Monthly Archives: April 2021

A Week Before The Resurrection

HE IS ALIVE! NOW I UNDERSTAND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

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The Day That Changed History

 It was like I had been reading the scripture the way I wanted it to read instead of letting it talk to me!

The following is based on Luke 24

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“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.   And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,  Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.  And they remembered his words,  And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.”  Luke 24: 1-9

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It was early in the morning and the sky was getting brighter as we walked the dusty road speaking in low tones. My new friend Cleopas talked in pain about the things that had transpired over the last few days.  So many things!  All very bad!

The disappointment started with the arrest of Jesus in the Garden east of the city.   During the night and into the early morning of the Preparation Day (Friday) the soldiers and mob began to move him between the governor and religious leadership. Then they beat him to a pulp. Eventually they crucified him on a Roman cross on the hill outside of Jerusalem later in the afternoon of the Preparation Day.  I watched as he hung his head and took his last breath. I think I saw Peter off in the distance.  He appeared to be on his knees with his face in his hands.  His disappointment must be very great! We all loved the gentle Jesus and will miss him. He certainly went about doing good.  I just don’t understand these series of events. Cleophas and I both repetitively ask, Why?

I will certainly be labeled as a fanatic believer by my brothers, the Sadducees.  The religious leaders have declared Jesus a blasphemer and made sure He was no longer a factor in our religion. They have won and put an innocent precious soul to death. Not just death, but the cruel and tortuous death on a Roman cross. Why were they so determine to do away with Him?

There had been an earthquake and the sun refused to let go of its light.  Darkness took over the land like a thick wet smothering blanket.  Everything seemed out of place. It was frightening.  The large curtain in the temple had been ripped from top to bottom by some unseen hands. There were even reports of people, considered saints,  coming out of their graves and appearing to many in the city! (Matthew 27: 51-53)

My personal disappointment because made me weak. I have a lot to lose. I believed everything He said and was amazed at His great miracles and works of kindness. We thought him to be the Messiah prophesied by many of the prophets hundreds of years ago.  He was going to set up his kingdom and deliver the Jews from the iron rule of Rome.   He was the coming king upon which I hung all my hopes.   But, it seemed like he did not want the office of king.  I had left everything to follow him and learn his teachings, but all this seemed to come to nothing on that Friday afternoon when He died.

Now only doubt, sadness, and breath-taking disappointment draped themselves on Cleopas and me. My head is spinning with confusion.  I  want an explanation, but the reality of possible deception by this Nazarene was creeping into my thoughts and it made me feel sick and foolish.  On top of everything else, the body of Jesus is missing!  The women said He was alive, confirmed by a couple of other disciples, but I know better.  It is just wishful thinking on their part. No one could have survived the beating, the nails, the loss of blood, and finally the sharp sword in the side.  I saw it and refuse to believe anything but what my eyes can confirm. There was no mistaking… the vision of so much blood and the pale appearance of death was real and convincing.

We are on our way to Emmaus to start over;  a walk of about 8 miles.  It will take me the usual 3 1/2 hours or so to walk…maybe longer today because of our conversation and a heavy heart. This dusty walk will give us plenty of time to try to put all the pieces together….to try to understand and make sense of everything and to decide what to do with the rest of our lives. My clothes are now those of the common person.  I have removed my garments worn by the other Sadducees. My self-identification is stuck between tradition and my disappointment.

All of a sudden, and unexpected, a stranger walks up from behind and joins us. He scared us a little then  he asks,

“Why are you so sad and what are you discussing?”

I find these two questions odd in the light of the excitement and well-known events of the weekend. Slightly agitated and amazed Cleopas speaks before I can open my mouth and he answers the question with a question.  He throws in some sarcasm for good measure.

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem that does not know the things which happened there this last few days?”

 I am even more amazed when the stranger asks,

“What things?”

In disbelief, we began to explain to the stranger the events of the last few days.  Reviewing everything does not help my mental and spiritual pain. We rush through what we saw as a courtesy to the stranger.

