The Crossroads of Love (Good Friday)

Text: John 18:28-40; John 19:16-42
Service Date: 4.18.25
Sermon:

• As we join today to observe Good Friday, we solemnly enter our worship space. Today we remember the sacrifice of Jesus as he took up his cross and publicly died.
• As we saw on Palm Sunday, some of the same people that limed the streets and rejoiced over Jesus entering Jerusalem, where the same people that called for his crucifixion. This was a due to their misunderstanding of what kind of king Jesus was meant to be. It seems that the people expected a mighty warrior-king who would drive out the Romans. Instead, they got a man who was weak and vulnerable. Since that is the king that they got, the people decided that it is not what they wanted after all, therefore they gathered to sentence him to crucifixion.
• This is a sentence that Jesus accepted without hesitation and without a harsh word. Soon, Jesus found himself in front of Pilate. Jesus acknowledged his Kingship, yet Jesus was a king that would bring truth and peace to the people. The remains true to the followers of Jesus today.
• Pilate oversaw Judea from AD 26 to 36. He was unpopular with the Jews because he has raided the temple treasuries for money to build an aqueduct. He did not like the Jews, but when Jesus, the King of the Jews, stood before him, Pilate found him innocent.
• Pilate knew that the religious leaders did not like Jesus, yet he knew that the religious leaders could not sentence Jesus to death without the approval of a Roman leader. Pilate refused to sentence him without sufficient evidence. Jesus’ life became a pawn in a political power struggle.
• It is through the crucifixion; Jesus connects us together. It is through the crucifixion; we are brought together under the truth and peace that Jesus offers. When we are united under the teaching of Jesus, we are united for peace. The peace that Jesus taught. The peace that Jesus offered. The peace that Jesus lived by.
• When it seems that the world is in chaos, we are called to live in peace and truth. We are called to bring peace and truth to all. The same peace and truth that Jesus lived by.
• When the world was in chaos, Jesus remained at peace. During his trials and his punishment, Jesus remained at peace. Throughout his time on cross, Jesus remained at peace.
• Jesus was mocked, beaten and crucified for bringing truth and peace to the people. Jesus was put to death for loving his neighbor and taking for those that needed it and throughout his ministry, he remained at peace.
• This is what we are called to do: be at peace. When the world is in chaos, we are to be at peace. We are called to live in love and help bring peace to the chaotic world that we are living in. We are called to build relationships and heal hearts in this chaotic world. That is what Jesus Demonstrated in his ministry. That is the exclamation point of his crucifixion; be at peace and bring peace and truth to a chaotic world.