“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.” Luke 22:54-56 NIV
“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.” Mark 15:1-5 NIV
“Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:15 NIV
“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.” Matthew 27:27-31 NIV
Father,
Reading through the Bible, I have reached Jesus arrest, betrayal, abandonment and suffering on the day we give thanks and remember all those who died in two world wars and on active service. They changed history fighting on land, sea and in the air. And I am grateful and thankful to You that You helped them. But Jesus changed history. We celebrate Easter all nice and happy and family. Do we Celebrate false trial, torture and termination.? Better to pass over quickly the gory parts and celebrate the resurrection.
We do sing in lots of songs about your death but we prefer to put an ‘l’ in it and change the gory to glory. Not glory in the gruesomeness but glory in Your victory for us. That is not wrong. Bit it is to our shame that man put You to death and You had to suffer horrendously before it came.
You do know our suffering. Not being able to end the pain of those who loved You, standing around the cross. Your earthly family and friends. While undergoing such physical pain. You know what it is to hope those left behind will be faithful and find hope and a future. What it is to not be able to solve everything in the here and now.
It is good to pause and see what happened between the garden of Gethsemane and the crucifixion. Jesus character, revealing You, our God. A God who would suffer for our sin, Remain silent in the face of lies, Knowing the truth was not believed. Willing to suffer on our behalf when even His own disciples deserted Him.
We know by the news of today that mankind has not changed. War, cruelty and greed. And yet, and yet neither have You. You still seek out the sinner wanting a Saviour. You still accept back those who have denied You. You still forgive the dying thief who asks You to remember him. And You still love me just as I am. It is a wonder, amazing and overwhelming.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Tuesday 11th November 2024
For me the traditional melody fits the words perfectly. It does not rush or go to slow and the words and harmonies touch the heart as they should. With a resounding last verse . . .
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count as loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ my God:
the very things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down:
when did such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all!
Lyrics: Isaac Watts