THAT Friday

 

Click the image or the link or

Copy and paste the link into your browser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6cxaxnV1nA

Or search YouTube for ‘Worship: John 3:16 in Hebrew,

Arabic, Russian, English, Korean and Persian’

by One for Israel Ministry

 

"So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.  They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.  There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.  

"Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross.  It was written, 'Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.'  Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek.  So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, 'Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews.'"  Pilate answered, 'What I have written I have written.'" John 19:16-22

The thick, rough rope tightened around His chest, as they drew Him up from the cold, dark pit of a prison in Caiaphas’ house.  His body hurt from the beatings the previous evening and when they threw Him down into the pit, He had landed full on His knees.

 

It was Friday morning – Preparation Day -- the day before the Sabbath.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were milling around outside Pilot’s courtyard, lying in wait for Jesus to be brought to Pilot – the only one authorised to put Him to death. 

 

The religious leaders wanted to make a spectacle of this itinerant and seditious zealot who had gathered a rag-tag bunch of followers, teaching them more than the strictness of the law allowed. 

 

Everything Jesus stood for was politically incorrect!  Rome was a harsh taskmaster for anyone or anything that caused disruption in their order -- and Jesus had done just that.

 

The religious leaders counted on that but also brought a ‘paid-crowd’ as back up.  They stood together outside Pilot’s court and had been coached in what to say against Jesus – ‘Crucify Him!’.  And so they did.

 

After more beatings, He was dragged out and a crown of long biting thorns were shoved into His head and a heavy purple robe was pulled around Him.  ‘Hail!  King of the Jews!’ the soldiers shouted and pretended to kneel and bow before His teetering presence.

 

What the Pharisees did not count on was Pilot’s resistance to pronouncing the death penalty.  Three times he refused the clamour of the crowd and then to silence the rabble, he gave them a choice of Jesus or a horrific criminal.  When the crowded brayed for the blood of Jesus, Pilot simply washed his hands of it and let them have their way.

 

Jesus lay on the ground now, exhausted.  The thorny crown taking bloody vengeance, biting into His brow.  The purple robe brought a bit of relief.  It was cold that morning and He had barely warmed up from the night in the pit. 

 

The soldiers followed orders.  But they chose the heaviest of the crosses waiting in the armory – just for fun.  As three of them carried it out, some of the other soldiers pulled Him to His feet and tore the robe from His back.  They leaned the roughhewn cross against His trembling body and laughed as he shook with the weight of it. 

 

Jesus grabbed under the cross beam with His strong hands and was directed to a pathway out of the city.  He slowly dragged the cross in the direction.  The crowds of faces seemed to blend together with His straining efforts and His heart thundered in His ears -- almost louder than the shouts of the hateful crowd. 

 

The last beating had torn the wounds from the previous day apart and He felt the blood oozing down His back as the wood scraped against Him. 

 

He dragged the cross further. 

 

When He stumbled or stopped to catch His breath, the Roman soldiers struck Him and cursed His weakness. 

 

Yet, He dragged the cross further. 

 

The cobbles under his bare feet did not make walking easy.  Even the beatings, when He stumbled, could not give Him enough determination to keep dragging the cross further and He fell to His knees.

 

One of those who secretly followed Jesus, Simon of Cyrene, stepped out from the crowd and whispered to one of the soldiers that he would carry the cross for Jesus.  The solider was amused but wanted this spectacle to be over and allowed it. 

 

Simon carried the cross and walked beside Jesus, as the soldiers pushed and struck and spit on Him. 

 

They made it through the gate and climbed up the prominent hillock outside the city.  It was known as Golgotha and the huge rock formation did look very much like a bleached skull. 

 

And there, they crucified Jesus between two criminals.

 

Crucifixion was historically the most horrendous of all punishments.  The Romans developed it to remind populations in all of the lands they invaded, that they meant business.  Typically, it took days – sometimes as many as six days -- for someone to finally succumb to the loss of the ability to breathe, which was ultimately what most of those crucified, died from.

 

However, the religious leaders were in a hurry.  Their law dictated that it was forbidden for a dead body to hang overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23), so went to Pilate insisting Jesus be dispensed with quickly. 

 

When the soldiers were given orders to break the legs, it was intended to ensure a quick death.  But after just six hours, Jesus had been released from further suffering and died.  The soldiers only pierced His side to see the proof of death – that fluids (that would have collected around His lungs after death) would flow and they did.

