METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA
DIOCESE OF OSOGBO
PASSION WEEK – GOOD FRIDAY, 10TH APRIL, 2020.
GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.
THEME: What will you do with Jesus?
“Kini ofe fi Jesu se”
TEXT: Mark 15:12
“Pilate answered and said to them again, what then do you want me to do with Him (Jesus) whom you call the king of the Jews?”
Good Friday, the 6th day of Passion Week also called Black Friday, is a special day commemorating the suffering, crucifixion and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Jesus Christ, who accepted to do the will of his Father in Mark 15:36, whole heartedly went to the cross to pay the price for the sin of the world. It is unfortunate that human beings for whom he died the shameful death on the cross have different views and responses to his person and work. Those who shouted Hosanna to Jesus Christ on the first day of the Passion Week, called Palm Sunday, were the same people stirred up by the Chief Priests to say crucify him on the 6th day of the same week. The Pilate himself did not know what to do with Jesus Christ, hence the theme of our message today; WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
The Jewish council had nothing to do with the Saviour, who knew no sin, but to convince Pontius Pilate that Jesus Christ was guilty of a capital crime and therefore worthy of death (Jn. 18:31-32). In spite of their political corruption, some Roman officials still admired justice and dealt fairly with prisoners. Pilate was a near example of this. He knew that the Jewish leaders were not interested in seeing justice done, especially in the case of Jesus Christ brought before him, he knew that what they wanted was vengeance (Mk. 15:10) Even in other gospel accounts, Pilate repeatedly stated that he found no fault in Jesus (Jn. 18:3; 19:4; Lk. 23:14,22; Matt. 27:24). The only problem with Pilate was that he did not have the courage to stand for what he saw and believed to be true. In his attempt to avoid a riot (Matt. 27:24), he compromised his stand and turned himself to human pleaser (Mk. 15:15) He flogged Jesus, the innocent, and delivered him to the crowd to be crucified. He never did what was right with Jesus Christ, but what was safe and popular. He set Barabbas, the murderer, free and Jesus, the innocent Saviour, he gave out for crucifixion in his response to the crowd’s demand when he asked them; “What then do you want me to do with Him (Jesus) whom you call the King of the Jews?” (Mk. 15:11-12) Pilate became the partial judge who gave in to the unjust request of the majority. What followed was the disgraceful mockery of Jesus Christ by the Soldiers, as they beat him, spat on him and bowed to him in mock homage. They did all these to show that they have no other king, but Caesar (Jn. 19:12-15). Jesus Christ, King of kings quietly suffered in the hand of those who misunderstood him and he did not fight back. This is a big lesson for today’s Christians in the face of religious persecution. Jesus did not fight back, rather he carried his cross beam for our sake to Golgotha, the place of his execution according to the Roman law. There at Golgotha, our Lord and Saviour was crucified together with two other criminals. All these he endured for the Salvation of the whole world.
If I may ask, what will you like to do with Jesus Christ of Nazareth today being Good Friday? Let me guide you with the examples of what some people did with Jesus Christ towards the end of his earthly ministry:
1. The Jewish Leaders: They arrested and raised false accusations against Jesus, and demanded for his crucifixion before Pontius Pilate (Mk. 14:43-46; 15:3-13)
2. Pontius Pilate: He beat Jesus Christ who was innocent and released him to be crucified even after he had washed his hand (Matt. 27:24; Mk. 15:15)
3. Roman Soldiers: They beat Jesus, spat on him, mocked him, wounded him and kept vigil at his tomb only to prevent his resurrection (Jn. 19:2-3;34)
4. Simon of Cyrene: An African who gave a helping hand to carry the cross of Jesus Christ, even though he was forced to carry it (Mk. 15:21)
5. Passers-by: They blasphemed Jesus Christ even in his agony on the cross (Mk. 15:29)
6. The Centurion: He testified to Christ’s son-ship when he says, “Truly this Man was the Son of God.” (Mk. 15:39)
7. Criminal 1: The first criminal (probably the one on the left) ridiculed Jesus and wanted a cheap way to escape through Christ’s power (Lk. 23:39)
8. Criminal 2: The other criminal (perhaps the one on the right) acknowledged the sinlessness of Jesus Christ and his Lordship, hence he was saved. (Lk. 23:40-43).
9. Joseph of Arimathea: His expression of love for Jesus was not only in his life time, but at his death on the cross (eni soju eni ko t’eni se’hin eni), thus he willingly surrendered his personal and costly tomb for the burial of Jesus (Mk. 15:42-46)
10. Nicodemus: This Chief also came around to join others to give Jesus Christ a befitting burial (Jn. 19:39-40)
11. Mary Magdalene and other women: They never ceased from coming to anoint Christ’s body at the tomb until the first day of the week when they saw that he had resurrected (Mk. 16:1).
Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the Lord, what have you been doing with Jesus Christ all this while? Do you know that he is the only Saviour of the world without whom you, I and all of us will be at risk of COVID-19 and several other pandemics? (Acts 4:12). Do you know that this Saviour is at the door of your heart seeking your permission to come into your life and help out? (Rev. 3:20). As we all reflect on the suffering, crucifixion and death of Christ on this Good Friday, how do we see our relationship with the Saviour who died for us? What then will be our response to his Salvific work for human kind?
Are we still finding fault with the Saviour like the Jewish leaders did or flogging him again with our evil and unjust deeds like the Pilate? You can bring yourself out like Simon of Cyrene to help others as your act of love and service to God through humanity. You can as well help your Church in its needs as a sacrificial offering unto God.
Above all, see and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, and make him your bosom friend for life. Listen to him, obey him and ensure you do his will so that his suffering, crucifixion and death will not be in vain on you. Leave yourself in his hand and trust him for healing, deliverance, breakthrough, security, peace, progress, provisions, success, victory from any pandemic and what have you. Make Jesus your Lord and Saviour today and you will not regret you did.
Shalom!
Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.
Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.
Chairman OS-CAN.
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