Good Friday Reflection
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30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
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.”
64 “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.”[e]
65 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. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Reflection after Reading Matthew 26:30, 36-46, 57, 62-67
Reflection 1: Matt 26:30, After the Last Supper, when they had sung a hymn they went to the Mount of Olives.
The place is Gethsemane, it's in the early hours of Friday morning when Jesus was arrested. Jerusalem is asleep.
Matthew 26:57, They took him to the high priest’s house. Caiaphas welcomes the teachers and elders who had hastily assembled. Imagine it was dim. The room is lit by orange flickering flames of oil lamps making shadows on the faces of the witnesses for the plaintiff. The room is crowded. Imagine the musty smells of sleepy men hastily dressed.
Caiaphas, Sits, powerful and presiding. The Sanhedrin is quorate. He waves for the trial to begin.
Jesus stands, bound with ropes, alone, expressionless.
Matthew 26:60 One by one the false witnesses move from the shadows to present false evidence and fake accusations.
Caiaphas has nothing to really sentence Jesus, so exasperated (v62) Caiaphas stands, now less powerful.
He asks the accused, ‘Are you not going to answer these charges?’
They have nothing on him and Jesus v63 staring at the High Priest is silent.
Caiaphas, now grasping at straws, asks ‘Tell us if you are the Messiah, the son of God?’
At this point, I want Jesus to be quiet, now is the time to say less, be silent, say nothing Jesus, they have nothing on you Jesus, just stare back, say ‘no comment.’
But now is his hour, now the prisoner speaks. Now that, humanly speaking he is a failure, bound fast, confined, weak - now is the time his divine strength is made perfect in his human weakness, now is the time that he chooses to say who he is.
To the question, ‘Tell us if you are the Messiah the son of God?’
Mark 14:62 records that he says, ‘ I am and you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.’
In his prime, at his peak of popularity as the world would assess it, as a renowned public speaker, healer and miracle worker – Jesus told them to tone it down. When Peter said you are the Christ (Matt 16:16). Jesus said ‘tell no one.’ It was not the time to speak of his glory. Peter James and John saw his transfiguration and Jesus told them to keep it quiet. It was not his hour. The world was looking for a hero and with news of those things he could have made it big.
But now stood accused and roped, now when the idea of a hero seems ridiculous, stood before the powerful, Jesus finally accepts the title ‘Christ’ referring to the prophet Daniel’s words in Daniel 7:13.
Look into his face as he stands in that assembly –humiliated, despised, alone, deserted, defeated – it is in this moment he finally answers the question ‘Are you the Christ?’
For the record, he says ‘I am,’ and then he speaks about the clouds of heaven far into the future. It is clear he is coming back.
But first, he must experience the cross, and we here today must experience the cross because resurrection is only real if his death was real. On the cross, the world's sin, our sin, condemned this sinless Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God's commandments and to live in love and peace with all.
Confession
Merciful God, For the things we have done which we regret, forgive us.
For the things which we have failed to do which we regret, forgive us.
For all the times we have acted without love, forgive us.
For all the times we have reacted without thought, forgive us.
For all the times we have withdrawn care, forgive us.
For all the times we have failed to forgive, forgive us.
For hurtful words said, and helpful words unsaid, for unfinished tasks and unfulfilled hopes.
God of all time, forgive us and help us to lay down our burdens of regret.
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. Amen.
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Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Reflection 2 After reading Matthew 27:11-31
Mark 15:1 tells us it was daybreak when they lead Jesus to pilot at the praetorium. The dawn of our Lord’s death day. Come in your imagination to the praetorium. He has been marched from the High priest’s house to Pilates headquarters. Jerusalem has not yet stirred. Dawn has just given way to day as Jesus, still bound, stands before Pilate (Matt 27:11). His face is sticky from the spit of his accusers and bruised and bloody from their blows at the high priest's assembly.
Pontius Pilate is the guardian of the death sentence – only Rome can give it. Blasphemy is a Capital offence.
The Imperial Magistrate asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus, gives an ambiguous answer, ‘You have said so.’
Then the Sanhedrin plaintiff speaks and Jesus falls silent. Pilot is amazed.
Pilot’s wife sends him a message – she has had a dream - Jesus is innocent.
Pilot angles for an innocent verdict Matt 27v23 ‘What crime has he committed?’
A single word is spoken over and over and louder and louder Crucify Crucify Crucify Crucify Crucify Crucify. It was an uproar v24.
Instead of declaring Jesus innocent Pilot declares himself innocent and washes his hands, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood.’
Let us pause to reflect as the song Lead me to the Cross is sung. (Songwriters: Brooke Gabrielle Fraser)
Saviour I come, quiet my soul, remember, Redemption's hill
Where Your blood was spilled, for my ransom,
Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost
[Chorus] Lead me to the cross, Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself, I belong to You
Oh, lead me, lead me to the cross
You were as I, Tempted and trialed, Human
The word became flesh, Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen
Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost
[Chorus] Lead me to the cross, Where Your love poured out….
[Bridge] To Your heart, To Your heart, Lead me to Your heart, Lead me to Your heart
[Chorus] Lead me to the cross, Where Your love poured out….
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As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
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.”[c] 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.”
The Death of Jesus
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.”[e] 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.
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The Burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[a] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Blessing:
May the truth of the cross and the power of Christ’s love move you and strengthen your heart in faith, in hardship and in ease, in life and in death, now and forever - and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be upon you - always. Amen.
