2024 March 29th Good Friday Sermon summary Michael Coman

Words spoken at the end of a life are important: Particularly the last words of Jesus before His death on the Cross.

People say goodbyes and the essence of their character is shown under pressure. Final words spoken at death are what we want people to remember about us

The last words of Jesus: Luke Ch 23: 32-46.
Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. ….
I assure you today you will be with me in Paradise…..
Father I entrust my spirit into your hands….

We are forgiven. Forgiveness is hard to give when the pain is severe and personal… We find it hard to let go of deeply hurtful insults. Jesus was abandoned by his friends, humiliated, tortured, mocked and insulted… His words were “Father forgive them…”

We are saved. The Cross offers us assurance of salvation. The two criminals represent two types of people and their responses to Jesus. there are many people who scoff at the cross and use The Name as a curse. People can turn to Jesus or they can hold onto our pride and brush aside the very Person that can save them from their situation. One of the criminals turns to Jesus and gets a promise from Jesus, “I assure you TODAY…”

We are secure: Jesus modelled a dependence upon God. Even though He was in the most insecure and unsafe position and did not have a grip on life, He knew that His Father’s grip on Him was as firm as ever. He remembered Psalm 31. With His dying breath His focus turns to His Father.

Are we still trying to control the narrative of our life?… Our security rests in The Father (and into His hands we can safely entrust our spirit)

Good Friday can only be considered GOOD because of the GOOD NEWS that Jesus proclaimed on the Cross…
We are forgiven
We are saved
We are secure