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Last night, Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples, teaching them to view the elements of an old ceremony in a new way— the standard bread and wine now representing his own body and blood given to them for the forgiveness of all sins. Last night, Jesus and His 11 men strayed away from the walls of Jerusalem to go pray in their usual spot—Gethsemane. When his agony over impending events had reached an unbearable degree, Jesus revealed his heart to a few of his closest men: “I am deeply grieved to the point of death” (Mark 14:34). Soon after, leaving even his inner circle for a time, Jesus collapsed “facedown” (Matt. 26:39) and cried to his Dad: “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you! Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Bloody sweat dripped from his face during these suspenseful minutes. Could the cup be taken away? Could the mission that Jesus came for be achieved any other way? No. The Father’s will would lead to the cross—Jesus’ fate was sealed. “The dominion of darkness” (Lk 22:53) had begun.

It is now very early Friday morning, the day of Jesus’ death. The Sanhedrin (the Jewish council) has assembled, and Jesus stands at the center of the drama, criticized, bruised from beatings, and all alone. Jesus has not slept since Wednesday night. Hours ago, his followers swore to follow Him into the jaws of death itself, but now He has been betrayed by one of them, and abandoned by all of them (Mk. 14:50). The din of false testimonies against the so-called Messiah has so far failed to provide condemning evidence. Finally, the high priest springs to his feet and poses the fatal question: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed One?” All eyes fly to the Nazarene. The climax has arrived. The identity that Jesus forbade demons to declare now comes forth from his own lips: “‘I am,’ said Jesus, ‘and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:62). The die is cast. The assembly erupts in fury against the “blasphemer.” The blood-soaked march to the cross begins.

The Jewish leaders do not waste a minute. Binding Jesus, they hasten to the headquarters of Pilate, the Roman governor. After a conversation with Jesus that both puzzles and fascinates him, Pilate appears unable to pass the death sentence on this unique revolutionary. As the day unfolds, however, Pilate slowly caves to the pressures of the people. Between the murderous cries of the mob for Jesus’ crucifixion and the inconclusive nature of the case, Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified. Even before He begins his walk to “Golgotha,” the site of his crucifixion, Jesus is on the brink of death. To begin, Jesus is flogged in the governor’s house: whipped with a belt containing shards of bone and iron intended to rip apart flesh and, as often occurred, expose one’s very bones. Next, Jesus is surrounded by the governor’s trained military who close in on the exhausted “criminal” like lions around a kill. They first strip Him naked and clothe Him in a purple robe—the color of royalty. Next, they thrust a crudely shaped crown of thorns onto Jesus’s bloody brow and a staff into his hand. Jokingly, they praise Him as a King. “Then, they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head” (Matt. 27:40). Jesus, feeling the thorns drive deeper into his head by the blows, lays there crushed, bullied, and wet with his own sweat and blood… and the spit of others. The crucifixion has not even begun. 

Crowds begin to line the road that leads to Calvary. Some celebrate his death sentence, others weep. Too weak to carry his cross ⅓ of a mile to his death site, Jesus receives help from a traveller named, “Simon.” “Led like a lamb to the slaughter,” (Isa. 53:7) Jesus limps up to the top of the hill. Observing a formality, the officials offer Jesus “wine mixed with gall” (Matt. 27:34) that would act as a narcotic. He refuses; Jesus chooses to experience every ounce of pain that this crucifixion entails, including the 7-inch-long iron spikes that the officials are now driving into his limbs. Fastened to the wooden cross, Jesus Christ is crucified on a hill in Jerusalem. It is now 9:00 in the morning (Mk. 15:25). Before long, the jeering begins: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him!” (Matt. 27:42-43) Similar to his desert temptations, Jesus is coaxed to prove that God loves him. People even tell Jesus that they will believe in Him if He just comes down. In order to love his taunters more than they could ever comprehend, He ignores their wishes. Jesus remains on the cross. 

Read

Luke 23:32–34

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
— Luke 23:34

Pray

• Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus’ heart to you on this Good Friday. 
• Meditate on an element of the Morning Reflection that especially speaks to you.
• Meditate throughout the morning on the Statement from the Cross.