Before I sat down to write this post, I read the scripture about the happenings on this day. My eyes filled with tears as I again recognized the horror that Jesus went through. Willingly.
Jesus was led away from the garden to where the high priests and scribes and elders were assembled. They were waiting. They got what they wanted. Jesus. I was thinking as I read this, for all their efforts to capture Jesus, all of this was God's plan.
Peter followed from aways back to the high priests' palace and joined himself among the servants to see the end. I wondered if Peter thought Jesus would just walk away and life would go on or if he truly realized this was what Jesus had spoke of so often to his disciples.
In the "proceedings" there were two false witnesses that appeared.
Jesus was then spit in the face and struck with the palms of various hands.
As Peter sat, a girl came and said, "You were with Jesus." Peter denied with "I know not what you say". He went out to the porch. Another girl saw him and said, "This fellow was with Jesus." Again, Peter denied, this time with an oath and said "I know not the man." After awhile there came several that stood by him and said, " Surely you are one of 'them'....your speech betrays you." And Peter, cursing and swearing, said "I know not the man." Immediately the cock crew. At that sound, Peter remembered, he went out and wept bitterly. True repentance involves bitter weeping, doesn't it? I think from the scriptures after all this that Peter's repentance was real as was the forgiveness he received as he did the work of his Lord.
On the other hand, Judas also feels guilt and took back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. He admitted his sin but the chief priests and elders who didn't pay any attention to him or his guilt. Judas left and hanged himself. Sin takes a toll.
Jesus was taken before the Pilate and answered nothing. It was tradition that at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing a prison. The chief priests stirred up the people and when asked by Pilate if he should release Barabbas or Jesus, they said Barabbas. As for Jesus, it was "crucify him." Yes, the exchange of a murdered and criminal for the holy Son of God.
Jesus was whipped, stripped, and attired in a scarlet robe.
A crown of thorns was put on his head.
He was mocked.
He was spit upon.
He was smote on the head with a reed.
After that they put his clothes back on him and led him away to crucify him to Golgotha, a place of a skull.
They gave him vinegar to drink.
They crucified him.
They cast lots for his clothes.
They put a sign "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
He was crucified between two thieves.
There was darkness from the sixth hour unto the ninth hour. I imagine that all those around from the haughty smug chief priests down to the followers of Jesus all KNEW something was different and the darkness kind of quieted down all those around. I can almost see it as very eerie and scary. After all, Jesus, the LIGHT of the world, was about to die. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hath thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 KJV) Jesus, both God and man, felt all the pain of the human body as he suffered on that cross--the sins of the world on him. Jesus cried once more with a LOUD voice and then he died.
The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, the earth did quake, the rocks rent, graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.
The centurion said, "Truly this was the Son of God."
At the evening, Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. He wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb.
It was a cruel gruesome death suffered by Jesus. I wish I could explain it better, but the Bible says it all. What I can tell you is that Jesus showed the greatest love he could show by taking our sins upon himself and laying down his life for me...and for you...for us. And I can tell you that I believe it ALL!
It seemed like the end but remember as my favorite Easter t-shirt says, "A lot can happen in three days."
Consider....
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