Good Friday

April 15, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

On this Good Friday, we remember the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a somber day that we keep in remembrance to honor His love and sacrifice for us all. As we walk through the events of Jesus' agony and death, let us call to mind our God who loves us so much that He sent His only Son so that we might have eternal life.

I think sometimes we forget that Jesus was fully man in addition to being fully divine. Occasionally the suffering of Jesus is downplayed because we tend to accentuate His divinity. It is so important, especially in this Holy Week, to remember that Jesus took on every form of human anguish willingly and chose to suffer through it.

The Agony in the Garden

Good Friday actually begins the night before, with Jesus' agony in the garden. Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where He asked the disciples to pray and keep watch. He withdrew alongside Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden. His three closest disciples could see that Jesus was troubled. "My soul is sorrowful, even to death," He said. "Remain here and keep watch with Me." Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, if You are willing, You can take this suffering away from Me. Yet may it be not as I will but as You will." This is such a tender and real moment that always catches me by surprise. Jesus asked His Father to take the suffering away. He knew what was coming and there was a part of Him that didn't want to endure it. Right after the request, though, Jesus submitted His will to God. What a beautiful and selfless love!

While Jesus was praying in the garden, His disciples fell asleep 3 different times. I can only imagine the pang of loneliness He must have felt to see His very closest friends asleep while He was in so much anguish. "Could you not watch for even one hour with Me? Watch and pray, that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!" After Jesus had finished praying for the third time, He returned saying, "Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is at hand!" As He was speaking, Judas Iscariot, who had earlier left the Last Supper, came into the garden with a crowd of soldiers. After approaching Jesus, Judas kissed Him. Jesus looked at him and said "Judas, you would betray me with a kiss?" The soldiers arrested Jesus and the apostles fled.

Jesus Is Condemned to Death

The soldiers led Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders to be questioned. While they accused Him of blasphemy, the guards jeered at Jesus, spitting on and striking Him. The Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and demanded He be killed. After questioning Jesus, Pilate did not find anything wrong with His actions. But the crowd was so adamant that Pilate had Jesus whipped and beaten. After scourging Jesus at the pillar, the soldiers fashioned a crown out of thorns and pressed it onto His head. They found an old purple cloak and wrapped it around Him to mock His deity. They said "Hail, King of the Jews!" as they continued to spit on Jesus and strike Him on the head. After this, they brought Him back to Pontius Pilate.

Pilate brought Jesus out to the crowd and said, "Behold the man!" The Jewish officials and the crowd yelled out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! He ought to die for His blasphemy!" Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the people shouted all the more loudly, "Crucify Him!" Pilate replied, "I find no basis for charge against Him, but it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They replied, "Not this man, but Barabbas! We have no king but Caesar!" Barabbas was a prisoner charged with murder and insurrection. The Jews demanded he be released instead of Jesus. Wishing to appease the crowd, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Washing his hands, he said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just man. You bear the responsibility."

Jesus Carries the Cross

Jesus was led away with two other criminals, who were also to be executed. The soldiers laid a heavy cross on Jesus' aching shoulders and made Him carry it through the streets of Jerusalem up to Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha. As Jesus labored on His way, many people jeered and spit at Him. Some, however, ached with sorrow for Him. Mary, the mother of Jesus made her way through the crowd and looked at Jesus with great love and tears in her eyes. Her heart was pierced, just as Simeon had predicted all those years ago. She knew His innocence and goodness. She had soothed Him for many years, and never stopped caring for Him. Yet, she knew that God had allowed this, and that through this great sacrifice, the world would be redeemed. After her eyes met His in a loving and sorrowful gaze, the guards pushed Jesus on His way.

Jesus was extremely weak from the beatings and weight of the heavy cross. Exhausted, He fell. When the soldiers saw that He was struggling to keep the pace, they pulled a man from the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, and ordered him to carry the cross behind Jesus. There was a group of mothers among the crowd who cried for Him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me. Cry instead for yourselves and your children. If these things happen to Me, what will happen to those who do not believe in Me?"

Jesus Is Crucified

When they arrived at Calvary, the guards stripped Jesus of His garments. Then they nailed His hands and feet to the cross. Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing." The crowds ridiculed Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is truly the Chosen One!"

One of the two criminals +crucified with Jesus asked Him to prove He was the Messiah by saving Himself and them as well. But the other criminal protested, saying "Do you not fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

Mary was standing at the foot of Jesus' cross with John, His beloved apostle. Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son." He then said to John, "Behold your mother." From that hour, John took Mary into his home.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" He then said, "I thirst!" A soldier dipped a sponge in wine and raised it to the lips of Jesus, but He did not drink. Finally, with another loud cry, Jesus said, "It is finished! Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." And bowing His head, Jesus died.

Today, let us keep the Passion of our Lord in our hearts and minds. This is a solemn time, but let us remember that the grave will have no victory in the end. Jesus will rise again!

Before You Go

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