Friday, the day of all days!
Matthew 26:47-27:66, Mark 14:43-15:46, Luke 22:47-23:56, John 18:2-19:37
There’s a song I heard this week for the first time called ‘Thank you Jesus for the Blood’. Well, as we come together on this little place in the web, that’s what I want to say to Jesus today
Thank you for the blood.
There was a moment from the last supper that struck me for the first time yesterday. It was the part when Jesus handed out the bread and the wine and said “I have so longed to do this -” I could feel his emotion, as if he was saying, “Please, take this – It’s so special to me what I’m about to do for you.”
I call my young-adult sons my babies sometimes. They don’t mind, I’m silly. I call up the stairs to them sometimes: “My babies!” But in all seriousness with this last supper moment I can feel Jesus’ heart in the same way: We’re his babies. And of course he would do this for us because that’s who we are to him — His children.
On this Passover night, beginning in the Gethsemane garden, Jesus carried out the greatest act of parental love ever seen.
He physically fell over in that garden and sweated blood, so great was his distress.
He was betrayed by those he loved, his very children.
He was spat at in the face.
Blindfolded.
Slapped.
Mocked. Parodied.
Alone.
Ganged-up on.
Falsely testified against.
"We want Barabbas!!" Shout the crowd. "Release the murderer, Barabbas!!! Crucify Jesus, he is worse than that man!!
Scourged. Over and over and over.
Stripped naked.
Punctured with the crown of thorns.
Beaten on the head with a stick.
And then nailed …
Thirsty to the point of torment.
Hung in excruciating pain.
Blasphemed against.
“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Said Jesus; as if to say, "all is going according to plan."
THEN, THEN, THEN:
As he gave up his spirit in power the sheer awe of the moment showed itself. It was a moment like no other the world has ever seen. An earthquake hit, rocks were split, pitch-black darkness descended on the daytime and the veil in the temple tore violently from top to bottom.
Those watching began to tremble. What have we done? “Truly this was the Son of God”.
Quiet awe. Fear.
And centuries later, here in my little back-garden shed where I’m writing from, I know that because of those events I now have eternal life. What's more, that eternal life has already begun. I can be with him even now.
Mind. Blowing.
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