Crucify, Crucify Him!

Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us'; and to the hills, "Cover us.' 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (NRSV)

A lot happened between the closing hymn of last night's Maundy Thursday service, and today's Good Friday service, and you've read the story. We slept comfortably, but had it been the actual night, Jesus suffered much. He was betrayed, could not pray as He wanted, was arrested, and forced to stand trial even before the sun came up this morning. The charges were made up, but the verdict was the same: Guilty. The punishment: Death by crucifixion. Though both leaders wanted Jesus released, the crowd who on Sunday welcomed Him into the city, now wanted Him dead. "Crucify, crucify Him!" they yelled.

The sounds that surrounded Jesus during all this time must have been deafening. The shouts of the crowd, followed by the wails and crying of the women who followed Jesus and believed in Him. The sound of the crowd walking behind Jesus to see this public execution. The barking of dogs along the route. The sound of the hammer as it nailed those huge nails into Jesus' flesh. More sobs and yells of anguish and pain; and even the groans from Jesus Himself over the pain that He was feeling. Then there were the shouts from that one criminal who wanted Jesus to demonstrate His power in releasing Himself along with he and the other criminal. And one scholar has said that there were truly three thieves on that hill that day, the greatest being Jesus, Who stole death from the grave and stole the things that stood between us and God.

The sights that surrounded the entire day also were varied. The lit torches during the night, the breaking light at dawn, the sight of Jesus whipped and beat; the sight of the place called the Skull where they led Jesus early in the day, some say 9 a.m. was when they nailed Him to the cross. And from noon until 3 p.m., the darkness that fell upon the earth. The sadness of God reflecting the darkness of our sin.

And given all this, we Christians call it Good Friday, for the purpose it served and serves today. God demonstrated His love in a way that is not pretty, it is painful. But the story does not end with what happened today, it simply sets the stage for the wonderful things that were to come.

You ready?

PRAYER: Lord, this day is difficult for many, for we know the pain we have caused You. Yet, we thank You for Your willingness to send Your only Son, Jesus, our Lord, to die for us. For that we remain eternally grateful. It is in the precious and powerful name of Jesus that we pray, amen.

May the true blessings of this day bring you peace.

Eradio Valverde