So, here we go!
We know the pain of the night for Jesus as he prayed and the disciples scattered. Peter denying Jesus and no defense attorney to be found. Jesus was on his own but more than capable.
Around Midnight last night, Jesus was seized and brought to Anna in Caiaphas' house around 1am. That attempt didn't work out for Anna and the crew, so the second attempt took place around 2 or 3 am.
The actual trial at the Sanhedrin began around 4 am and this time of year, per commentaries, dawn was breaking with sun rising around 5-5:30am.
The trial verdict was unanimous (surprise!) verdict of death. For what? Blasphemy. They didn't have much to go on so, being good legalists, they determined Jesus claimed to be God. They were correct on technicalities but found the claim to be so offensive that they decided death was the punishment.
Spoiler Alert - He is God.
Interestingly enough, the verdict couldn't be ratified or affirmed until daylight hours in order to be legal. So, the Sanhedrin got back together after sunrise to make it legal.
According to commentaries, Nisan 14 is the day appointed for slaying the lambs. Nisan 14 is the eve of passover which coincided with preparation for the weekly Sabbath. (John 19:14, 31, 42 and John 20:1)
The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate (round 1) and Pilate couldn't find any wrong with Jesus. His wife had a dream about Jesus and Pilate was torn between his position and what he instinctively knew was a sham. The leaders went back to Herod, who then sent it back to Pilate. Nobody wanted a piece of this except the religious folks.
In between the first and second trial with Pilate, Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:3-10) with great regret. He "returned", and by returned I mean "threw" the 30 pieces of silver and confessed he had betrayed innocent blood. Being the good legalists the Sanhedrin were, they knew they couldn't put that money back into the treasury, as it was "blood money". They bought a field to bury foreigners and this fulfilled a prophecy way back in Jeremiah!
The second trial before Pilate begins around 8am and he washes his hands of the matter ( a legal position in those days) and orders Jesus to be flogged. There were a total of six trials (!) before the last one with Pilate. The desperation of the religious leaders to get Jesus was indefatigable (waiting to use that word!) and their determination finally pays off, in their own wicked way.
The Passion of The Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, is pretty graphic but the tools for flogging were historically accurate. Did you know Mel Gibson wanted to be the one to put the nails in Jesus during the production of the movie? So the scene where Jesus is nailed to the cross is Gibson's hands.
According to Mark 15:25, the crucifixion took place "at the third hour" which corresponds to 9am. So, after being beaten, Jesus is now carrying his own cross to Golgotha (literally, "the place of the skull"). Talk about complete exhaustion.
Some people have said it wasn't that hard for Jesus because He was God. Jesus, in the body, experienced every pain, hunger, and sensation a human could feel. This was beyond exhausting, with no sleep.
On the cross for roughly three hours, darkness fell and stayed that way until Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). So from Noon to 3pm, darkness covered the sky. See corresponding passages about the "Day of the Lord" here: Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9; Zeph 1:15.
In the midst of the time on the cross, many of us are aware that there was a thief on each side of Jesus also being crucified. This throws some theological twists into the equation as the thief recognizes Jesus as God and asks to be forgiven and remembered when Jesus enters paradise. Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise"(!). Wait! No baptism, catechism, church membership? Nope! Confessed his sin and written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
I'm not advocating not doing certain things that go along naturally with personal spiritual growth, but also want to emphasize salvation belongs to God and there is only one way to go: Through Jesus.
As soon as Jesus died, the veil (or curtain) in the Temple split and there was an earthquake. Matthew 27:51-52
The significance is enormous. The veil separated the Holy of Holies from the Temple entrance and the Holy Place or outer court. This was a public scene so it was most likely the outer curtain which was torn. The symbolism was clear: No longer was God to be sought through customs and religious acts but access was now for all through Jesus Christ.
The way to God is not secret or hid behind a man or men. The way to God has been cleared for all - no more heavy weights and cumbersome rules and regulations.
"Come all of you who weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light" - Jesus
In Luke 23:47-48 a curious reaction takes place. The centurion who had been present all day and watched everything unfold in in awe. He realizes what has just taken place and drops to his knees and exclaims, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
Others went home "beating their breasts" which is a sign of lamentation.
More legalism from the Jewish leaders follow immediately, oblivious to the supernatural event, by requesting the following:
John 19:31 Then, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not stay on the crosses on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an especially important one), the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the victims’ legs broken and the bodies taken down.The breaking of the legs sped up the crucifixion as the victim could no longer push up to breath, thus suffocation takes place and the victim can be taken down. Essentially, everyone in a leadership position here was inconvenienced and wanted the crosses brought down.
Jesus, as we know, was already dead and didn't need his legs broken (which fulfilled another prophecy). See John 19:35 (or hover over this passage!)
Another interesting note: Matthew 27:55-56 gives account of who was still there past 3pm. One person of note is Mary Magdalene, who if you recall, was the prostitute who poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet. The person with great sin has great joy when forgiven. The mercy of God!
Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body, wrapped Him in burial clothes and put him in the tomb he had purchased. Mark 15:46
Another grateful heart, Nicodemus, who had met with Jesus in the middle of the night during Jesus' ministry, brings around 75 pounds of burial fragrances (John 19:39) including myrrh, which was used in embalming. Certainly gives some perspective as to why the Magi brought myrrh to Jesus when he was born.
The very last act was by Mary Magdalene and the women who had followed Jesus all day. In Luke 23:56 we read "Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment".
Happy Good Friday!
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