GOOD FRIDAY

Jesus as Sacrifice: "The Perfect Sacrifice"

Posted by: CDFWarrington on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 12:11AM

Oil painting of a Black against a Red background

"It is Finished"

Sacred Snapshot:

At the heart of our faith stands a paradox: the day we call "good" marks history's darkest moment. On Good Friday, we confront the profound mystery of divine love expressed through ultimate sacrifice. Jesus—who taught with authority, healed with compassion, and embodied perfect love—willingly endured death on a cross. This sacred moment reveals both the devastating reality of human sin and the breathtaking depth of God's redemptive love. As we stand at the foot of the cross today, we witness not defeat but the completion of God's perfect plan for our reconciliation.

What's Inside:

The theological significance of Christ's sacrificial death
How "It is finished" transforms our understanding of salvation
Finding freedom in Christ's completed work
Living in response to the cross in our daily lives

Scripture Reading

John 19:16–30 (NASB95): ¹⁶ So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. ¹⁷ They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” ²⁰ Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’ ” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” ²⁵ Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. ²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. ³⁰ Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Isaiah 53:4–6 (NASB95):
⁴ Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
     And our sorrows He carried;
     Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
     Smitten of God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
     He was crushed for our iniquities;
     The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
     And by His scourging we are healed.
⁶ All of us like sheep have gone astray,
     Each of us has turned to his own way;
     But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
     To fall on Him.

Historical Context: The Cross in Roman Times

In first-century Palestine, crucifixion was more than execution—it was public humiliation, designed by Rome to display its power and discourage rebellion. It was reserved for slaves, revolutionaries, and the lowest criminals—never Roman citizens.

The physical reality of crucifixion was not to be witnessed by the faint of heart. As the victim struggled for breath, they would suffocate unless they lifted themselves up by the nails in their wrists to allow air into their lungs. It was a long, torturous death to endure. But beyond its physical horror, crucifixion carried profound shame. The Jewish understanding from Deuteronomy declared that anyone hanging on a tree was under God's curse. For Jesus to willingly accept this form of death demonstrated how completely he embraced our human condition and shame.

Crucifixion occurred outside city walls, symbolizing the victim's rejection from society. Similarly, Jesus was executed "outside the camp" (Hebrews 13:12-13), bearing our rejection so we might be accepted by God.

The timing during Passover creates another profound connection. As Jewish families sacrificed lambs to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, Jesus—the true Lamb of God—was offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, establishing a new covenant through his blood.

Theological Reflection: "It Is Finished"

Jesus' final declaration—"It is finished"—is perhaps the most profound statement in human history. The Greek word tetelestai was commonly written across debt certificates when they were paid in full. With this declaration, Jesus announced the completion of his redemptive work: the debt of human sin paid completely.

This moment fulfills what began in Eden. Where humanity's relationship with God was first broken through disobedience at a tree, now reconciliation comes through Christ's perfect obedience on the tree of crucifixion. The serpent strikes the heel of the promised seed, but in that very strike, its head is crushed (Genesis 3:15). What seems like defeat becomes the moment of victory.

Christ's sacrifice accomplishes what the temple sacrificial system only pointed toward. The temple curtain torn from top to bottom signifies direct access to God's presence—no more separation, no more intermediaries needed. The perfect sacrifice has been offered once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

In Christ's sacrifice, we see both the terrible reality of sin's consequences and the immeasurable depth of God's love. Justice and mercy meet at the cross. God's holiness is upheld as sin is judged, while God's love is demonstrated as Christ bears that judgment in our place.

The cross reveals a love that is:

Substitutionary - Christ takes our place
Sacrificial - Christ gives himself completely
Sufficient - Christ's work requires nothing more
Successful - Christ accomplishes what he intends

Personal Connection: Living Under "It Is Finished"

The declaration "It is finished" transforms how we approach our relationship with God and our daily lives:

1. Freedom from Earning - Many of us live as though our standing with God depends on our performance. We strive, achieve, and exhaust ourselves trying to be "good enough." The cross declares this unnecessary—Christ's work is complete. We can cease our spiritual striving and rest in what has been accomplished for us.

2. Freedom from Guilt - The paid debt means we need not carry the weight of past failures. Our sin was nailed to the cross with Christ. When we continue to live under the burden of shame, we functionally deny the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.

3. Freedom for Obedience - This freedom doesn't mean moral license. Rather, understanding the cost of our forgiveness compels grateful obedience. We obey not to earn God's love but because we've already received it.

4. Freedom to Sacrifice - Having received such sacrifice, we're freed to live sacrificially for others. The cross becomes our pattern—not in seeking suffering, but in willingly embracing self-giving love.

Consider areas where you still live as though Christ's work is incomplete. Do you still strive to earn what has been freely given? Do you hold onto guilt that has already been addressed? Do you struggle to believe God's love could truly cover your specific sins?

The invitation of Good Friday is to stand at the cross and hear Christ's words spoken over your specific situation: "It is finished." Your debt is paid. Your forgiveness secured. Your reconciliation accomplished. Nothing remains but to receive what has been completed on your behalf.

Prayer at the Cross

Merciful Father,

Today we stand before the cross, humbled by the weight of what we see. Your Son—the perfect, sinless one—bearing our burden, taking our place, enduring what we deserved.

We confess that we often live as though the cross were not enough. We strive to earn what you have freely given. We carry guilt you have already removed. We doubt a love so costly and complete.

Thank you for the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Thank you that his final declaration—"It is finished"—speaks freedom over our striving, our guilt, our doubt, and our fear.

In the silence of this moment, we bring our specific burdens to the foot of the cross...
[Pause for silent prayer]

May the reality of Christ's finished work transform how we live. Give us courage to embrace our freedom from condemnation. Give us wisdom to live as those whose debt has been paid. Give us love to extend to others the same grace we have received.

In the name of our crucified Savior,
Amen.

Reflection Questions

What does Christ's willingness to endure the cross reveal about God's character and love?
Are there areas in your life where you're still trying to earn God's acceptance rather than receiving Christ's finished work?
How does the historical reality of crucifixion deepen your understanding of what Christ endured for you?
In what ways might the declaration "It is finished" bring freedom to specific struggles in your life today?
How does your understanding of the cross shape your response to others who have wronged you?

🎵 Harmony of Faith:

Traditional: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (Isaac Watts)
Contemporary: "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" (Stuart Townend)

These songs profoundly capture both the cost of Christ's sacrifice and our response of humble gratitude.

Because Christ endured the cross, we are reconciled to God.

Because Christ bore our sins, we stand forgiven.

Because Christ declared "It is finished," we can rest in his completed work.

Going Deeper

For Further Reading:

Note: These are referral links. Any purchases made through these links help support our site and ministry.

For Group Discussion:

Consider examining different aspects of the crucifixion narrative across all four Gospels, noting what each author emphasizes and why those details might be significant.

For Personal Reflection:

Take time to write a letter of gratitude to Christ, acknowledging specific sins forgiven and expressing your response to his sacrifice.

Easter 2025

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