Sermon Notes - Luke 22-23 - Good Friday - Littleby Baptist Church - April 3, 2026

1.     Before we get into the Word this evening, we are going to start with remembering our Lord, by partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine.

2.     A lot happened from Palm Sunday to when Jesus was praying in the garden and was arrested.

a.      He cleansed the temple by chasing out those who had corrupted it.

b.     He stumped those who would challenge Him with His wisdom and questions.

c.      He taught His disciples about the End of Times, praised the widow's gift, and shared a few parables.

d.     He spent the Passover with His disciples.

e.      Holding the first Lord's Supper, by breaking bread and passing the wine.

f.      Which we just did in remembrance of Him.

g.     He then predicted Peter's denial.

3.     As we open the Word we are going to look at Jesus day.

a.      We are going to start with His time in the garden to pray.

4.     Luke 22:39-46

a.      As usual Jesus took the guys with Him.

b.     They had not slept yet.

c.      And it was very early in the morning.

d.     Re-read vs. 42.

e.      Jesus knew what was coming.

f.      He knew the physical pain He was going to endure.

g.     But that is only part of it.

h.     He was going to be separated from the Father.

i.       When He takes on the sin of all humanity, He will lose the connection He has had for all eternity.

j.       It won't be for long, but it will be a loss that cuts deep.

k.     Which is why He asked the Father if there was another way.

5.     Luke 22:47-49

a.      Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him.

b.     Hours earlier Jesus told him to do what he was going to do.

c.      Even though Jesus knew what was going to happen.

d.     I suspect it still cut deeply.

6.     Luke 22:54-62

a.      Peter argued that he would never deny Jesus.

b.     Jesus predicted that it would happen.

c.      And here we find that one of his closest confidants denied him not once, not twice, but three times.

d.     I suspect it hurt.

7.     Luke 22:63-65

a.      The physical pain.

b.     The humiliation.

c.      What he endured by them was small in comparison to what was still to come.

d.     But it was all adding up.

8.     Luke 22:66-71

a.      A mockery of a trial that did not follow OT Laws.

b.     No real witnesses.

c.      Held at night instead of the formal time.

d.     That is how the Jewish leadership manipulated everything to get what they wanted.

9.     Luke 23:1-5

a.      Fale accusations fly.

b.     Lie after lie.

c.      The priest did all they could.

d.     They stir up the people.

e.      They try to paint a picture of Jesus that would deserve death.

f.      Yet, Pilate finds no fault with Him.

10.  Luke 23:6-12

a.      Herod Antipas, a wicked man.

b.     He wanted Jesus to perform for him.

c.      Like a circus act.  

d.     The result was more humiliation.

e.      And more pain.

11.  Luke 23:13-25

a.      Pilate thought he had a way to free Jesus.

b.     He was using a Passover tradition to set a prisoner free.

c.      Two men were presented.

d.     Barnabas likely deserved death for his actions.

e.      But he hit a brick wall.

f.      The Jewish leaders stirred up the people.

g.     Many who celebrated Jesus a handful of days ago.

h.     When He entered Jerusalem.

i.       Were now calling for His death.

12.  Luke 23:26-27

a.      The King of kings.

b.     The Lord of lords.

c.      The Savior we all need.

d.     Was treated like a common criminal.

e.      He was to be hung on a cross.

f.      To be cursed in death.

13.  Luke 23:28-31

a.      Even as He endures the pain.

b.     Knowing what was coming.

c.      Jesus warns that persecution is coming.

d.     In pain, He still showed love for others.  

14.  Luke 23:32-34

a.      Jesus was hung on that cross between two common criminals.

b.     He had been mocked.

c.      Insulted and beaten.

d.     In the worst physical pain of His life.

e.      And He yet our Jesus is thinking about others.

f.      He is thinking about those who are doing this to Him.

g.     He prays for them.

h.     Asking the Father to show them grace.

i.       As hard as all of this would have been and the pain that was still to come.

j.       Jesus knew this was part of the plan.

15.  Luke 23:35-43

a.      Even in pain Jesus showed grace to one who could do nothing but believe.

b.     Offering eternal hope to the thief on the cross.

c.      A gift he could not earn.

d.     A gift he did not deserve.

e.      But one Jesus freely gave.

16.  Luke 23:44-49

a.      It was only mid-day and darkness came.

b.     At the perfect time.

c.      Jesus gave up His life.

d.     With His last breath Jesus paid the ultimate price.

e.      He took on our sins.

f.      Paying our debt.

g.     Making us clean.

h.     After His sacrifice, no other sacrifice has ever been needed.

i.       The curtain to the Holy of Holies split.

j.       Because it was no longer needed.

k.     The daily sacrifices were no longer needed.

l.       Belief in the one and Only Jesus is all that is needed.

17.  Luke 23:50-56

a.      With the Sabbath coming upon them.

b.     They could not prepare His body for burial.

c.      They had to settle with simply wrapping His body with plans to take care of His body soon.

18.  As the sun sets.

a.      People are not sure who Jesus is.

b.     Some know Him as a man who may be a prophet.

c.      Others believe He is a liar.

d.     His followers have confessed Him as the Messiah, the Son of God.

e.      I suspect many of them are confused.

f.      How did Jesus die.

g.     There are others who are happy about that day’s events.

19.  Many had heard Jesus say that He had to suffer.

a.      If they heard his message.

b.     If their eyes and ears had been fully open.

c.      They would know that Jesus was not done.

20.  John 14:6

21.  Some celebrated.

a.      Others were sad.

b.     Hopefully those sitting here this evening know the rest of the story.

c.      That we all know that Jesus will prevail.

22.  True Love, Joy, Peace, and Grace are right around the corner.

a.      Sin had been wiped away.

b.     Jesus died to pay our debt.

c.      But there is more to come.

d.     New life was right around the corner.