It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’

S.M. Lockeridge was a prominent Africa-American preacher known for his fervent and passionate sermons. We played clips of his most famous sermon, "He's My King!" several years ago in our worship services at Shelby Crossings. Author and speaker Tony Campolo made another one of his sermons popular a few decades back when he adopted it and started preaching it himself. He even wrote a book that was a Christian bestseller with the same title: "It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin'!"

The whole idea of the sermon was based on the fact that on that first "Good Friday" it seemed like nothing but bad news for Jesus and His followers. And if that was the only perspective you had, it didn't look like there was any hope. But it was only Friday. Sunday--and the hope of resurrection--was coming!

Here's a portion of the sermon, abridged a bit to fit here:

It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter’s a sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’. 

It’s Friday. Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running, like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is  denying. But they don’t know That Sunday’s a comin’: 

It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in scarlet. They crown him with thorns. But they don’t know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit’s burdened. But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.  

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands To the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross. And then they raise him up next to criminals. It’s Friday. But let me tell you something, Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King? And the Pharisees are celebrating, that their scheming Has been achieved. But they don’t know It’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross. Feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save him? Ooooh It’s Friday. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit. It’s Friday.

Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. and Satan’s just a laughin’.

It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place. But it’s Friday. It is only Friday. Sunday is a comin’!

The narrative of Good Friday--focused on the crucifixion of Jesus--is one of betrayal, denial, hatred, defeat and death. Yet we as Christ-followers still celebrate the cross because the story does not end on that fateful Friday. It does not end at the cross. The irony of the cross was that the very instrument Jesus’ enemies used to defeat Him became His greatest victory. Little did they know when Friday ended what would happen on Sunday to change the course of world history.

That is the message for us today. That's what makes Good Friday good, because we know "the rest of the story" about what is to come on Easter Sunday.

And that truth extends beyond just our understanding of what happened redemptively that first Holy Week-end. It's also a good lesson for how we cope in our world today. The world has lots its way, and it seems to be getting darker by the day. Daily headlines remind us of the bad news and the downward spiral of our world: murder, abuse, division, corruption, immorality, blatant disregard for God and His word. There's depression and despair on every side. And if this is all there is, it's easy to see that there's no hope for this world. But it's just Friday...Sunday's comin'

That's the good news of Good Friday, and of Easter too. We're on the winning side. Jesus defeated death and the grave, and He offers us a hope everlasting. The grave is empty, and our lives don't have to be!

I hope to see you tonight for our Good Friday service, as we celebrate the cross, and share the Lord's Supper together. And I hope to see you Sunday as we celebrate our Lord's resurrection, and share our hope together. It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'!

--Pastor Ken