calvary updates 04/3
- George Winfrey
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
TAKE TIME THIS AFTERNOON TO BE STILL AND MEDITATE ON JESUS SACRIFICE FROM 4-6 IN THE SANCTUARY. WE WILL HAVE SOME DEVOTIONAL AIDS TO HELP YOU.
In John 12, Jesus is speaking about the kind of death that was in his future. His death would be on a cross. We take time on this Good Friday to honor his sacrifice for us all. The prophet Isaiah predicted specific circumstances that would be part of his trial and crucifixion. We will focus on the cross.
Isaiah 53
4Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
1) His death was a not a tragedy of coincidental circumstances
"Surely he took our pain." What pain, the pain our sin caused by our separating us from intimate fellowship with God. Remember on the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" The sin he now bore, our sin, broke his fellowship from the Godhead for the first time and that separation hurt deeply.
God purposed for him to go to a cross. But to go to the cross Jesus had to put on human flesh. A spirit could not be nailed to a cross and a spirit could not shed blood. Christmas saw God become incarnate so that when he grew into a man, he could be hung on a cross. It was all a part of the divine plan of God. "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me" (Hebrews 10:5).
2) He not only endured physical pain, but the degrading effects of sin.
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all (vs. 6).
You and I by our waywardness made Jesus' sacrifice necessary. If God was to save us, our debt had to be paid. God stayed true to his identity as a God of justice. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)."
3) He was nailed to the cross, and lifted up as our intermediator
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. (v. 5)
Hi wounds were the distinguishing marks he bore to fulfill prophecy, but they also marked him to assure his doubting disciple that the resurrection was real. The suffering he endured was horrific. Historians tells us that by the time the scourging was finished Jesus had endured at least 700 wounds to his body. The marks on his body speak clearly the level of his commitment to rescue us. Upon his second appearance to the disciples Jesus displayed his wounds, Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).”
He is the only one who has the authority to restore our broken relationship with God. See verse 5 from the ESV translation: "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (v. 5). I Peter 2:24 echos this statement, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." How were we healed? We were no longer the enemy of God, but now we were reconciled and were at peace once again with God. Acts 4:12 says, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Now, believer in Jesus, begins our journey to live out the righteousness that God transferred to us. We exchanged our sin for his righteousness made possible by his redeeming act of obedience and compassion. That is the message of Good Friday and it is certainly Good News!
Easter Sunday April 5th
Make a point of coming to visit with us at 10:30 AM. My sermon this week is "How Do You Serve a Risen Savior" Our Sunday School begins at 9:30 AM...in the first class we are exploring the Old Testament book of Joshua. In the other class, we are looking at the heroes in the book of Daniel. Enjoy some coffee, a donut and fellowship with some new friends at 9:15 AM.
A Song you will hear this Sunday
Women's Flourish Tuesday April 7th and 21st 10-12 noon
Prayer Wednesday, 4/8th 5:30 PM
Special Training Session April 8th and 29th 6:30-7:30 PM. Empower, Equip and Engage
Men's Breakfast Saturday (one week later than normal) April 11th 8:30 AM
Items of Note for Easter 2026
Friday April 3rd
Church open for prayer and reflection from 4-6 PM (devotional guides will be provided )
Resurrection Sunday April 5th
6:15 AM Sunrise Service at Mineral Springs Park Pavilion beside the lagoon
Breakfast to be served afterwards at the church
9:15 AM Sunday School with Donuts and Coffee
10:30 AM Worship celebration. Message: “How Do You Serve a Risen Savior?”
We can often feed our minds with useless "fluff." How about giving your mind some uplighting substance? Today's readings were Leviticus 6 , Proverbs 21, Psalm 5 & 6 and Colossians 4. If you are looking for a different reading plan, you might enjoy:
What characteristic of hell did Jesus most visibly experience on the cross?
In Jesus joy,
Pastor Frank Winfrey
cell: 309-645-9621
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