Have you ever imagined what is good about Good Friday– the day of the crucifixion of Jesus?
Let’s examine events leading to this day and what eventually happened on that fateful day.
Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, had connived with others and betrayed Jesus, selling Him fro 30pieces of silver. Jesus had been treated like a chattel, to be exchanged for money. Love of money was working, big time. The entire lessons Jesus taught had gone into one ear and out the other. Judas, who was the treasurer and accountant, was not content with helping himself from the treasury, he wanted more and Jesus was his ultimate scalp, spoil, loot, prize- His Master.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him Matt26:14-16
And so after the money had changed hands, the hordes of hell, in the form of Roman soldiers were unleashed, with Judas at the helm of the pack, on their way to look for Jesus on concocted charges. Jesus had just finished praying in theGardenofGethsemaneand came swooping like hawks on their prey. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss to identify the ‘prize’ or target. Could you believe it?
“Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely. Mark14:44
Matthew 26
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
As they tried to arrest Jesus, Peter became bold and brash and unsheathes his dagger to defend Jesus, cutting off the ears of one of the soldiers.
48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”Luke22:
Peter, instead of getting a commendation, got a rebuke from Jesus. ‘, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
John18:11
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Jesus then proceeded to heal the man whose ear was dangling in the floor, while he reeled in anguish. What goodness! How exemplary! Would you have done that if you were in the shoes of Jesus? What a lesson to us on Good Friday!
Jesus wanted the disciples not to be in harms way even in that dark hour.
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,”
The miracle that Jesus did never softened the hearts of the soldiers. He was still maltreated and dragged away to be interrogated.
Next we see Jesus on trial, accused of heresy. The people clamoured, even bayed for his blood like hounds on their prey: Crucify Him! Crucify Him!, they shouted. Pilate did not see any fault in Him, yet he was obliged to release someone on that occasion. The people wanted a criminal- Barabbas released instead of Jesus.
18 And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas” —
19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Luke23
6 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. John19:16
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.
64 And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.Luke22:63-65
Jesus Questioned by the High Priest
19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.
21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
John18:19-22
Eventually, Jesus was condemned to die an ignominious death on the cross. He was scourged- beaten with rods and ropes that had spikes on them such that the spikes lodged themselves into his skin as they flogged Him. And as they pulled the ropes, flesh and blood was ripped out.
Matthew 27
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
Mark 15
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
John 19
1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
25 And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Luke23
What is good about this?
Jesus was beaten, battered and broken, under the most excruciating pain imaginable. He had envisaged this barbarism as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He cried, ‘42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
’ 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’Luke22
After the thorough scourging that marred and disfigured Him so badly (There is no beauty that we should desire Him) Isa53:2 , He was given a cross to carry toGolgotha. As He carried the cross, it weighed Him down and He fell under its weight several times as drops of sweat and blood dripped down His body.
Eventually they reached the scene of the crucifixion where they put the nails to His hands and feet and mocked Him: Hail, king of the Jews.’ Others said ,’He saved others but He cannot save himself.’ If You are the Son of God, come down from that cross.’
Others were interested in His seamless gown and cast lots to see who will win.
5 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”Matt27
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.
28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.
31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Matt27
37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ “
44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Matt27
This was still Friday. Have you seen any good in all this yet? Wait for it.
We have seen:
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the unbelievable betrayal of Jesus by one of His disciples,
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the trumped-up charges and accusations,
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the sham and shameful trial like a criminal
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His rejection and the triumph of the mob who preferred a criminal in the place of Jesus,
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the injustice meted out by the high priest, even though He was innocent
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the barbaric scourging,
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the mocking; the crown of thorns even by criminals being crucified with Him,
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shameless casting of lots for his garment
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apart from beating Him mercilessly beyond recognition, we saw how He was forced to carry His despite the excruciating trauma He was going through. Many times along the way toGolgotha, He crashed under the weight of the cross until they drafted a man to help carry the cross.