It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!

Psalm 75 

 

Thanksgiving for God’s Wondrous Deeds

To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

 

We give thanks to you, O God;

    we give thanks; your name is near.

People tell of your wondrous deeds.

 

At the set time that I appoint

    I will judge with equity.

When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,

    it is I who keep its pillars steady.

I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”

    and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;

do not lift up your horn on high,

    or speak with insolent neck.”

 

For not from the east or from the west

    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;

but it is God who executes judgment,

    putting down one and lifting up another.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

    with foaming wine, well mixed;

he will pour a draught from it,

    and all the wicked of the earth

    shall drain it down to the dregs.

But I will rejoice forever;

    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

 

10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,

    but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
 
 
Sociologist, author and pastor Tony Campolo preached a Good Friday sermon, and later wrote a book by the same title. He tells of being on stage with other pastors to preach. One of the preachers there had a simple sermon. Just five words, but it spoke volumes: “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming.” The original sermon has been traced to California and Baptist pastor S. M. Lockridge. There are many variations to the text, but the text below is said to be close to the original.
 
 

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God, who will not abide with sin, pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.

And on that horrible day 2,000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man, died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it’s Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking, because now it’s Sunday.

And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it’s Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone. And the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots, because it’s Sunday. And the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It’s Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin, and the grave. It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it’s Sunday.

It’s Friiidaaaay!

But Sunday’s coming!
 

(With Thanks to Dr. Michael G. Davis for the text version)

The past few months have been filled with a LOT of Fridays, yes?

As the Psalmist writes –  When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady.

Hold on – Sunday’s coming! 

 

Let us Pray: 

Let us never forget the power of the cross and the joy of the empty tomb. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

2 Responses to “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!”

  1. PETER BURNHAM says:

    Wow !!! What a sermon. It’s Friday, chaos reigns but Sundays coming !!

  2. Pat Keen says:

    Can you send this to my e-mail. I want to use it with my residents in Tues worship. Thanks. So beautiful

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