Faithful on Fridays Blog

A combination of all four gospels

The day Jesus was crucified actually begins Thursday at sundown after prayer in Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, and arrest. He declared to the crowd,

“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53b

The soldiers led him bound to Caiaphas, the High Priest, where He was illegally put on trial throughout the dark hours of morning and convicted without evidence. After spitting in His face, slapping and punching Him blindfolded, they mocked Him by commanding, “Prophesy!” Jesus was silent (Is. 53:7) until dawn when they led Him to Pilate who questioned Him; was He the Jewish Messiah? “You say so.” Frustrated, Pilate tried to release Him from the false accusations, but the Jews couldn’t deliver a death sentence, so they accused him of opposing Caesar. As the final Passover Lamb, Jesus knew His future was death, however, He wasn’t concerned.

“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Around noon Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, apparently He wouldn’t perform and was silent once again, unable to find anything illegal …  back to Pilate. Promising punishment by flogging (a whip with metal, curved tips ripping skin), it wasn’t enough so the religious leaders insisted on death accusing Pilate again of not being loyal to Caesar. As a riot was forming that fear drove him to acquiesce: Jesus would die.

Tradition was to release a prisoner during Passover, therefore, Barabbas’ freedom was granted as Jesus was sentenced to death. Sound familiar? We are Barabbas. Three times Pilate tried to release Jesus and three times the haters cried out, “Crucify Him!” So they mockingly clothed Him with a kingly robe, gave Him a mock-scepter, and a crown of thorns saluting and jokingly bowed at His feet. 

On the way to Golgotha, Skull Hill, with help from Simon, Jesus, along with women mourning and wailing was nailed to the tree along with two criminals. He was the ‘man in the middle’ with one being saved and the other condemned. “Today you’ll be with Me in paradise,” Jesus promised the one on the right. That’s you and that’s me.

While hanging there Jesus asked His Father to forgive them and His mother, aunt, and two more Mary’s watched in sorrow. “Here’s your mother … here’s your son,” Jesus said to John and His mother amidst abusive insults.

From noon to three darkness prevailed and Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” As the end arrived He declared a physical and yet spiritual thirst praying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” His body died, but His Spirit remained alive, and with His last breath loudly cried out, “It is finished.” Jesus completed His mission and now immortality in the Kingdom of God is open for those who will repent and believe in Him.