In summary, Jesus was seized from the garden of Gethsemane whilst praying with his disciples against his imminent death. Led by Judas Iscariot with a kiss to identify him for payment of thirty pieces of silver, Jesus was bound and taken to Pilate, scourged and handed back to his accusers. Jesus’ accusers included the chief priest, religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees, and an engaged mob. Jesus was led to his crucifixion amidst intense forms of mockery and humiliation. He was nailed to the cross till he died and his body released for burial in the tomb of Joseph or Arimathea.
Good Friday is one of the most important and celebrated events on the Christian calendar all over the world. Literally, it is a day when Christians remember the death of Christ Jesus on the cross. The account of Jesus’ crucifixion is recorded in Matthew 26: 36-75; Matthew 27: 1-61; Mark 14: 32-72; 15: 1-47; Luke 22: 39-71; 23: 1-53; and John 18: 1-40; 19: 1-38. Jesus was said to have three types of offenses, namely blasphemy; violating Moses’ Law; and subtly but remotely confrontational conduct.
Blasphemy
Jesus was accused of saying he was the Son of God, Matthew 26: 63-65. He said he will be seated at the right hand of God, Mark 14: 62-64. He forgave sins, Mark 2: 5-7. He had made himself God, John 10: 33. He said he came from God, John 7: 29-30. He said he and the Father are one, John 10: 30-33. He had said he would destroy and build the temple in three days, Matthew 26: 61; 27: 40; Mark 14: 58; 15: 29; John 2: 19-20. The alleged blasphemy was founded on lies.
The Jews understood their religious laws to mean only God could forgive sins so Jesus had equated himself to God when he forgave sin almost at every healing. He said he was one with God. He said he came from God. He said he worked with God’s authority. He said he spoke from God and will sit at God’s right hand. To them God was Holy so Jesus who was a mere carpenter’s son and known to associate with sinners and tax collectors could not come from God. These accusations have continued to date.
Misconceptions about Jesus
By cloak of priesthood and lineage from Abraham, the Jews assumed righteousness, hence none could surpass them. Jesus said in Luke 3:8, bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Jesus’ accusers did not understand Jesus’ divinity though John the Baptist had long preached to them about it, hence the alleged blasphemy attributed to Christ Jesus.
In Matthew 3: 5-6 John said for this he was spoken by the prophet Isaiah when he said, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John who knew Jesus’ divinity said in John 3:30 he must increase but I must decrease. John said in Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus’ accusers did not also understand Jesus’ mission. Jesus said in Luke 5:32 I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. So, the notion that Jesus was to shun sinners was misconceived. They further misunderstood the temple which Jesus referred to in John 2: 19 saying destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2: 21 says but he spoke of the temple of his body. Referring to temple, 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 say, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? Again, 2 Corinthians 6: 16 says what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jesus’ accusers knew what he meant gleaning from his statements including Mark 9: 31 which said the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise. However, they were determined to misconceive the statement to fit into their narrative and agenda to kill Jesus as they had long wished. Matthew 26: 3-4 say then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
Man’s calculated spite
We are all equally guilty of twisting God’s word and statements of those we disagree with. We attribute statements to others which they have not made. We defend lies about them as truth and truth as lies. We plot directly or indirectly against God. We wish people dead or some evil without just cause. We colour evil as good and good as evil. We do evil for our selfish benefits under the cloak of religion or God. We place wealth, money, power or fame above God’s will; and greed above integrity, conscience and justice. Dishonesty wins the day at the mercy of wickedness. Intended mischief or misconceptions obstruct God’s intervention in our lives.
Genesis 6:5 says the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Jesus said in Matthew 23:27 woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white washed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 15:8-9; Mark 7:7 says these people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Acts 23:3 says God shall strike you, you white washed wall. We must be truthful in our dealing before God.
Why Christ Jesus died
Jesus died for us so we will be free from the bondage of Satan and evil such as what Jesus suffered. Matthew 27: 4-5 say Judas said I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. The people said what is that to us? See to it yourself. And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. The money could not save Judas. Rather, his accomplices denied him as a traitor. Evil has no peaceful end or inner joy so Jesus died for us to avert a disastrous end.
Jesus’ blood has established an eternal covenant of redemption for us. He bore our shame, afflictions and atrocities on the cross so we might be free. Jesus was not ashamed nor afraid to die for us. He loved us till death on the cross when he said in John 19:30 it is finished. We blaspheme God and his holy Son Christ Jesus if we patronize evil and ungodliness. Are we ready to also die for Jesus Christ in truth, holiness, love and righteousness as he did for us on the cross?
Prayer
Merciful Lord Jesus Christ, we have also plotted against you by our utterances and deeds in many ways. We are sorry for our premeditated misconceptions against the truth. Please set us free from sin and heal our sins, body and soul in your blood today. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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