One of my practices on Good Friday is to think about what Jesus experienced between 9:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon.
There was one occasion when I had a breakfast of waffles and bacon around 9:00, and I thought to the Lord, “You’re now beginning your ordeal on the cross and I’m sitting down to have breakfast.”
Before Jesus endured the cross, he first went through six trials: three before religious authorities and three before Roman officials.
John records the experience with the Roman Governor, Pilate, and the religious authorities.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.
Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.”
So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”
When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.”
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:1-6).
One of my prayer practices is to read a passage of scripture, close my eyes, and mentally dialogue with God about what I’m reading. We might want to do that with this passage.
As we look at what Jesus is going through, we have human beings who are doing everything possible, both with words and physical violence, to bring the greatest harm possible to another human being.
Little did they know that the One they were doing this to was not just an ordinary Jewish man, but the Son of God.
The Issue of Authority
Pilate brought Jesus into his headquarters away from the crowd. He attempted to engage Jesus in conversation, but Jesus didn’t respond.
Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and power to crucify you?”
Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin” (John 19:10-11).
Authority was a central issue from the very beginning of Jesus’s ministry. He taught with authority and performed powerful deeds that demonstrated it.
This brought him into conflict with the religious authorities for two reasons: first, they believed he was usurping their rightful authority, and second, they claimed he was using his power to mislead the people.
Just as we saw with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet as a servant, we see Jesus refusing to use his heavenly authority to overcome the evil that is about to be perpetrated upon him.
He uses authority in self-giving love to rescue humanity from our sins rather than to save his own life.
The Crucifixion
Despite the earth-shattering significance of the crucifixion, the Bible provides relatively few details about the specific agony endured by our Lord.
Matthew’s Gospel records that darkness fell over the land for a period (Matthew 27:45). Mark’s and Luke’s Gospels also note this event (Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44-45).
I believe this darkness was given by God to hide Jesus’s crucifixion from what made it different from the thousands of others who suffered a similar fate.
It was at that moment, in my understanding, that he bore the penalty for every sin committed throughout all of history, from the beginning of time to its end.
Jesus’ last word from the cross was “It is finished.”
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:20).
Not only was the cross experience finished, but everything Jesus came to earth to accomplish was completed. He had perfectly completed every task that the Father assigned Him.
Reflections
This Good Friday, I encourage you to intentionally reflect throughout the day on Jesus’s experience on the cross. Take moments to thank Him for the events that unfolded:
- The trials He endured before nine o’clock,
- The piercing of His hands and feet on the cross around nine,
- The darkening of the sky around one,
- And His triumphant final cry, “It is finished,” around three.
Observe how God works in your heart as you respond to Him in worship and thanksgiving this Good Friday.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 