In John chapter one, verses four and five it says this about Jesus, In him was life. And that life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. The darkness has not overcome it, but there was a day when, if you looked at it through human eyes, the darkness won. It was the day that God lost. Now, we all know that God's not supposed to lose. I mean, we use words to describe him, like omniscient, all-knowing. Omnipresent, he's always there. Omnipotent, all powerful. There's nothing that he can't do. The Creator of life is not supposed to lose His life. Darkness is not supposed to overcome light, not just light, but the light, the light of the world. Darkness is definitely supposed to have no power over that. The only way darkness wins is if the light is snuffed out. Now, Peter once heard Jesus, speaking of the light being put out. And Peter said, surely Lord, that will never happen. And Jesus turns back to him and says, get thee behind me, Satan. You're only seeing things from a human perspective. But isn't that how we all see things? I mean, being human, it's hard to see things any other way. And our human understanding is that an all powerful God is not supposed to lose. If you had walked with Jesus, if you had seen his miracles, if you had heard his teaching. Experience, how he loved people, how he loved you, if you had lived, what we refer to as Good Friday, you would never call it good. God would have some explaining to do, I think. So how do we explain what happened in the garden? Jesus, with his disciples leaving the upper room, where he had talked about death and betrayal. Death and betrayal? I mean, they thought the topic should be about, kingdom and power. And in the garden, rather than plotting the overthrow of the Roman government, he says to them, keep watch for me. Keep watch? For what? I mean, what's wrong with Jesus? As he cries out, my soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. Sorrow to the point of death. Like the disciples, obviously don't share that same stress at this point in time because they fall asleep and Jesus walks away and begins praying, and three times he prays with intensity that is so intense that he begins sweating drops of blood, as he cries out Father, if there is any way possible, please take this cup for me. But not my will, but yours be done. I mean, if prayer works for anybody, seems it would work for Jesus, but his prayers don't keep the mob away, because they come with clubs and swords and torches looking for Jesus. Jesus steps forward. Who is it that you're looking for? And they replied Jesus of Nazareth. I am he, Jesus says. And the power of those words, scripture tells us that it knocked the soldiers to the ground. I am. These are words, Jesus had spoken many times over in his teaching. Uh, before Abraham was, I am. I am the good shepherd. I am the door to the sheepfold. I am the vine, you are the branches apart from me, you can do nothing. I am the bread of life. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to Father, except through me. I am the light of the world, the light of the world. Like the sun, the sun shines daily, overcomes every storm, nothing puts it out. It has power. Right? I am, he, Jesus says. And then he follows, the son of man is delivered into the hands of sinners. I mean, these are words of weakness. Delivered? Where's the strength in that? The power, the glory, the presence of a King. Instead he's betrayed with a kiss by the guy who was dipping his hand into the money bag for his own purposes. Jesus of Nazareth. I am he. And his faithful disciples scatter, unfaithfully. A mob with swords and clubs. No resistance? I mean, what little resistance they did give. I mean, Peter grabbed the sword and cut the ear off of one of the soldiers, uh, cut his ear off and Jesus rebuked Peter. And he picked up the ear and healed his enemy. The light of the world heals the enemy. The enemy who's about to lead Jesus to the most unspeakable day of his life. Anyone's life. The enemy who will dehumanize him in every way, humanly possible. The enemy who will abuse, mock, reject, deny the light of the world. And Jesus brings healing to the enemy. And the enemy leads Jesus away like common criminal. See God, God, isn't supposed to lose to mobs. And yet I am, is not resisting. The way, the truth, and the life is being led away to be put on trial. The truth, the truth is being put on trial. I mean, surely this is where God will prevail, right? How can the truth be put on trial? I mean, we've always been told that the truth will win out in the end. That's what I was always told. My parents told me that for years. Yeah, at this trial, they made up false accusations. False accusations that even conflicted with one another. But that didn't matter. I mean, that never matters when the mob is charged up. Truth never matters. Only the mob perspective. Will you not answer these charges laid against you? And Jesus, the truth remained silent. Are you the Messiah? I am. I am. There it is again. Before Abraham was, I am. I am the light of the world. