Holy Week
Friday
Scripture References-
Trial by Legal Authorities- Matthew 27:11-31 (Mark 15:1-20, Luke 22:63-23:25, John 18:28-19:16)
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus- Matthew 27:32-56 (Mark 15:21-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:16-37)
Burial of Jesus- Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42)
Friday was a very cruel and bleak day for Jesus. The Jews who wanted Jesus’ death didn’t have the authority to condemn a person to death. After appearing before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin where He was condemned to death, they sent Him to Pilate who had the authority to carry out the sentence. Pilate then passed Him to Herod who sent Him right back. He tried to release Jesus, but the crowd wanted Him dead. Pilate finally agreed but publicly washed His hands of Jesus’ blood. No one wanted to take credit. No one wanted the responsibility of Jesus’ blood on their hands because they knew He was innocent of all of the charges against Him.
Jesus was dragged through the night, stripped naked, crowned with thorns, mocked by the soldiers, pierced in the side, bloodied, beaten and murdered. As He hung on the cross He uttered words no one would have expected to hear. He asked God to forgive them, all of them: the Pharisees, the High Priest, the Roman guards, Pilate, Herod, the crowd, the disciples, and even us. He welcomed a criminal into paradise with Him. He made sure His mother was cared for. He called out to God in anguish. He asked for a drink and then He committed Himself to God and died. At the moment of His death darkness fell over the land, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, there was a violent earthquake, tombs opened up and the bodies of many holy people were raised from the dead. This must have been terrifying for everyone who was present.
After His death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His body down, wrapped it with spices and strips of linen and placed Him in a tomb nearby until after the Sabbath when the women would return and prepare the body for burial.
This was indeed the darkest day in human history. The Son of God had come to earth to bring us into relationship with God. Instead of welcoming Him and worshipping Him as Messiah and Lord, we chose to murder Him. Darkness had truly won that day and there was no hope to be found.
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