23 Then
the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to
accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment
of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you
the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the
chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5 But they insisted, “He stirs up
the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come
all the way here.”
…
13 Pilate called together the chief
priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me
this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him
in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.
15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has
done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then
release him.”
18 But the whole crowd shouted,
“Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown
into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate
appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify
him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to
them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds
for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release
him.”
23 But with loud shouts they
insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man
who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked
for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
…
32 Two other men, both criminals,
were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place
called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his
right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by
casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and
the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save
himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and
mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the
king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above
him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung
there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked
him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But
this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I
tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 It was now about noon, and
darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the
sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit
my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had
happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When
all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they
beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including
the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching
these things.
This Sunday is a joyful day in
Christianity, and much like Christmas will be celebrated by both believers and
nonbelievers. But what many fail to appreciate is the darkness that took place
just days before the joy of Easter Sunday. For everyone present on Good Friday,
it must have seemed as though the sun would never rise again. But the Son did
rise.
A powerful message for believers and
nonbelievers alike.
No comments:
Post a Comment