OUTLINE & TAKE NOTES
Friday, April 18, 2025
Voices from the Cross
On that first Good Friday outside of Jerusalem three people were sentenced to die. Two were criminals who were guilty of their crimes. Between them was Jesus who would be found innocent of any crime, yet unjustly condemned to death for His claim to be the Messiah. The story of the crucifixion in Luke 23 highlights Jesus’ willingness, even as his own life is draining out, to give comfort, hope and new life to one of the criminals dying next to Him. Jesus was able to assure the criminal that he will indeed be with Him at some point in Paradise. What is it about this encounter that we can identify with? How is it relevant to our life today? What can we discover about the overarching story of Jesus and the significance of the sacrifice of Christ? Join us on Good Friday as we reflect upon the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross through the voice of a criminal who responded to Jesus in faith.
Setting the Stage
1. The Voice of Ridicule
Luke 23:34-38 NLT - Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
2. The Voice of Opposition
Luke 23:39 NLT - One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!
3. The Voice of Confession
Luke 23:40-42 NLT - 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
4. The Voice of a Promise
Luke 23:43 NLT - And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
5. The Voice of Worship
Luke 23:47 NLT - When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
When we consider the two criminals on either side of Jesus at the cross,
Which voice is most like yours?
Where can you see yourself within the story of the crucifixion and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross?
How does your “today” get lived out in you?
