By Peter Kaye |

A world view of Jesus' death on Good Friday, about two thousand years ago, would be at the least injustice. And for someone claiming to be a king, a disaster, and probably proof of their delusion.

The craziness grows when one hears that the 'creator of the world', not only stood by and let it happen but actually engineered it. The world doesn't like fathers who sacrifice their sons! 

Summing up, the world view is that any faith icon who's associated with a story like this isn't worth the time of day.

But what if the world could believe Good Friday was needed to offer people the chance to live on, beyond death, in a place more beautiful that we can imagine? And that's the challenge of faith. A belief and trust in God based on evidence but without total proof. 

The Christian God doesn't play by the rules the world makes! He turns everything on it's head.  

Here's a sermon which provides understanding and gratitude for the brutality and injustice of Good Friday...

  • There is no doubt Jesus was dead when he was taken down from the Cross. Roman soldiers, experts in death, wouldn't dare lie to Pilate.
  • Pilate's sign "King of the Jews" was written to justify the crucifiction. Caesar was the only king and to claim kingship was considered treason. Pilate also wanted to humiliate the Jewish race. He didn't realise the truth behind what he wrote.
  • What Pilate thought was a defeat was in fact a victory. Because Jesus' death opens the door to eternity.
  • Jesus' death was no accident. It fulfilled a whole range of old testament scripture. And John the Baptist's words "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
  • Words from the Hymn Rock of Ages cleft for me...
    • Let the water and the blood,
      From Thy riven side which flowed,
      Be of sin the double cure,
      Save me from its guilt and power.

  • "No guilt in life, no fear in death,
    This is the power of Christ in me;"
    Words from the hymn In Christ alone.

    Do these words apply for you? They're important because God's wrath is what we'll all face when we die unless we're forgiven in Christ.

  • Sandy Grant, Dean of Sydney, said these closing words "I urge you, this Good Friday, if you've not already done so, turn and trust in the Cross."
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