Holy Week: Let Him be crucified!

Holy Week: Let Him be crucified!              


“Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ 


“When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ’I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it’” (Matthew 27:22-24 NKJV).


In my previous Holy Week blog posts we celebrated Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem; we saw Him shake things up at the Temple; we rejoiced as He blessed children and healed the afflicted; we heard Him teach about love; we observed His last supper and agonizing night in Gethsemane.  


Now it’s Friday—Good Friday. What is so good about the horrendous pain and suffering of this innocent Man?


I went to bed last night with Jesus on my mind. I laid my head on my pillow, troubled with the thought, “Tonight Jesus is in the garden, agonizing and crying out to His Father, with the awful dread of what He knew awaited Him at sunrise.” But I went on to sleep, knowing that it was for good—for my good, the good of my loved-ones, and for the good of all mankind. That’s why we call today Good Friday. 


After being arrested in the wee hours of the night, Jesus was led away “to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled” (Matthew 26:57 NKJV). They were angry that they had found no one to accuse Him of crimes. According to Jewish law they needed two or three witnesses. Therefore, they decided to entrap Him with His own words but they still had no witnesses from the population.  


“But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ 


“Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’


“Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What do you think?’ they answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; …” (Matthew 26:63-67a NKJV).


They then took Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor, telling him Jesus had claimed to be a king. They knew this would be considered sedition to the Roman government, but Pilate knew Jesus was an innocent Man. (Matthew 27:18)

During the dark hours when Jesus was taken from one place to the other, His disciple, Peter, discreetly followed along. Bystanders asked if he was one of Jesus disciples or if he knew Him. After his third denial of knowing Jesus, he was so mad, “he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:74-75 NKJV).


This section about Peter’s denial of Jesus grips me every time I read it or think about it. This strong, fearless, passionate, outspoken fisherman betrayed his dearest and most trusted friend. Why? Because of fear of men. 


But I cannot condemn Peter. I cannot judge him. Can you? I cannot because I too have denied Christ. I have also done things I should not have done, knowing full well that it would break the heart of my Lord—my One True BFF. And, like Peter, I have felt the weight of my sin and wept bitterly in shame and repentance. 


But bright sunlight illuminates my spirit when I think about how Jesus lovingly restored Peter. After His resurrection, He not only restored, but elevated him to a high position in His Church.


The angel at the empty tomb set this in motion when he said, “But go and tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, …” (Mark 16:7 NKJV). Please read John 21 for the completion of Peter’s repair.



Back to Friday morning—Jesus was taken to Pilate and, having no choice, Pilate took him before the people. Their demand to “Crucify Him!” had to be carried out.   

Let’s turn to my book, The Lord Has Need of YOU, and see how things go. We find donkeys, Elpis and Kavod, grazing on a hillside outside of Jerusalem.

“The peaceful morning was interrupted by the sounds of voices stirring up in the city. Louder and louder… ’Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’ …”

“ … The donkeys turned to each other and at the same time, said, ‘It’s Jesus!’” 

  

“The donkeys watched in horror as Jesus was nailed to a cross in between two criminals. The beautiful spring day had turned into a dreadful, sad day.

“After a while, Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’ and He died.

“At that very moment, the sky darkened, and the earth shook in such a manner that the donkeys nearly fell down.  

“Elpis and Kavod stood watching in disbelief. There was Jesus, who had done so many good and kind things, being killed as though He were a criminal. 
It just didn’t make sense. The donkeys could not stop their tears.” * 



Friends of Jesus buried His body in a tomb, belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph bought fine linen with which to wrap Him. Because it was late in the day, on the Sabbath, the traditional anointing with spices would need to wait until Sunday. (Mark 15)



This day—Good Friday—is one of the most significant days in the history of the world. For this, Jesus was born, Son of Man—Son of God. 


It was a heart wrenching day for Jesus’ followers at the time, as well as a hard day to comprehend for those of us who are His followers today.


The hope of His people lay dead in a tomb, but they didn’t yet know, that “Sunday’s a-comin!”

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At the beginning of this week I encouraged you to read, in your Bible, about the last days of Jesus’ life. A lot happened in those few days. Begin your reading at these points: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19:28, and John 12:12. Go ahead and read through to the end of each of the Gospels between now and Easter Sunday. Be blessed with me as we learn Jesus. 


Each day this week, I’m posting a few highlights from those amazing days in history. Also, I’m using some of the pictures and quotes from my book titled, The Lord has Need of YOU.* The illustrations are watercolor paintings by artist, Lesley James. 


Thank you for traveling with me through these extraordinary days. God bless you. 


*The Lord Has Need of YOU, by Connie Wohlford. Copyright Connie Wohlford, 2019, Hoot Books Publishing.

*The Lord Has Need of YOU can be purchased directly from me via email author@conniewohlford.com or through Amazon,  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1687536104/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

©Copyright 2020 Connie Wohlford

The Miracle of the Veil

The Miracle of the Veil

How can it be—that a massive curtain can rip from top to bottom without the help of a tool—perhaps a chainsaw or a machete or—something?  

