Good Friday

Every day from the entry into Jerusalem leads to this day. The scripture reading is from Matthew 26:47-27:26-66; Mark 14:32-15:47; Luke 22:47-23:56; John 18:2-19:31-42. For today, I used the writings from Mark.

Jesus was arrested on Thursday night. He has gone before the Sanhedrin and disowned by Peter. Early Friday morning, Jesus went before Pilate. It was here the same people who ushered Jesus into the city with cloaks and palm branches were calling out to Pilate to crucify Him. Pilate, per the urging of the crowd, released the murderer, Barabbas, in place of Jesus.

Jesus was flogged, a whip made of several strips of leather with embedded pieces of bone and lead. While the Jews limited the number of stripes to a maximum of 40, there was no limitation for the Romans. Often people flogged by the Romans did not survive. Jesus was mocked, a purple robe (royalty) was placed on Him, a crown of thrones was put on His head, spit on, beat beyond recognition. They led Him to be crucified.

Unable to carry His cross, Simon from Cyrene, was forced to carry the cross of our Savior. They brought Him to Golgotha (skull), where He was crucified. Laid upon a cross, nails beat into His wrists. A note was placed above His head "The King of the Jews." The time-9am.

Two criminals were on each side of Him, and one entered Heaven with Him that day.

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until 3pm. Jesus is in agony, bleeding, when He cries out, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?) "Tetelestai"-It is finished. With a loud cry, Jesus took His last breath.

The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. A centurion in front of Jesus said, "Surely, this man was the Son of God!"

His body was wrapped in linen cloth, He was placed in the tomb, and a stone was placed over the entrance.

My question for you today is this: Do you know Him as your Savior? All of our sins went the cross on this day. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb. Oh, I hope you know Him today.

We often think of God as a control freak, with a book of rules. He is trying to protect us from sin. He is a God of love, mercy and grace.

May you be blessed today. Tomorrow there will be no blog. I pray you reflect on Jesus. Picture Him on the cross. Picture Him dying for you.

V