In the days of Jesus, the next day began at nightfall. He tried to explain to his disciples the emotional suffering that he experienced but they were oblivious to what he was saying. His only comfort was an angel who came to strengthen him as he prayed. There in the garden Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss. Disciples were allowed to go free at the request of Christ
Then there began a series of illegal trials that lasted all through the night. He had no food or water or rest for the entire time of his ordeal. First, he was taken to Annas, the ex-high priest. He was the one who ran a monopoly for the sale of animals to be sacrificed. The son-in-law of Annas, Caiaphas, was the current high priest and had a distinct hatred for Jesus. Our Lord displayed no indignation while remaining silent against the accusations that were false. Eventually, Jesus challenged those interrogating him by saying that he did nothing in secret, they should ask those who listened to his teaching in the temple what they heard him speak. Because of Jesus’ strong stance, he was struck in the face by a temple associate.
Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin court that Caiaphas had assembled. Be reminded that nighttime trials were illegal. During the interrogation they sought, bribed witnesses to give evidence against Christ. A major accusation was a misquot of Jesus about the temple. They said he would destroy the temple and then build it back up in three days. Caiaphas stepped forward into the personal space of Jesus demanding that he answer if he was the true Messiah. In a calm reply Jesus said, “Thou says that I am. From now on, you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” In an attempt to display horrific blasphemy Caiaphas tore his shirt declaring, “He has spoken blasphemy. What further need have we of witnesses?” Those soldiers and officers standing nearby blindfolded Jesus striking him with rods while saying, “Prophesy to us, thou Christ, who it is that struck you.” By this time, they had proven crucial evidence against our Lord
When Jesus was inside the palace suffering the humiliation of his enemies, Peter was outside denying Christ three times as Jesus predicted. As Jesus was being led away, he turned to Peter looking at him as his betrayer. In response Peter left the area agonizing in repentance. Afterwards, Jesus was subjected to unrestrained insults, taunts, and brutality by the temple staff. It was their hour of vengeance against Jesus to cleanse the temple. An attempt to appear righteous, they assembled the elders of the people including Sadducees and Pharisees for the single purpose of putting Jesus to death. While this was happening, Peter was struck by a guilty conscience. Judas also felt guilty, so that he attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver to no avail. The difference between Peter and Judas was that Judas sought no repentance. Instead, he hanged himself.
Jesus was then tried before Pontius Pilate so that he might sanction the execution of Jesus. Much later Pontius Pilate was stripped of his authority by the Emperor resulting in him also committing suicide. Pilate had a hostile relationship with the Jews because of his mistreatment of them. He demanded what accusation they would bring against Jesus that would make him worthy of death. Again, they twisted the words of Jesus by saying that he plotted sedition against Rome, and he forbade paying taxes to Caesar. As part of the private discussion that Pilate held with Jesus, he asked the Lord what truth is. The governor sent Jesus to Herod who was the same King that caused the death of John the Baptist to please Herodias. As entertainment, Herod hope that he could persuade Jesus to form magic tricks.
Herod declined to cast a sentence of death on Jesus sending him back to Pilate. The official verdict of the governor was there was no fault in Jesus. He proposed to set him free. In an effort to bargain with the Sanhedrin, he gave them a choice whether Barabbas should be free or Jesus. The wife of Pilate warned him to have nothing to do with Jesus because of a nightmare she had. The crowd accused the governor of being no friend of the Emperor if he did not sanction the murder of Jesus. As a weak governor, Pilate approved for Jesus to be scourged by the whip that had balls of led, short pieces of bone or spikes embedded in the ends of the leather. The whipping was so severe that his flesh was torn away revealing veins and sometimes even striking the face of our Lord with the probability of knocking out his teeth. The guards continued to mock him and strike him even by putting a thorn crown on his head. When the governor brought Jesus to the crowd, they would not be satisfied with the bloodbath he experienced. Their reply was to crucify him. Failing all efforts to release Jesus, Pontius Pilate washed his hands before the crowd and declared himself innocent.
Only the disciple John follow Jesus as he carried the cross to Golgotha for crucifixion. Shortly later brutality was levied against the body of Christ that became more than he could bear, and he fell on the way to the place of execution. The soldiers demanded that Simon the Cyrene carry the cross thereafter. This duty is a reminder that Jesus previously said those who have faith in him must bear their own cross.
Jesus was forced to lay down on the cross so that nails can be driven in his wrists. This was just the beginning of excruciating agony as the nerve endings were severed. His feet, likewise, were placed on top of each other with a nail driven on them. Between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM the soldiers gambled for the garments of Jesus. Pilate ordered an inscription to be placed above the cross written that said, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The priests objected to the statements, but pilot said that would remain as he had ordered. While hanging on the cross, Jesus prayed, demonstrating his love for mankind, asking for their forgiveness. Those disbelievers looking up to the cross mocking him saying, “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Messiah.” They cast up further accusations to Christ. Even the two thieves who was crucified on either side of him mocked. Shortly thereafter one of the thieves became penitent and verbally stood on Jesus’ side asking to be remembered when he came into his Kingdom. Jesus replied with a triumphant statement that the penitent thief would stand by his side in Paradise.
At the foot of the cross standing alongside John, was Mary the mother Jesus and Mary the wife of Clovis. It was a contrast between Jesus being a man and others with a strong devotion even to the death for Jesus. From noon to 3 PM darkness fell on the entire city. Most people believe that the darkness was a supernatural manifestation of nature being in sympathy with the creator. After hanging on the cross for such a long period of time, Jesus suffered extreme anguish of spirit and physical pain. He felt isolated and alone. It seemed to him that even God forsook Jesus. On the cross Jesus experienced a broken communion with his Heavenly Father. In the midst of total agony and despair, Jesus uttered, “It is finished!” He dismissed his Spirit in the same way a teacher would dismiss her students at the end of the day. The life of Jesus was not taken from him. He dismissed it.
What accompanied the death of Christ was the tearing of the veil in the temple that separated the holy place from the most holy. It was significantly thick so that only the hand of God could tear it from the top to the bottom. It is been said that the results of the veil being torn a number of priests became Christians. The way into the holy of holies is now available to all believers. Following the tearing of the veil was an earthquake which cannot be brushed aside as a coincidence since it had supernatural timing with his death. Rocks were torn open. Tombs were shaken so that previous dead believers came forth. The centurion who oversaw the crucifixion, the scourging, the mocking witnessed all that happened and concluded, “Surely this was the son of God.” The body of Jesus was grossly mutilated to the point that he was unrecognizable even by those who knew him.
Jesus allowed himself to be murdered innocently as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin! In reply to their accusations,
Christian Writer 