Matthew 27: 45-66 (CEV) gives the following account of the death of Jesus.
47 Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”[h] 48 One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus.
49 Others said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah will come[i] and save him.” 50 Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died.
51 At once the curtain in the temple[j] was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. 52 Graves opened, and many of God’s people were raised to life. 53 Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people.
54 The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”
55 Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. 56 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John[k] were some of these women.
57 That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea 58 went and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, 59 who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60 Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock[l] and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away.
61 All this time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.
62 On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. 64 So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don’t, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one.”[m]
65 Pilate said to them, “All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how.” 66 So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.
As you read through this passage, what do you feel? Do you feel anything? I personally find myself wondering, how did Jesus' mother feel? After all, she watched her son be brutally tortured and murdered for crimes he didn't commit.
What about Peter? After watching Jesus' punishment, he distanced himself from his Lord. He said he didn't know him -- not once, but three times. How did he feel after that? Did he suffer immense guilt? Was he surprised at Jesus knowledge he would deny Him?
Mary Magdalene? Here was a man who accepted her just as she was -- imagine the grief of losing someone who loved you unconditionally.
What about the other apostles? Did they hide? Were they scared? Saddened? Upset they didn't fight for him?
And so, Good Friday is a time of reflection. A time to think about how Christ suffered for us. He died so that we could live. He did not condemn us; yet, he was condemned. It is a cruel irony.
Christians around the world mourn. Good Friday is a day leading up to one of the holiest days in the Christian faith. So, as Easter approaches, think about Jesus. What does his death mean to you? Let the enormity of His sacrifice stir in your heart. Feel the pain of those closest to Him. He was a living, breathing person who died for us. His crime? Nothing. He just happened to be the Son of God, born for one sole purpose -- to save the world.
"In Christ Alone" by Adrienne Liesching and Geoff Moore
https://youtu.be/PlZGRydoUpQ
Jesus gave his life to save US!!!!!! The very least we can do is LOVE HIM as our Savior and seek to walk in his shoes every day of our lives!!!! Praise be to GOD!
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