“These things concern Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people .  The chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.  Indeed, besides all this today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  Then they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Luke 24: 19-24

Then the stranger calls Cleopas and me “foolish ones” and that we are “slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken”  This is certainly not so! I have always believed the prophets.  I have come from a family who believes in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and I have read it often.  The prophets said, that the Messiah would come and deliver Israel from its enemies.

But the stranger began to recite the writings of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy) and all the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Malachi, etc)  of the Tanakh and explain things I had missed before.

The stranger clearly points out passages that were references to Jesus.  For the next 3 hours, I am amazed at the knowledge and clarity of the stranger’s words.  As I listened to him recite our ancient books, I begin to see that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the sins of the world, but that He would be raised up the third day!  How had I missed that?  Why had we not believed Jesus when he said it was necessary for him to die and that he would rise again?  

It was like I had been reading the scripture the way I wanted it to read instead of letting it talk to me!  Indeed, we felt foolish but encouraged by the words of the stranger.  My heart burned within me!  I wanted to hear more!  This was all exciting and new to me!  Hope was starting to spring up in my heart! What if Jesus really was alive again?

As we near the village, the day is in its final hours. it is getting darker. I don’t want the stranger to go and I look for excuses for him to stay the night so we can hear more. Thankfully, He agrees to have supper with us.

As He breaks the bread, I recognize those hands and the manner in which he breaks it!  I finally look across the table into his eyes about the same time as Cleopas.  

It is Jesus!  

As soon as we recognize him, he disappears!  We had been talking to Jesus the whole time and we didn’t recognize him!

With intense excitement and joy, Cleopas and I jump up and run the 8 miles back to Jerusalem in the dark!   We must tell the others who were behind closed doors…those who share our confusion and disappointment.  When we arrive,  we find them huddled in a group in fear and disappointment.  Out of breath, we begin to tell them what had happened over the last several hours.  As we are telling them, Jesus appears in the room!

Everyone jumps back.  They think they are seeing a spirit, but Jesus tells them it is Him and that He is not a spirit. To prove it, He invites them to touch Him and He asks for something to eat.  They give Him some fish and some honeycomb.  After everyone settles down and the scales of their eyes begin to fall away, Jesus repeats the same type of study Cleopas and I heard on the road to Emmaus.  This time, He uses the entire Tanakh including the Psalms to explain how He is found all through scripture. All the disciples begin to understand that He had to die, but that He would rise on the third day.  How could we have been so slow to understand?  It was right there!

Then He said to us,

“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.  that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.  And He opened our understanding that we might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Now I understand! He is alive! It is right there in the scripture that He must teach us, die for us, and then rise up for us! He is all about us. We now must be all about Him!

The only disciple not with us is Thomas.  The disappointment of the cross was too much for him.  We have not seen him since Friday.  It will be 8 days before Thomas shows up…

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 Next, we will take a look at Jesus through the eyes of one who is a well-known doubter (Thomas) and attempt to understand why the resurrection of Jesus is an absolute cornerstone of the Christian faith. In fact, without it, Paul says we are most pitiful of all men (1 Corinthians 15: 12-19). But, after we see through the eyes of Thomas we will exclaim as he did:

“My Lord and My God.”  John 20:28 

A Week Before The Resurrection

DAY 6 AND 7-THE WEEK BEFORE THE RESURRECTION-DISCOURAGEMENT

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“For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet” Psalm 22:16

This all happened between the 6th and 9th hour (12:00 PM and 3:00 PM) on a Friday before the Sabbath began.

Based on Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15: 21-47, Luke 23: 27-56, John 19:17-42

As a member of the religious class and a Sadducee, I am allowed to be within feet of the crucifixion.  The mother of Jesus, her sister (also named Mary), and the wife of Clopas (a third Mary)  (also known at Salome) are restricted as to how near to Jesus they could stand.  With them are the only two male disciples (James and John) that had not run away.

