Good Friday

TODAY, we commemorate with deep reverence the crucifixion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was betrayed by Judas on the night of the Last Supper on Thursday. The following morning, Christ was arrested and was brought before Annas, a powerful Jewish cleric. Annas condemned Jesus for blasphemy. From there, Jesus was sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the province. He questioned Jesus but found no reason to condemn him.

Learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate referred the case to King Herod, who was in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Herod questioned Jesus but received no answer; Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate told the assembly that neither he nor Herod found Jesus to be guilty. Pilate resolved to have Jesus whipped and released. But the crowd asked him to have Barrabas free instead. Pilate asked what they would have him do with Jesus and they said, “Crucify him.”

Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his own hands in water to show he had no part in His condemnation. He handed Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall a riot. Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, in Hebrew, in Latin “Calvary.” He was crucified with two criminals. He agonized on the cross for six hours. During his last three hours on the cross, from noon to 3 p.m., darkness fell over the whole land. Jesus said in a loud voice: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” after a loud cry, Jesus gave up His spirit, there was an earthquake, tombs broke open and the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The centurion on guard at the site of crucifixion declared, Truly, this was God’s son!”

Unto his death, Jesus showed how he was obedient to the will of His heavenly father. He knew that He could ask the father whatever He wanted. But he humbled himself, for the salvation of all, even giving up his life at the cross. He gave all he could give, showing for us a reason to live.