It's Good Friday. No other day on the calendar evokes such pain in my heart. Last evening as I looked up at the full moon, I remembered the betrayal and arrest of my Lord in the olive grove called Gethsemane. Imagine the unfolding scenes if you will. In my mind and based on the Bible narrative and my nine trips to The Holy Land, this is what I see happening:
All alone, like a lamb headed to the slaughter, Jesus was marched down the foothills of the Mount of Olives, through the Kidron Valley and up the steps just south of the Jerusalem Temple to the house of Caiaphas, the religious high priest. A mock trial began. False witnesses spoke. Jesus confessed that, "Yes, He was indeed the Son of God." He was charged with dishonoring Almighty God -- Blasphemy! He was mocked, beaten, slapped, and spit on. Finally, in the dark, early morning hours of Good Friday, Jesus was bound and thrown into a dark, damp, holding pit -- an old cistern. It would be His prison until daylight. (Read Note and Psalm 88 at bottom.)
As morning began, Jesus was pulled from the pit and led to the Governor's quarters. Once there Pilate was summoned. Though he found Jesus "not guilty", Pilate ordered that Jesus be severely beaten by the soldiers in hopes of satisfying the mob. But their thirst for blood would not be quenched. The customary freeing of one prisoner was carried out. They cheered for Barabbas, a real, violent criminal, to be released. They wanted Jesus of Nazareth nailed to a cross. Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod in hopes of getting God's Son off of his own hands. Herod took a little time to poke fun at The Miracle-working Messiah but quickly sent Him back where He came from.
The mob began to threaten the Governor with treason. His reputation was at stake. Still his wife warned, "Have nothing to do with this man, Jesus." He asked Jesus, "Don't you know who I am. That I have power to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus replied, "You would have no power over me, unless it had been given to you from above." Feeling forced to make a decision, with the vicious shouts of "Crucify Him!" ringing in his ears and the very Darling of Heaven staring Him in the face-and-eyes, Pilate turned his attention away from his prisoner and back to the people. Down with the gavel, he finally sentenced The King of Kings to be executed by crucifixion.
And so, it was very early on Good Friday morning, when Jesus, The Lamb of God's own choosing, turned His Holy face towards Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, to be forsaken so we could be forgiven. Amazing Love, Indeed!
“Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
-- John the Baptist words about his cousin, Jesus John 1:29 (GWT)
Click here: You Are my King/Amazing Love Chris Tomlin - YouTubeNo wonder we call Him our Wonderful Savior!
Grateful (Psalm 88 posted below)
Note: Psalm 88 is thought to be the prophecy of Jesus' prayers to The Father as He spent the night alone in the dark pit beneath the house of the high priest just hours before He was crucified:
(1) O Lord God, my savior, I cry out to you during the day and at night. (2) Let my prayer come into your presence. Turn your ear to hear my cries. (3) My soul is filled with troubles, and my life comes closer to the grave. (4) I am numbered with those who go into the pit. I am like a man without any strength — (5) abandoned with the dead, like those who have been killed and lie in graves, like those whom you no longer remember, who are cut off from your power. (6) You have put me in the bottom of the pit—in deep, dark places. (7) Your rage lies heavily on me.You make all your waves pound on me. Selah
(8) You have taken my friends far away from me.You made me disgusting to them. I’m shut in, and I can’t get out. (9) My eyes grow weak because of my suffering. All day long I call out to you, O Lord. I stretch out my hands to you in prayer. (10) Will you perform miracles for those who are dead? Will the spirits of the dead rise and give thanks to you? Selah
(11) Will anyone tell about your mercy in Sheol or about your faithfulness in Abaddon? (12) Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place or about your righteousness in the place where forgotten people live? (13) I cry out to you for help, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence. (14) Why do you reject my soul, O Lord? Why do you hide your face from me? (15) Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death.
I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair. (16) Your burning anger has swept over me. Your terrors have destroyed me. (17) They swirl around me all day long like water. They surround me on all sides. (18) You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. Darkness is my only friend!
-- Psalm 88 (GWT)