By massive, I mean—we’re looking at a curtain about the thickness of a man’s hand, according to the Jewish historian, Josephus. That’s about four inches thick! And this curtain, known as the veil, was thought to be 60 feet high. It was colossal!  

The veil was the dividing wall between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, often called the Holy of Holies, in the Temple (Ex. 26:33). The Holy of Holies was the place where God dwelt. The veil provided a separation between Holy God and sinful man.

Only the high priest was permitted to go beyond it and only once a year—on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). On this sacred day, after much preparation, the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to make a blood sacrifice to atone for sins the people had committed in ignorance (Heb. 9:7).

At the very moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn from the top, down. The Gospel writer says, “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38 NKJV).

This veil could not have been torn at the hands of men. Nor could it have been a result of the ensuing earthquake. God Himself tore the veil. God Himself provided the once for all blood sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all mankind.

God the Father, provided His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice. Thus when Jesus breathed His last breath, the separation veil was torn and the way was made for us—anyone willing—to access our Heavenly Father.

The writer of Hebrews declares, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NASB).

 SO—the rending of the separation veil, which blocked access to the presence of God, was a physical occurrence, done by the hand of God, with celestial significance. In essence, Jesus’ death enacted the tearing of the veil so that we, who put our trust in Him, may have access to our Creator—our Heavenly Father. We may now be in His Heavenly Kingdom, as His own child “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We may now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus and enjoy its benefits.  

SO—the rending of the separation veil, which blocked access to the presence of God, was a physical occurrence, done by the hand of God, with celestial significance. In essence, Jesus’ death enacted the tearing of the veil so that we, who put our trust in Him, may have access to our Creator—our Heavenly Father. We may now be in His Heavenly Kingdom, as His own child “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We may now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus and enjoy its benefits.

 

 

Thank you, Jesus, for following through to the finish and thank you God for tearing the veil.

Let us rejoice for the work that was done on that Good Friday 2000 years ago. And let us glorify God for raising Jesus back to life three days later, conquering death so we too can have Eternal Life.

 

Happy Resurrection Day to you and your loved ones.

©Connie Wohlford 2016  

Restoration and The Cross of Christ

Restoration and The Cross of Christ 

What does the word restoration mean to you? Perhaps having eyesight restored after surgery or the restoration of a historic home to its original beauty.

Restoration that comes from God actually restores a person to a condition far better than his or her former state. In God’s economy, restoration is about life—abundant life—every aspect of life. Moses said of the Lord, “He is your life” (Deut. 30:20).

“I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it           more abundantly.”  <> Words of Jesus—John 10:10b NKJV

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“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  <> Words of Jesus—John 14:6 NKJV

When Jesus went to the cross, He became the once-for-all (1 Cor. 5:7) Paschal Lamb (Ex. 12)—the Passover Lamb (Mark 14:12)—The Lamb of God (John 1:29).  

On Passover, in ancient Israel, a spotless male lamb was sacrificed to atone for sin—for the deliverance (salvation)—of the Jews. Jesus was the spotless Lamb sacrificed on the cross to atone for the sins of all mankind, once and for all.

John the Baptist recognized Jesus and announced, “Behold! The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJV).

It was from the moment in time*, when Jesus died, that anyone who believes and receives Him may have abundant life for the rest of their days on earth and Eternal Life with Jesus in Heaven. Notice, I didn’t say a trouble-free life. Followers of Jesus have access to the attributes of Christ which can enrich life and give hope and peace even during earthly trials.

Anyone who will follow Christ will be restored to a right relationship with their Creator, God the Father. This cosmic restoration allows that person to enjoy the same fellowship with God that Adam and Eve knew before their fall. This restoration gives the follower of Jesus access to the abundant life spoken of in John 10.

It doesn’t mean we won’t ever sin again either. It means that when we do, we have an advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ, Himself will plead our case and help us return back to right relationship (1 John 2:1).  

God’s restoration means the spiritual death brought about by sin is replaced with spiritual life (Ezekiel 36:26, 27); that we will be one with Jesus (John 17:22); that we can live by the Spirit rather than by our flesh (Rom. 8:13); and that we can know God’s mystery, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:26, 27).

SO, let’s rejoice in this amazing restoration to which we have access because of the cross of Christ. The crucifixion of our Lord made the way for each of us to receive the gift of Salvation—that’s being saved from our sin debt. At the cross He took the punishment you and I deserved. He paid our debt!

When Jesus rose from the dead, He overcame—He conquered death, hell, and the grave. In His own words: “I am He who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hates and of Death” (Rev. 1:19 NKJV).

As Good Friday approaches, let us look with gratitude, to the cross of Christ and then let's celebrate, with great rejoicing, Resurrection Sunday, for we have been redeemed from sin's penalties and restored to a right relationship with God for all Eternity. Oh, Hallelujah!  

*Some researchers have suggested April 3, 33AD as the date of Jesus’ crucifixion. They say that geological evidence of an earthquake on that date and that location indicates this possibility. –Interesting!   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/jesus-crucifixion-date-possible_n_1546351.html

©Connie Wohlford 2016