Passion Week Devotion #5

Oak Valley Church
Passion Week 2021
Passion Week Devotions
Devotion 4 – April 2, 2021
April 2, 2021 – Friday
Text – Matthew 26:47-27:66

Focal Text – Matthew 26:59-66; 27:31, 50, 54 – “Now the chief priests and the whole council
were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found
none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This
man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high
priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify
against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the
living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But
I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and
coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robe and said, “he has uttered
blasphemy. What further witness do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your
judgement?” They answered, “he deserves death”…And when they had mocked him, they
stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him…And
Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit…When the centurion and those
who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they
were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Today is Good Friday! How did the Friday before Easter Sunday come to be known as Good
Friday? Well, no one really knows. But there are several theories, three of which hold value for
the believer. The word good is derived from the word holy. The week leading up to Easter
Sunday is known as Holy Week. Thus, the Friday before Easter is known as Good Friday or Holy
Friday. Closely related to that is the idea that good derived from God. So, Good Friday actually
means God’s Friday. And finally, there is the theory that because Christ died for the sins of
believers the Friday before Easter has come to be known as Good Friday because believers see
his death as a good thing. His death is good because it brings forgiveness of sin and eternal life
to them. Do you see why all three of these have value? Good Friday is God’s Friday, a day that a
Holy God did His holy and good work of exacting His holy justice on His Holy Son because He is
the only Holy man, that those (all of whom are unholy) who believe and trust in Him would
have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

Of course all this is predicated on a fundamental belief. What is that belief? The belief we are
referring to is that Jesus really is the Son of God. If Jesus is not God’s Son, if he is not the God
man his death on the cross is powerless to provide the forgiveness of sin for anyone or afford
eternal life to anyone.

This is why our text today is important. The death of Christ on the cross and the miraculous
events that occurred at the moment of his death pointed to and even became undeniable proof
for some that Jesus was “Truly the Son of God.” Don't you find it interesting that the events
leading up to the crucifixion were tied to the conflict surrounding who Jesus was? Remember
the angel told Mary that she would give birth to a son and “he will be called the Son of the Most
High God” (Luke 1:32). The angels declared to the shepherds on the night that Jesus was born:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Like 2:11). At
the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry John the Baptist literally pointed to Jesus and said,
“Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). At Jesus’ baptism God
himself spoke from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased” (Mark
1:11). On several occasions when Jesus casted out demons they acknowledged him as the Son
of God (Mark 1:21-28). Peter confessed that He was the Christ (Mark 8:27-33). John’s Gospel
records several instances where Jesus identified himself as the Son of God (Jn. 8:28; 8:39-47;
10:25-29; 13:31-32; 14:7; 16:25-28; 17:1-26). There was no lack of credible witness and
testimony that Jesus was the Son of God. And, there was no lack of evidence that His work and
character were unique to the Son of God. Just read this one exchange that Jesus had with a
group of Jews that sought to kill him soon after Jesus healed the man that was born blind (John
9-10).

“The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many
good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered
him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you,
being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said,
you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot
be broken—do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are
blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father,
then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works,
that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (Jn. 10:31-
38).

So let’s look back at today’s text. The conflict begins with the chief priests’ denial that Jesus is
the Son of God. They claim Jesus is blasphemous for not denying that he is the Son of God. His
claim they believe should be punished by death. And, in a not so straight forward way they see
to it that he is crucified. Of course they play him off to the Roman authorities as an
insurrectionist, one who is claiming to be a king. But notice that His death and the wonders
surrounding his death bring clarity to the fact that He is the Son of God.

The cross bears witness to His Person and His purpose. As we go about our day contemplate
the wonder of the Son of God giving his life for you by dying on the cross. It is a Good Friday to
remember, celebrate and be thankful for the death of Jesus, the Son of God! His death brought
us forgiveness of sin and eternal life. If you are reading this and have not yet trusted Christ,
consider trusting in Him today and let this Friday become a Good Friday for you!

Prayer: God thank you for loving us and giving us your Son that we might have our sin forgiven
and eternal life. Thank you for making Jesus Christ, your Son known to us. Thank you for the
clear witness of who He is. Lord Jesus thank you for being faithful to your identity and your
work. Thank you for willingly giving your life that we can have life. Holy Spirit thank you for
revealing to our minds and hearts the truth of the gospel. Jesus we offer this prayer in your
name. Amen.

Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross