Pastor Allen Victor delivered a powerful Good Friday message titled The Cross Has Spoken, the Grave is Open (Matthew 26), beginning with Ecclesiastes 7:1 and the sobering truth that life, apart from God, was ultimately meaningless. Allen explained that while many pursued meaning through education, possessions, family, or achievement, true purpose was only found in the death of Jesus Christ. He emphasized that death itself gained meaning when it served God’s purpose, and that the cross gave eternal significance to human life.

Focusing on Gospel of Matthew 26:36–43 and Gospel of Luke 22:44, Allen described Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane facing overwhelming sorrow as He prayed, even sweating drops like blood. He explained that the “cup” Jesus referred to represented the full weight of suffering He would endure—from betrayal and abandonment to false accusations, brutal scourging, and ultimately crucifixion. These events fulfilled God’s redemptive plan and revealed the depth of Christ’s obedience as He surrendered to the Father’s will.

Allen then examined the cross itself, explaining its purpose from a Roman perspective as a tool of extreme punishment and public terror. He detailed the physical suffering of crucifixion, including the scourging, the carrying of the cross, the piercing of nails, and the slow death by asphyxiation. Referencing Gospel of John 19:34, he noted how even the “blood and water” pointed to the reality of Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. From man’s perspective, the cross appeared to be the greatest tragedy, but from God’s perspective, it was the greatest victory.

Drawing from Book of Psalms 22 and Book of Deuteronomy 28, Allen explained that the cross answered the curse of the law. He showed how Jesus became a curse for humanity, referencing Epistle to the Galatians 3:13 and Book of Deuteronomy 21:23, breaking the power of sin and generational bondage. He also taught that the cross brought reconciliation, pointing to Epistle to the Colossians 1:19–20, where God restored what sin had broken by making peace through Jesus’ blood.

Continuing, Allen showed how the cross provided victory over sin and spiritual struggle, referencing Epistle to the Romans 6:6 and the call to walk in the Spirit. He explained that the cross also defeated Satan, as seen in Epistle to the Hebrews 2:14–15, freeing believers from the fear of death. Finally, he addressed suffering, using Epistle to the Romans 5:8–10 to show that even in pain, believers had hope because of Christ’s love demonstrated on the cross.

Allen concluded that the cross was God’s ultimate answer—to the curse, to separation, to sin, to Satan, and to suffering. What seemed like defeat became victory, and what appeared meaningless became full of purpose. He reminded the congregation that salvation was found only through Jesus, and that the cross revealed both God’s justice and His love.

This message was shared at Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, under the leadership of Pastor Allen Victor.

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