As the crowd and the three scheduled for crucifixion stumble to the place where they will die a horrible death, the soldiers began to move people back and proceeded to methodically lay the two criminals on the cross and lift them up for all to see. Then they came to Jesus.  Putting him last is designed to make him suffer the thought a little longer and that he will follow a similar fate.  It is like watching your family killed before it happens to you.

The soldiers are very rough.  They strip off the seamless tunic and his other outer garments.  The executioners had been careful to avoid damage to even one thread of the tunic because it is a very nice garment.  Later, the soldiers would gamble for its ownership.  Jesus is striped down to nothing but a small cloth around his mid-section.  They want to disgrace him and cause great suffering.  He is shoved violently onto the wooden cross.  His weakness prohibits his arms from catching  Him or breaking his fall.  So He falls down with a thud right on top of the cross face down in the dust.  His face is so marred and scratched! He was already bruised and swollen from the merciless beatings. The crown of thorns is so deeply embedded in His skin! They have become part of His head!

The soldiers rudely and cruelly flip Jesus over quickly.  They are surprised when Jesus does not fight them nor curse.  Each of them pause as Jesus stretches out his hands and places his palms up at the exact spot where they will nail them to the rough wooden cross!  The nail bag tingled with the sound of cold iron as one of the soldiers reaches in to take out the first long spike.  He pricks his finger on the sharp tip of one of them and curses as he pulls out the first spike. He feels only a microscopic amount of pain that Jesus must be feeling. Next,  the soldier places the nail in the fleshy center of his palm. This palm has done nothing but brings healing and blessing to so many people! The soldier draws back the heavy wooden mallet and swings hard to the large nail head.  It is driven through the skin, dodging bone and piercing muscle before entering the wood to cut the lovely hands of Jesus used only to bless, heal, and soothe.

The routine is repeated on the other hand. I hear Jesus praying for these men by their names!  The look at him in wonder and amazement!  But, they shake it off and bring his feet together.  An especially long spike is driven through both feet and on to the small platform, which will bear most of the weight of Jesus’ body.

Jesus moans, but does not let out any cry for mercy. The soldiers pick it up from the top part of the cross, where Jesus head rests, and walk it into the hole.  it quickly falls to its final resting place with a thud.  As it hits bottom, cries from the crowd can be heard. It was as if each person felt the ripping pain.

The women weep and bow their heads!  They are then allowed to move closer.  They ignore me and look up into the bleeding face of Jesus!  How long can He last?  What will become of Him, His family, and His followers?  At this point no one knows.

The soldiers begin to drink and gamble.  It is not long before the alcohol kicks in and Jesus seamless tunic is thrown into the dirt for the prize of casting lots.  The other garments are made into four parts before the gambling begins.  They are like dogs!  So are the religious leaders who are consumed by the spirit of hatred for Jesus.  They curse Him and tempt Him.

” “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 

The religious leaders are still angry over the fact that Pilate had placed a sign over Jesus’ head in the three languages:  Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Even the robbers are reviling him!  Finally, one of them has a change of heart and rebukes the other robber,

 “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 

I think I actually saw Jesus smile when the thief said this!  It was the only encouraging words He has heard all day. Jesus turns, the best  He can, and looks at the repentant man who wants to be remembered.  Jesus confirms his request. Jesus looks at him and says,

“I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”  

While there seemed no hope, Jesus was promising him on this day of pain and grief that he would be with Jesus in Paradise when He comes into His kingdom. That is the day, when He comes, the thief will experience the gift of eternal life.

There are no more encouraging words for the remainder of the day.  Many people walked by and wagged their heads repeating the words of the priests,

“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

The wind begins to pick up and the sky starts to turn dark.  Jesus appears to be fading. He is suspended between heaven and earth with no comfort from anyone.  It seems the mental anguish of loneliness and the sin of us all is hurting him more than the nails.  He is suffering greatly as the sun refuses to shine and the clouds gather as if they planned to attack everyone around the hill.  There is a low rumble as the earth begins to shake lightly as first.

