"Good Friday"When the betrayal occurs, the disciples scatter. Some follow Christ at a distance. Peter does his best to disassociate himself, just as Christ knew he would. And Jesus himself is marched down to start enduring his 6 trials. And keep in mind, it was probably around midnight when Judas kissed Christ's cheek. Jesus is on trial throughout the night.
For the sake of time, because a lot happened on this day, we'll just list the trials. I'll provide the references if you want to read more about them.
The first trial was with Annas, (John 18:12-14), the second with Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57-68) and the third was before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1-2 and Luke 22:63-71). All of these resulted in guilty verdicts with Christ's punishment being death.
The next three trials that Jesus had to endure were Roman civic trials. The first was with Pilate (John 18:28-38), the second Jesus was sent to Herod (Luke 23:6-12), and the third he was sent back to Pilate (John 18:39-40 and John 19:1-6). The odd thing is that in all of the civil trials, Jesus was found innocent, yet Pilate still allowed Christ to be turned over to the Jewish leaders for crucifixion.
Christ's crucifixion has been talked about a lot. There are movies that show how brutalized he was and how much he suffered physically for us. But I don't want us to focus on that. I want us to focus on how every step he took toward his death, he took out of love for us. That he wasn't fearful or reticent about his crucifixion but was focused on fixing the world that we had broken. His goal was to provide a way for us to have a right relationship with God. And to do that he had to experience the worst kind of suffering imaginable. He had to be forsaken by God. In fact he cries out in one of the very few things he's said since he's been taken, "Why have you forsaken me?" And we know the answer…it was for us. For us Christ became sin and became unbearable to God the Father. The Holy God could not look upon his Son because his Son had become the one thing that he can have no part of, and that is sin.
Christ's crucifixion started at 9 in the morning. By three in the afternoon, it was over. His work on earth was finished. And we reap that benefit.
Before we head on to tomorrow, we need to take a moment and talk about the burial of Jesus. It was done quietly and in secret. There was no fanfare or big service. It was done by a wealthy man and a Pharisee who believed Christ. And then it was done. Jesus was placed in a new tomb, and that's how we leave today.
The Holy Holidays - goTandem
"Dependable God"
"You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands." (Daniel 9:4)
Why is obedience related to love?
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"You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands." (Daniel 9:4)
Why is obedience related to love?
***
"Wait"
Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
(Psalm 37:7)
Is there anyone in your life who has succeeded by less-than-honest means?
What is God asking of you in this verse concerning that person?
***
Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
(Psalm 37:7)
Is there anyone in your life who has succeeded by less-than-honest means?
What is God asking of you in this verse concerning that person?
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