Today is Good Friday, and I believe it to be a solemn day, but also one for having a grateful spirit. So, in contemplating what I could write today, I wanted to say something that would give meaning to the sacrifice that Jesus made so that we could have eternal life. I finally decided that the scripture in John 19:17-30 said it best, and I am reprinting here for you:
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[b] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.May God Bless you this Easter season!
Scripture is alive and brings life to our spirits! Thank you for sharing these verses. Even though it's after Easter, they reminded me of the awesome sacrifice Jesus made for us.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you remember me. We met at Pennys in the jewelry department. You helped my husband and I choose a cross necklace for our niece. We talked about writing. I was encouraged by what you said.
I'm in your web site for the first time and am very impressed with your post about shame. I too, struggle with this and have also learned to tell the voices to go back to hell where they belong! When we talked at Pennys I observed you are an energenic, "go-getter" person who will achieve whatever you set out to do. You were so excited about writing, I caught the fever too! I look forward to reading more posts from you. Thanks for sharing!