Then Jesus cries out for the first time.  He says in Hebrew,

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

The Jews think he was calling for Elijah. But this made no sense.  Why would he call for Elijah if He is the Son of God.  Would He not call for his heavenly Father? Then, in a pitiful cry he yells out,

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

The soldiers put a sponge on the top of a stick soaked in a mind-numbing liquid to bring some relief, but after He tasted it (He is expecting water), he spits it out and denies it.

The rumble is now louder. We are having a major earthquake. The wind is turning into a massive storm.  Jesus cries out something else to the heavens loudly and then he drops his head and dies.

Word has come up from the religious leaders to break the legs of those on the cross to hurry the appointment with death. The Sabbath is about to begin and they don’t want the bodies on the cross.  They will need to take them down to avoid defiling its hours. What hypocrisy!

The thieves legs are immediately slammed with a heavy large mallet.  Within seconds they die because they can not lift up on their legs to get a breath.  So they smoother from their own weight.

When they come to Jesus, one of the soldiers draws back the mallet, but the other says, “Wait! He is already dead!”  But, to be sure, one of them brings out a sword and pushes it into the side of Jesus.  Out of His side flows water and blood all over the soldier.  He stands transfixed and bewildered.  He seems to be melting in the liquid that is spilled on him.  He bows his head and cries out loud for mercy!

Then I remember!  The scripture says that His bones would not be broken and that He would be pierced.  Thank God for the prophecies of the Tanakh!  They do speak of Jesus!

 “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Psalms 34:20, Zechariah 12:10

Now the storm rises even more and the earthquake hits us hard and violently.  Many are knocked to the ground.  Later, I will hear from the fearful religious leaders that the massive curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the temple has been perfectly torn in half from top to bottom.  It is if some unknown powerful hand  ripped the curtain, which  separated priest and sinner from the presence of God.  This room (The Most Holy Place) was visited only once a year on the day of Atonement and only by a high priest.  Now, everyone could look into this sacred spot!  The Spirit of God has departed!

As I watch all this events, a centurion cries out what I am thinking and feeling in my heart,

“Truly this was the Son of God.”

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I race back into Jerusalem, with a choking mixture of emotion (disgust, fear, anger, and a tinge of hope).  The city is in an uproar and commotion!  Fear is etched on the faces of the people as if they are waiting for judgment and eternal death. The sacrificial animals have all escaped and fled.  There are cracks in the rock pavements and the buildings.  It is like God is angry.  Many of the people begin to pray for mercy thinking they will be destroyed like Sodom.

The most incredible thing I saw were the people who had died and buried walking the streets talking of the love of God and His son Jesus.  These people were known for their righteousness and closeness to God. Many of the priests who only hours before had been cursing Jesus were now falling to their knees screaming for forgiveness and mercy.

I have never seen anything like this!  I manage to find the disciples who had found each other.  They are in a small room gathered in the same fear, I saw in the faces of the people on the streets.  They are terrified of many things including the same fate as Jesus.  What will we do?  Our leader has died!  They have killed the Son of God!

When things settled down, I was drawn back to Jesus on the cross. Later as the beginning of the Sabbath drew near, a man named Joseph takes down the body of Jesus from the cross.  I help him and feel the lifeless cold body of Jesus as we pry out the nails from the wood and flesh and slowly lower His body by a rope.  Pilate has been given him permission to bury Jesus in a tomb owned by Joseph and his family.

We are accompanied by soldiers who will guard the tomb.  The unconverted and cold religious leaders know that Jesus promised to rise on the third day.  It is ironic, but Jesus followers have forgotten this or simply refuse to believe it is possible.  I feel the same as they do.

As we wrap the body of Jesus in a clean cloth, the women observe the body and decide to rest according to the Sabbath. Anyway, they are tired and it is now dark.  They will return when it is light in the morning on the 1st day of the week to prepare his body with burial spices.

