What Happened Good Friday and Why It Matters

Justin Taylor has rendered us a service in laying out the chronology of what happened on Friday of Holy Week. I think it profitable to consider what happened that day and then to conclude with a thought on why it matters.

Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the authorities (perhaps after midnight, early Friday morning) Matthew 26:47-56

Jewish trial, phase 1: Jesus has a hearing before Annas (former high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law) John 18:13-14, 19-24

Jewish trial, phase 2: Jesus stands trial before Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin Matt 26:57-68

Peter denies Jesus Matthew 26:69-75

Perhaps after sunrise, phase 3 of Jesus’ Jewish trial: final consultation before the full Sanhedrin; sent to Pilate Matthew 27:1-2

Judas hangs himself Matthew 27:3-10

Phase 1 of Jesus’ Roman trial: first appearance before Pontius Pilate; sent to Herod Antipas Matt 27:11-14

Phase 2 of Jesus’ Roman trial: appears before Herod Antipas; sent back to Pontius Pilate Luke 23:6-12

Phase 3 of Jesus’ Roman trial: Jesus’ second appearance before Pilate; condemned to die Matt 27:15-26

Jesus is crucified (from approximately 9 AM until Noon) Matthew 27:27-54

Why does this matter? In short, without God's gracious judgment of sinners through his provided substitute, we are condemned in our sins before him. The cross above anything else reveals the glory of God as he saves sinners through the judgment of his provided substitutionary lamb. That is, the cross preserves the truthfulness and justice of God: it is the means by which he saves sinners for relationship with himself without going back on his word that sin must be punished

Hear the words of John Stott: The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation for the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives, which belong to God alone; while God accepts penalties that belong to man alone (Cross of Christ, 160).