 

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent leader of the Supreme Court and Nicodemus, also a leader in the Court (secret followers of Jesus), asked Pilot permission to take and bury Jesus’ body. 

 

Pilot would not have cared. 

 

So, Joseph and Nicodemus and perhaps some of their servants would have taken Jesus’ body down from the cross.  Once they arrived at the tomb, they would have hastily washed off the blood and quickly wrapped the body in fresh linen, sprinkled liberally with the one-hundred pounds of mixed myrrh and aloes that Joseph had brought with him. 

 

The tomb had been freshly carved from the side of a stone wall.  No one had been laid there before.  A great stone, weighing between one and two tons, was rolled across the entrance. 

 

And the night was silent and still.  It was over.  It was finished!  How could this be!

 

Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you each day)

 

PS:  Find my statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). You can easily find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.  (Also, there is an android ‘Google Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone.  Not sure about Apple.).  For the books, go Amazon books.  

 

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (any updates?)

 

·      Eddy – has cancer in his bladder and kidneys.  Will be having a procedure on Good Friday to remove one of his kidneys.  Pray for him and those who care for and support him during this time, especially his health-care providers.

·      Annette’s Dad – had an accident and brain bleed while in Florida and couldn’t fly.  Annette and Lyle drove down from Ohio to bring them home.  He is now recovering and off oxygen and anti-seizure meds.  He will have another CATSCAN in 2 weeks.  Pray God prepares the hearts and strengthen those who love this man for this challenging time -- and pray for his caregivers as he heals and recovers.

·      Jasper, Bec and Nev – new youth pastors at our church are still at Moore College and living on campus.  Pray for balance between their academic and family life.

·      The horror of war in Ukraine – Please pray for the people caught in the cross-fires of this war, and especially strength for Christians of this country and that God’s sends encouragement and help in unexpected ways to save Ukraine and our world from the potential devastation of a third world war.

·      Unprecedented Floods in New South Wales, Australia - the rains have begun once again and are very heavy.  There will be more flooding today.  Clean up from previous floodings starts and stops.  So many are dealing with the resulting devastation and loss.  Continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones, their homes and all their possessions and especially for those providing care and support of those affected. 

·      Simon and Tamara and their children – Simon (my pastor) has been chosen to support the Lord’s work in a new, more far-reaching way.  Help them prepare throughout this year for the new challenges that await them.  And when Simon takes up the new role, let him fill it with the same grace, devotion and love he has consistently demonstrated while at St. Marks.  Strengthen the congregation to rejoice with them and their decision.

·      Elina –  has asked for prayer.  Please hold her us as she struggles through some personal issues and is feeling overwhelmed. 

·      Ray Jr. –Pray the Lord holds Ray Jr. (and his brothers) closely as they grieve and deal with the practical matters after the loss of their father.  Give Kathy (Ray’s wife) strength and wisdom as she supports him during this time.

·      Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing.

·      Family of Eric – Eric at 52 died suddenly leaving his 47-year-old wife and three girls (ages 16, 19 and 23).  Pray the Lord comforts the family through this time of mourning.  Pray for their wisdom and that Go-d will send trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based councilors for the many decisions that now must be made.

·      Grant’s brother – seems to be stable now after doctors put a shunt in his skull to drain fluid from around the brain to reduce pressure. Pray for his health carers as they continue to help him.

·      Peyton - eldest granddaughter of Jeff and Rachael – now in her second year of college.  Please continue to pray for her that she does well, makes good decisions and continues having a good relationship with the Lord. 

·      Barb – my brother’s faithful and kind wife.  Thank you for praying for her.  She needs prayers to sustain her and protect her health and energy during this time of additional stress and challenge at work.

·      Sophie – three-year old daughter of a friend.  She is chronically unwell and frail.  Please pray for her, her parents and health carers to find ways to manage the symptoms and heal her.

·      Hans – a dear friend in Germany, the cancer seems to be stable for now.  Pray for his financial situation to improve and for his ongoing strength through the pain when it comes.  Pray for his patience and God’s mercy.  Pray for his healthcare providers and that he is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will support him through this journey.  Pray for his Mom (age 84) who is also unwell -- that their time together is filled with extraordinary good memories and lots of love.

·      Callilah - a lost child.  Pray the Lord will capture her heart.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray to uphold our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word, are bold and courageous in the face of evil.  Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.

Pray for those with ongoing health concerns

Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health.  Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.

Pray for the World