Passion Week Devotions 2021 – Friday

We all know what happened on Friday, but let’s take a closer look.  Friday (Thursday evening) begins with Judas betraying Jesus and handing him over to the Jewish leaders.  This beloved disciple betrayed Jesus with the kiss of a friend.  Jesus is arrested and taken into custody to be tried for his alleged crimes.  During his trial, what stands out is Jesus’ silence before his accusers.  There were false testimonies spoken against him, but he didn’t speak a word.  This reminds us of what Isaiah wrote,

“53:7    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,”

They accused him of uttering blasphemies and struck him in the face.  To them, that was enough evidence to sentence him to death.  They handed him over to the guards who also beat him.  Others, while blindfolding him, beat him and mocked him asking, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”  While all this was happening, we see Peter following Jesus at a distance, when he’s confronted three different times.  He’s asked if he is one of Jesus’ followers, which he vehemently denies.  Once the rooster crows, Peter becomes aware of his grave sin, he goes out and weeps bitterly. 

All of this happened through the night, but now it is Friday morning, and the leaders have their final meeting where they decide to hand Jesus over to Pilate.  Pilate conducts his investigation and finds no basis in the charges.  He hands Jesus over to Herod, but soon after, Herod hands Jesus back over to Pilate where he is condemned to die.  Here we see how spineless Pilate was.  He recognized that Jesus was innocent, but he’s a crowd pleaser -- a true politician, and so he gave the people what they wanted.  He has Jesus crucified in exchange for the release of an insurrectionist named Barabbas.  Surprisingly, the crowds would rather see Jesus, not Barabbas, crucified.  Jesus is forced to carry the cross beam to the site of his execution, and there, he is crucified.  From 9am-3pm Jesus hung on the cross, suffering in agonizing physical pain, culminating in excruciating emotional and spiritual pain, when he experienced the abandonment of his Father.  After his death, he is taken off the cross, embalmed and buried in a known tomb.  (I have left out far too many details that would have made this devotion too long.)

Reflection:

Why did Jesus die on the cross?  He died as a substitute; he died in our place.  Why?  Because sin requires death before a holy God.  The just punishment for our sins is eternal death.  Jesus died for sinners; he died for us.  He died to give his life as a ransom, that is, a payment for our sins.  By his death, the penalty for our sins have been paid.  We can lay claim to this priceless benefit if we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus and what he did for us on that fateful Friday.  If you’ve never trusted in him, trust in him now, receive him as your Saviour.  For those who have already trusted in him, deepen your trust in him; strengthen your trust in him.  How?  By going back to the cross.  Thank God for the gift of his Son; worship and adore him. Bow before him; give your life to him.