We have reached the most intense and pivotal moment of our special edition series, “The Week That Changed the World.” While the events of this day in history were marked by suffering, betrayal, and injustice, we have come to call it “Good Friday.” It is called good because of the overwhelming grace and redemption it secured for all of mankind.
In our latest podcast episode, Pastor Luke Barnett dives deep into why this day is the cornerstone of our faith and how the sacrifice on the cross is not just a historical event, but a personal invitation.
The Atonement Consciousness
Have you ever seen a news report of an injustice—perhaps an elderly person being attacked or a store being robbed—and felt a surge of indignation? Something inside of you cries out, “That person should have to pay for what they did!” Pastor Luke explains that we are born with an “atonement consciousness.” Because we are made in the image of God, His sense of justice permeates our own. We instinctively know that wrongdoing requires a payment. In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve first disobeyed, God didn’t just “wink” at their sin. He showed that the wages of sin is death, but He also immediately provided a sacrifice—covering their nakedness with the skins of an innocent animal. This was the first foreshadowing of a sin-payment plan that would eventually lead to the Cross.
The Thief and the Savior
One of the most compelling sights of Good Friday was the image of three crosses. In the middle sat the Savior, and beside Him, a thief. This man had lived a life of robbing, cheating, and stealing. He had done nothing “right” by religious standards. Yet, in his final moments, he looked at Jesus and essentially asked, “Does someone like me still matter to you?”
The response was immediate and world-changing: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This moment challenges us because we often try to undersell our own “wickedness” while judging others. But the truth of Good Friday is that we are all in the same camp. We are all sin-tainted people in desperate need of a Savior. Whether we have lived a “good” life or a “bad” one, we all stand at the foot of the cross with the same need for atonement.
A Father’s Heart
Pastor Luke shared a deeply personal story during the podcast about a moment he was put in harm’s way with his daughter, Annalee. Without a second thought, he pushed her out of the way of danger, taking the impact himself. As a father, he remarked, “I’d rather people hurt me than hurt my kids.”
This gives us a small glimpse into the heart of God. Can you imagine the enormity of a Father’s love that would allow His own Son to be crushed so that His children could go free? God didn’t want any to perish, so He provided the “Lamb of God” to pay the debt we never could.
Your Story is in This Story
As we look toward our service tonight, remember this: Your story is in this story. Jesus didn’t just see a crowd from the cross; He saw you.
There are ultimately only two ways for sin to be paid for: we can attempt to pay for it ourselves in a state of eternal separation from God, or we can accept the sacrifice of the Lamb. This is why we gather. We gather to remember that the debt is paid, the veil is torn, and the invitation is open.
Join Us Tonight
Don’t find yourself at home thinking you don’t “deserve” to come. Jesus is on the cross with His arms wide open, beckoning you to come just as you are.
Location: Phoenix Campus
Time: Tonight at 6:00 PM
Come experience the sights, sounds, and stories of the most important day in history. It will be a heart-gripping service that will leave you with a crystal-clear understanding of just how much you are loved.