Image result for images of the Jesus being let down from cross

That night and the entire next day (Sabbath), there is nothing to report.  All his disciples, including myself, quietly talk about Jesus.  They try to bring comfort to each other despite knowing they will never see Him again.  Thomas is not with us.  He is so disappointed and discouraged that He goes to his own home to rest and think.  He has always been the doubting type and all this seems to confirm his skepticism.  He is likely to never be the same.

As I rest my head for the night on the 7th day, I determine to rise early on the first day of the week to travel to Emmaus with one of the other disciples called Cleopas. But, before I go, I will change my clothes.  The robe I have always worn as a Sadducee no longer seems appropriate for me.  I will change into something clean and simple. I no longer desire to be a “religious leader.”

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A Week Before The Resurrection

A Night to Remember Forever…

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“And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled…Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death. Matthew 26:  57, 59

Based on Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 18, and Isaiah 53:7

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Yesterday as the sun was setting on the Mount of Olives, Jesus came and looked directly at me saying  in the hearing of the disciples:

“As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

Over the last few days, I have known Him to be truthful and wise, so I am left speechless and blurt out words before I can think,

“Jesus, I will follow you.  What can I do to help you?”

His smile and the gentle look in His eyes responded in a small unspoken voice telling me to be strong and trust.

My heart was beating wildly as I asked Him, “Help me,”  I felt, with hard certainty things were about to change for Him, His followers, and me.

We spent the evening at the house of Simon the Leper. I watched as a woman anointed Jesus by lightly pouring expensive perfume on His head. She performs the ritual quietly like a woman preparing Him for burial. The disciples, much like the religious leaders would do, complain that “the money could have been used to feed the poor,” but Jesus told them,

“Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

This is why I have come to love Jesus.  He cares for people and defends them especially if they are doing something for the kingdom of God.

When everyone leaves Simon’s house, I part company with Jesus and His disciples as they go to an unknown spot for supper.  I feel that I am an intruder, so I go away to give them time alone with each other.

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Day 5

It is late on the 5th day of the week.  But as the sun sets, it becomes the 6th day aka the Preparation day. You Gentiles refer to it as Friday.

 The temple is busy and loud.  Every religious leader in the city of Jerusalem is here talking with passion in small groups.  Just as I enter, Caiaphas raises his voice to bring order to the meeting. It doesn’t take long for me to understand why everyone is present.  They are devising a plan to take Jesus by force and kill Him!

He has done only good for the people.  He has healed them all! I have listened closely to His words and his teaching. I am convinced He is all He claims to be! He is our Messiah!

Everything that comes from the mouth of Jesus has both the ring of truth and the support of scripture.  His words cut to my heart and I am slain by them.  My sins rise up before me. I desire relief from the guilt and the agony of restlessness.  Yesterday, as I had a short conversation with Him directly, I felt the burdens of my life lifted.  He had forgiven me and told me to walk in a life as a servant.  It is taking some time for me to become accustomed to this new feeling of freedom.

Now I want to work for Him in spreading the message of the Kingdom of God. It is so strange that earlier in the week, all I could think about was making money off the people during the Passover.  Now, it is of no consequence to me.  I only want to serve Jesus in some capacity.  I hope to talk with Him again tonight.  It is my understanding He will be in the garden later.

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Before I can say a word at the meeting, the Scribes and Pharisees along with the chief priests come up with a couple of dubious witnesses who claim Jesus will destroy the temple.  I am terribly surprised to see one of Jesus’ disciples at this meeting as well.  I think they call him Judas.  In a flash, the mob assembles and heads out to the garden where Judas claims Jesus regularly spends time in prayer.

Why is Judas doing this?  What is his reasoning?  Does He not know what these insane men will do to Jesus? This is a mystery to me, but I follow to see if I will have the opportunity to influence these men back to their senses. It seems as though an evil power has entered their emotions for there is no intelligence at work only pure evil that seems to come from Satan himself!

