Good Friday Service: Redemption
Introduction to the message of Redemption:
Today is Good Friday and the reason we are here to celebrate tonight is all about Redemption – the action of God clearing our debt to sin – the action of recovering us from the heartbreak and bondage of sin – the action of reclaiming God’s creation back to Him – the action of setting in motion a plan to restore our relationship with God the Father. Yes, this is why we celebrate Good Friday and call it good even in the midst of all the pain, betrayal, anguish, torture and bloodshed. It’s all about Redemption!
Our Easter Week Theme is Redemption!
• What does this (Re) word mean again? Redemption is a noun!
a. Definition 1: “The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.”
i. "God has plans for the redemption of this world – which was set in motion at the fall of Adam of Eve!"
1. Good Friday and Redemption was God’s plan from the beginning even when mankind fell in the Garden of Eden! God immediately instituted a new plan to redeem us - to buy us back! Did you hear that? God set a plan in motion to deliver the human race from sin and death at the moment of the fall. Listen to God’s plan for Redemption back in the Garden of Eden – right at the Fall:
a. Genesis 3: 12The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
i. Notice Adam blames God for His sin – people still blame God for their sins today – no one wants to take responsibility for choosing to sin – it’s always some else’s fault!
b. 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
i. The Devil thought he had won deceiving Adam and Eve and getting them to sin against God the Father. Satan’s breaking the relationship between God and His creation mankind was his crown and joy of rebellion against God. But God instantly implemented a new plan of action to buy back mankind from sin and death.
1. Truth you cannot outwit God – not even the Devil can!
2. Video clip from the Passion “Jesus in the Garden Prayers and struggles but He crushes the serpent!”
a. The Devil thought He won when Jesus died on the cross but the truth is he lost when Jesus died – Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection fulfill the plan of God set in motion at the Fall and this is what we celebrate tonight!
ii. Redemption meaning: The act of saving – saving and freeing from sin – vindication – absolution from a wrong.
b. 2nd part of the definition - The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for a payment, or the clearing of a debt.
i. Meaning: the act of retrieval – recovery – reclamation – repossession!
1. This is what Jesus did for us on the cross on Good Friday 1,000 of years ago!
a. He retrieved us out of the grip of sin! Paul calls this the spiritual blessing: Ephesians 1:3-10: Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ:
i. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
ii. Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
1. Reclaimed for God! Restored in relationship with God the Father!
iii. Ephesians 5:2: and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
1. His sacrifice set in motion our recovery from evil and sin – Jesus came and took us back – He repossessed us for the Kingdom of Heaven – this is why today the Holy Spirit lives in us and we are called the temple of the living God!
• Key point to remember on this Good Friday before we take communion: The “Re’s” we have been exploring this year are all key ingredients to spiritual revival and spiritual renewal – these “Re’s” are to be looked on as beacons of wisdom, insight, light and hope for us to be renewed in 2021 by the Holy Spirit.
T.S. – Communion – the act of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday is crucial to experiencing spiritual renewal and revival in 2021.
Introduction to Communion:
When we participate in communion tonight – we need to remember Jesus’ ministry – sacrifice and praying in the Garden. His ultimate sacrifice of himself on the cross for us set in motion our redemption – He fulfilled the redemptive plan of God to get us back for God – He was driven by love to do this for us – He was willing to pay the price for our sins - It’s the message of the Cross this Good Friday – a message of sacrifice – a message of hope – a message of grace and love - a message of spiritual renewal – a message shouting redemption and resurrection! Jesus chose the Father’s will over His own will so we could be set free and so we could be able to re-establish a relationship with God our Father! He fulfilled the divine plan of God set in motion at the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden – and today we need to remember why we should come to this moment of communion with reverence and thankfulness for what Jesus did for us!
Communion: Scripture Matthew – 26:17-30: “The Lord’s Supper”
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
The History and participation of the Passover is all about Redemption too – it’s a time set up by God to remind the Israelites of God’s deliverance of the Jewish nation from the bondage of Egypt: Passover and the connection to the Lord’s Supper and to our communion are all tied together with the Word Redemption! The action of one saving another from their bondage an slavery!
Here is the story of Passover! Exodus 12 - The Passover
4 times in our chapter God tells Moses to remind the people to honor God’s faithfulness to deliver them from the bondage of sin by celebrating this event 1 a year – they are not to forget this act of deliverance by God!
21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.
22Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.
23When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
24“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.
25When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.
26And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’
27then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.
28The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.
29At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
So, we have the historical and spiritual reason for Jesus and the disciples celebrating Passover at this time in the ministry of Jesus – Yes, it is His last week on earth – Yes, this was celebrated the day before He is crucified on the cross. Jesus made it clear that we are to celebrate communion also to remember how God still redeems. Yes God, sets people free from slavery and bondage. Just like Israel was set free by the hand of God from the slavery of Egypt – Jesus by an act of the hand of God will set us free from the bondage and slavery of sin.
So tonight, this service is celebration and time of remembrance – a memory we need to recall and appreciate – a time to give God thanks for his plan of redemption fulfilled through Jesus’ death and sacrifice – its why we celebrate communion!
Back to Matthew 26:
18He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
It’s time to remember – it’s time to approach the table of the Lord with reverence and honor – it’s time to make sure our hearts are right with Jesus and in the right place with the Lord – it’s a time if we are not right to get right with the Lord – It’s time for Communion!
Prayer for Communion!