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. Are you Messiah? I am. And with those two words, the high priest tore his clothes and he cried out blasphemy and the soldier spit on him. They blindfolded him. They struck him in the face, said prophesy to us who hits you? And it was time to take the truth to the next level. You see, because the high priest has no power in Rome. The high priest is just a puppet. And so the truth was taken before Pilot. Pilot, a man with power like Roman power, power to save. Power to crucify. Are you the King of the Jews? Pilot asked. And the truth remained silent. These men are making many accusations against you. Are you going to answer your accusers? And Jesus, the truth remain silent. Why would the truth remain silent? I mean doesn't truth, silence lies? Doesn't truth drown out deceptions? Speak Jesus speak. But pilot would not remain silent. What is truth? He asked. He asked this question to the ultimate truth of the universe, the Creator of the universe. I mean, he asked the way, the truth, and the life. What is truth? Pilot would not remain silent. He stood face to face with the truth. He could see the truth. He could reach out and touch the truth. And yet he asks, what is truth? When the crowd wouldn't remain silent, either. Crucify him, crucify him, they screamed. God's not supposed to lose. Then why is the truth being led away to crucifixion? Or is that love being handed over to be crucified? Because God is love. The very definition of love is now being beaten, flogged, whipped, love is mocked. I mean, perhaps love is too soft. I mean, a man claiming to be love, could never be King, right? I mean, a King is strong, a King doesn't lose. A King needs, a crown, demonstrating his kingship. And so they gave him a crown with three inch thorns and shoved it into his head. A King needs, royal clothing to denote his status. And a purple robe, instantly streaked with the blood from his back was put around his shoulders. A King needs a Sceptre. So a rod was handed to him, which they quickly took back and began beating him with his own robe. Hail the King of the Jews. A king displays strength not love. A King gives orders. A King has dominion. A King doesn't lose. The King has servants who do his bidding, a King doesn't carry his own cross. This King does. He once said whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. That's what love looks like. It's what it looks like to love others. See our King carries his cross and he carried it to the place of the skull, Golgotha, to be crucified among thieves. Three nails pounded through his hands and feet. Love is hung on a tree for all the world to see. Love isn't supposed to lose either. Save yourself, they cried. Save yourself. You saved others. Can't you save yourself. He trusted in God, let God save him. He said he was the son of God. God is not supposed to lose. I mean, isn't his presence on the cross, a sign that he was wrong. It's noon now. And darkness covers the land. It's obvious to everybody watching the God is losing. Love speaks from the cross Father, forgive them for, they don't know what they're doing. Doing? People don't do things to God, right? I mean, God does things to people. God has power, but forgiveness for people doing harm to God. It doesn't make sense. Love speaks once again, my God, my God. Why have you forsaken me? Is, is he admitting it now that God has forsaken him? That that maybe God is losing. Was he wrong? Were we wrong? How could he be who he said he was? I mean, finally from the cross, the truth admits it is finished. It's over. God has lost. God has lost, and creation is disrupted. I mean, a storm, like no other takes place over the land. The light of the world goes out and darkness literally overtakes the sun. The Earth shakes, even as people celebrate the darkness. I mean, the curtain in the temple is torn in half. It's the curtain in the temple that separated God from his people. And when it's torn in half is what does that mean? Why does that happen? The omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God. Where was he? Where was the all-knowing God? Where was his presence? Where was his power? You ever asked these questions? I have. I mean, there's a reason that we celebrate Good Friday. I mean, there are moments, seasons, perhaps even years where you might wonder where God is. Has he disappeared? Has he abandoned me? You're not alone in those feelings. Good Friday reminds us that Jesus felt our despair. Sorrow to the point of death. He sweat drops of blood and then shed even more blood in the beatings on the cross. He too felt forsaken. The closest friends of Jesus felt our despair. I mean, Good Friday was not good for them. When they left Golgatha, that night, they felt empty. I mean, there was not a ray of light, not a shred of hope in any of them. They went home that night. They had lost everything that they had given their lives to over the last several years. See, Good Friday is the day that God lost. Are you the Messiah? I am. Before Abraham was, I am. The I am is hanging on the cross. There was a time when a friend of Jesus died, his name was Lazarus, and his sister said to Jesus, I believe that you are the Messiah. And Jesus gave one of his famous, I am statements back to her. I am, the resurrection and the life. The one who believes, believes in me will live, even though they die. And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. The disciples never really figured out what that meant. I mean, did that mean that death no longer had the final word? Maybe, but I am is hanging down on a cross. Could it be that the cross has the final word?