Canyon Ministries

Passion Week Meditations — Day 6: Friday

Light from burning torches pierces the darkness of Gethsemane’s garden, a common prayer refuge for Jesus and His disciples (John 18:1–14). Judas arrives leading a large group of armed soldiers. He greets Jesus, goes to Him, and kisses Him. “Whom do you seek?” Jesus asks the soldiers. They respond, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I am He,” Jesus answers. The soldiers stagger backward and fall! Jesus requests that they not arrest His disciples, thus fulfilling what He had said to the Father earlier that same night (John 17:12). Recovering from their initial fright, the soldiers seize and bind Him. Suddenly, Peter brandishes his sword, severing an ear from a servant’s head. Telling him to put the weapon away, Jesus heals the man’s wound (Luke 22:51). Then the soldiers take Jesus away to the house of Annas as the disciples flee into the night (Matthew 26:56).

At the gate to the high priest’s residence, John manages to get himself and Peter admitted into the courtyard along with the soldiers and Jesus. Annas conducts a preliminary interrogation (John 18:12–27). Outside in the courtyard, where people are gathering around a fire to ward off the night chill, Peter twice denies he knows Jesus. As they take Jesus to appear before Annas’ son-in-law, Caiaphas, Peter gets trapped by another questioner and denies Jesus for a third time. A rooster crows. Chills run down Peter’s spine. Jesus, not far away, turns and looks at Peter with piercing eyes. Unable to bear his shame, Peter runs out with tears streaming down his face (Luke 22:61–62). Not too far away, in a dark valley, a remorse-filled Judas hangs himself (Matthew 27:3–10). Meanwhile, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin formally arraign Jesus and conduct an illegal trial (Mark 14:53–65).

As dawn breaks, the Sanhedrin condemn Jesus on a charge of blasphemy and recommend a death sentence (Luke 22:66–71). The soldiers take Jesus from there to appear before Pontius Pilate at the Roman governor’s residence (the Praetorium), Herod’s former palace. Only Pilate has the legal authority to order Jesus’ execution.

Pilate interviews Jesus publicly from his judgment seat outside the Praetorium, then speaks with Him privately inside (John 18:28–38). Finding no convincing accusation against Him, Pilate sends Him to Herod Antipas the ruler of Galilee, who is currently staying in another part of the palace (Luke 23:6–12).

After a brief interview, Antipas and his guards mock Jesus, clothe him in an expensive robe, and send Him back to Pilate. This time, Pilate yields to the priests, the Sanhedrin, and the general population watching the proceedings and shouting, “Crucify Him!”

At their request, Pilate announces the customary pardon for Passover to a notorious criminal named Barabbas, rather than to Jesus (John 18:39–19:16). Thinking that punishing Jesus in some way might appease those who call for His death, Pilate orders the soldiers to whip Him and allows them to mock Him. But nothing appeases Jesus’ persecutors. Pilate washes his hands in front of the crowd and says for the fifth time that he finds Jesus innocent of all charges.

Around 9:00 AM the soldiers take Jesus to Golgotha to be crucified (Luke 23:26–33). Some of Jesus’ followers join the crowd behind the condemned and His executioners (Luke 23:27, 38). Reaching the place of crucifixion, the soldiers strip Jesus, nail Him to the cross, attach a written placard to it, and raise it, dropping it into a hole to keep it upright (John 19:18–27).

While the soldiers gamble for his cloak and onlookers mock Him, Jesus prays for His persecutors, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 ESV). To a believing thief hanging on a nearby cross He promises, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Then, Jesus speaks to His mother Mary and to John, “Woman, behold, your son! … Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26–27). John will care for Jesus’ mother in His place.

From noon until 3:00 PM darkness engulfs the region (Matthew 27:45–54) and Jesus speaks four more times. This greater Son of David echoes the words of the psalmist David:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:47; Psalm 22:1).

“I thirst” (John 19:28; Psalm 22:14–15).

“It is finished” (John 19:30; Psalm 22:31).

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46; Psalm 22:19–21).

In the temple the curtain screening off the holy of holies tears from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51–56). An earthquake jolts the land. At the same time, many graves in the area open as the dead are resuscitated and once more walk among the living. Those who mocked Jesus stand with mouths open, eyes wide, trembling at the rapid succession of dramatic events.

Suddenly, the sun shines again, bathing the hills in gold and rose colors, just before the Sabbath begins at 6:00 PM. Soldiers move among the three crosses, ensuring each victim is dead by breaking their legs. But Jesus has already expired, so a soldier shoves a lance into His side to certify His death (John 19:31–42). Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea claim Jesus’ body for burial.

They place Him in a tomb carved out of stone. Many of His followers watch from a distance (Matthew 27:55–56). A small group of women come close with spices for the grave cloths (Luke 23:53–56). Finally, men roll a stone across the tomb’s entrance. Jesus is dead.

His stunned and grieving followers enter a Sabbath without Jesus’ presence, without His teaching. Their loss weighs heavily upon them. Less than twenty-four hours ago, Jesus sat with them, ate with them, walked with them, prayed for them. When will they remember He had told them about all of this?

What will you do with Jesus? He is the sinless Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world — for your sins. What do you think of Him? Do you join the deniers, mockers, torturers, and crucifiers? Will you declare Him “innocent,” as Pilate decided, and “the Son of God,” just as the Roman centurion concluded? He is the Savior of all who believe in Him. What will you do with Jesus?

 

— Dr. Bill Barrick