When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:6-8 NLT
All through the night Jesus was beaten and abused. They took Him first to the high priest, Caiaphas, and the unjust false accusations lasted till the early hours of the morning. Then they led him, bound and bleeding, to Pilate, the Roman governor, because only Romans could execute prisoners. Pilate could easily see that Jesus was an innocent man, but didn’t have the courage to deny the crowds what they wanted. He tried to satisfy their bloodthirst by offering to release Jesus and crucify a violent well-known criminal named Barabbas, but the mob yelled for Jesus’ crucifixion.
Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers pressed a crown of thorns on His bleeding brow. They mocked Him and put a purple robe on Him, chortling with sarcasm at the King. Pilate became more and more terrified. Even his wife knew Jesus was innocent. He declared several times to the people that he found Jesus not guilty, but they demanded his death even more. They said Jesus was not their King. Finally, when they threatened Pilate with the displeasure of Ceasar, he released Jesus to them and told them, “Crucify Him yourselves!” But he did insist that a sign be hung on the cross of the King they refused to claim as “The King of the Jews.”
Jesus carried His cross through the winding streets of Jerusalem to the Place of the Skull, Golgotha. There they crucified Him between two violent criminals of the state. Through all of the attempted humiliation and shame, Jesus was perfectly kingly and godly, enough so that He cared for His weeping mother from the cross, forgave His murderers, and asked His Father to forgive their ignorant sins, spoke seven times through inexpressible pain, and nothing escaped His lips but love. He hung there from 9 AM until 3 PM when he cried, “It is finished!”, committed His Spirit to His Father, and died. It was so majestic and stunning, one of the criminals confessed His faith in the King and asked to be remembered when Jesus got to His Kingdom. An earthquake broke the earth. Dead people were resurrected. A soldier exclaimed, “This WAS the Son of God!” But now death had claimed the King who called them, but they wouldn’t claim Him.
Sabbath started that evening when no work could be done, so two wealthy men got permission to take His body for burial. They hastily, tenderly prepared and entombed the body. The Romans rolled a stone in front of the tomb to secure it and placed guards. This was the road to peace? This was the King? It was black Friday. How could it ever be good again? But …
- In the dark and silence, God is preparing peace. Resurrection is coming. Claim it. Claim your King.