beat him, would mock him, and would scorn him. He knew this. And yet he opened not his mouth. Why did he do this? Why was he so willing? Why was this necessary for Christ to endure this brutality? Well, here's the second thing I want us to reflect on this evening.

Humiliated For Us Healed By Wounds

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Jesus was humiliated before man so that you wouldn't be humiliated before God. Our Savior, our King of glory, willingly endured suffering and sorrow so that you wouldn't have to. And he was humiliated before man, the one through whom and for whom all things, all glory and honor is due. He willingly humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant, becoming in the likeness of men. And he endured suffering and pain, even to death on the cross. Why? So that you wouldn't have to, so that you could stand before God and have a footing on which you can stand. Peter also comments on this in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 24. He says, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. This was why Jesus was humiliated, so that by his wounds you could be healed. This is the beauty and the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This King of glory was on this path to glory that was marked with suffering and sorrow, and he willingly endured it for the joy set before him. He bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed. After suffering much at the hands of the Romans, after being mercilessly beat, mercilessly mocked, after being paraded like a king, ironically, because he is the king of kings and lord of lords, but in a mocking way, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. Look at verse 28 of John chapter 19. It says, After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, he said to fulfill the scripture, I thirst. A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Friends, this is some of the most precious words in all of the Bible. That the work needed by our Savior, the suffering and sorrow that needed to be endured, the sin that needed to be taken on, the penalty that needed to be paid, Jesus willingly endured on the cross. And he says, through all that work, through all that suffering, through all that sorrow, he gets to the end and he says, It is finished. And the finished work of Jesus on the cross is the means by which you and I can have our wounds be healed. By his wounds, you have been healed. And our wounds of sin can be healed. He himself bore our sorrow, bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed. Jesus on the cross as he draws his last breath. He says, It is finished. It has been accomplished. The work necessary for you to experience eternal life was finished on the cross. The shame, the sorrow, the suffering, the humiliation that you deserved. Jesus took on the cross. He bore our sin in his body on the tree. And as he drew his last breath, he says, It is finished. It reminds me of the lyrics of a song that I really like. It goes like this: it is done, it is finished. No more debt I owe. Paid in full, all sufficient merit, now my own. That's the gospel, isn't it? That he who knew no sin became sin so that you could become the righteousness of God. That he who was innocent would be treated and tried like a criminal on the cross so that you wouldn't have to. Jesus was willingly humiliated before men so that you wouldn't be humiliated before God. That is the glory of the gospel. It is done, it is finished. No more debt I owe. Paid in full, all sufficient merit now my own. The Bible tells us that there is a coming day that every single person will face. It's appointed out to every man wants to die, and after death comes judgment. Or will you, as the apostle John says in first John, will you shrink back in shame? And the only way to stand before the Lord is if you have Christ as your foothold. Not only did Jesus enter into the muck and the mire and the sin and the sorrow of our lives, he became the foothold on which you and I can stand. That is the reality of the death of Jesus Christ. He was tortured, beaten, and mocked. He took your sin in his body on the tree, so that by his wounds you could be healed. You could be saved. You could have a foothold on which you can stand. A foothold when that day comes is when it's appointed unto every man once to die, and after death comes judgment. You will be able to stand, not because of anything that you've done, not because of your righteousness, not because of your work, but because of the perfect finished work of Christ on the cross. It is done. Jesus Himself says, it is finished. And by trusting in Christ, placing your faith and trust in him, you can be saved. By his wounds, you can be healed.

It Is Finished Paid In Full

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One of the best ways, I think, to reflect on the reality of the crucifixion is to read the reflections of others from the past. One of my favorites. Books on prayer is called The Valley of Vision. If you don't have this book, I would recommend picking up a copy. The Valley of Vision. It's a collection of Puritan prayers. But let me just read you this prayer called Love Lusters at Calvary. And I want you to pay attention to the many ways that this Puritan reflects on the death and the agony of Christ that brought salvation. It says, My Father, enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, supply words that proclaim love lusters at Calvary. There, grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy son. Made a transgressor, a curse, and a sin for me. There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow. There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made. There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment was endured. Christ was all anguish, that I might be all joy. Cast off that I might be brought in. Trodden down as an enemy, that I might be welcomed as a friend. Surrendered to hell's worst, that I might attain heaven's best. Stripped that I might be clothed. Wounded that I might be healed. A thirst that I might drink. Tormented that I might be comforted. Made a shame that I might inherit glory. Entered darkness that I might have eternal light. My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groans that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny

Judgment Day And Our Foothold

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crown that I might have a glory diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might forever live. O Father, who spared not thine only Son, that thou might mightest spare me. All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished. Help me to adore thee by lips in life. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed, Satan baffled, defeated and destroyed, sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood, hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open. Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort, and save. Friends, the cross of Jesus Christ is good news. Because he bore your sin, your sorrow, your suffering on the cross. And by his wounds you can be healed. And what better way for us as a church to reflect on this and remember this than by taking communion together? At the Last Supper, Jesus gives these instructions. He gives instructions concerning the body and the blood, the bread and the wine. And he says, as often as you do this, as often as you eat and as you drink, do this in remembrance of me. Remember what Christ has done. Remember the wounds that he endured. Remember his willingness to head towards the cross, enduring the shame for the joy that was set before him. So I'm going to invite the ushers to come forward. They're going to pass out the communion elements, and I want to spend just a few moments together reflecting on the suffering of Christ. Reflecting on the broken body of Christ, so that by his wounds you and I could be healed. Michael's going to play in the background, and I want you just to spend a few moments reflecting and spend some time just between you and the Lord, crying out to the Lord in prayer, thanking him, even in uh the reality here of reading this Puritan prayer, thanking him and saying, Lord, thank you for the blood of Christ. Help me to be buoyed by the blood of Christ. Let's spend a few moments just reflecting together, and then we will take communion once we're done.