When we arrive at the garden, Judas walks up to Jesus to give him the kiss he promised the religious leaders in order to identify Jesus.  Much like a line-up in a criminal case where the accused is selected from among others. But, Jesus appeals to Judas with these words:

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Jesus’ words are with kindness, pity, and understanding. It is as if Jesus is giving Judas a chance to repent.  Jesus’ words cause Judas to back up and stare at Him for a moment. Judas has an expression of deep thought and decision.  I think Judas, at that moment, realized he had made a devastating mistake,  and sadly, chose to run away sobbing hysterically. His opportunity for confession and repentance had gone as fast as he left the scene.

About that same time, Peter drew his sword and swung wildly at the closest person near him which turned out to be the servant of the high priest.  The servant tried to duck.  Otherwise, Peter would have taken off his head!  Instead, he nicked an ear and sliced it off!  What a grisly scene!

But, Jesus slowly knelt down picked up the ear and placed it back on the servant”s head!  What kind of man is this, that He has power over life and healing?  This should have stopped the mob, but they were under the influence of their evil leader.  Just before they take him, a bright light comes from Jesus and they fall back.  When the light diminishes, they are like blind men and Jesus says,

“Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

By the evidence of the scene, Jesus could have escaped, but he was willingly giving himself to “the power of darkness.”

As the mob takes Him to the high priest’s house, I can see Peter in the distance following us.  He seems afraid, but curious at the same time.

The rest of the night goes fast. It is as if they are in a hurry to find the right authority to support their murderous scheme. First, we are the house of the high priest.  It was here where I see Peter with a small group outside.  He is talking to someone and then I hear him swearing.  Very clearly and loudly he says,

“I do NOT know the man!”

As soon as he says this, a rooster in the distance crows welcoming the rising of the early morning sun on the day of preparation.  This immediately catches the attention of Peter.  He rises up from the warmth of the fire and begins to tremble as Jesus turns his head from inside the house and looks with compassion at Peter.  Peter begins to weep hysterically as did Judas and he runs away too. I could see in Peter’s face the agony of failure and remorse resting upon weary shoulders.  I would learn later, the Lord had told Peter he would deny Him three times!  Peter’s passion for Jesus was overtaken by fear at that moment and he was ashamed, no doubt. I am not sure what will become of him and the disciples.  This does not look good for the kingdom of which Jesus spoke. But, then I remember His words…He will be crucified!

The sun is taking its time casting its light on the dreadful scenes before my eyes.

The high priest said to him,

“I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jesus responds,

“You have said so,”Jesus replied.“But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

Those who were retaining Jesus began to beat Him and spit in his face!  They even blindfold Him and mock his ability to prophesy.

They shout at Him,

“Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

It was a disgusting sight!  I no longer want any part of this or these men!

The charge of blasphemy is added to the threat to the destruction of the Temple. But, I see in Jesus truth and royalty that is a deep contrast to the evil of these men in their fancy robes. Like animals, they only want to kill him. Although Jesus is beaten and bloodied, He stands erect and seems to be the only person who is in control.  I detect that He is permitting this to happen for some reason.  At this point, I just don’t understand the evil that is in this room and the non-action of Jesus to allow them to do this to Him! Then the words of the prophet come back to me:

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

We next go to Pontius Pilate.  Here they try to claim that Jesus teaches to ignore the payment of taxes to Caesar.  But, instead, he asks Jesus,

“Are you the King of the Jews?”

Without hesitation, Jesus responds,

“It is as you say.”

Pilate can find no fault in Jesus and because Jesus is a Galilean, he sends Him to Herod who has the proper jurisdiction. Pilate is such a mouse and weak ruler. He could have let Jesus go, but he desires the popularity of the people.

It is here where Herod underestimates the working of evil.  He figures there will be pity on Jesus if He is flogged and if he gives the people the option to release a known criminal.  But, the crowd calls for the crucifixion of Jesus.  It is as though the evil one himself is walking and talking to the crowd encouraging them to have no mercy on the Son of God!

The sun is far in the sky now.  I am tired and overwhelmed by what I am seeing and hearing. Has the world gone mad?

I have been up all night and the day is just starting.  What happens next is unbelievable, but it must be told.