As you slept last night….

Thursday night of the Passover week is riddled with irony: Jesus is kissed in the Garden by a one of his disciples (Luke 22:47-48), He is taken to Annas, the former high priest (John 18:13), Jesus, the King of the Jews, is then bound and delivered to Caiaphas – the reigning high priest who happens to be Annas son-in-law (wink,wink). Jesus is then taken before the Sanhedrin, a group of top ranking religious leaders who were modeled after a council of elders that Moses convened to administer justice to keep Israel pure before their God (see Numbers 11:16). Jesus, the son of God, bound by man – a creation of God. The entire series of events leads us into “Good Friday.” Like I said, irony.

Jesus looks powerless through the events of the entire night. He looks like a man broken or caught depending on which side you are on. However, throughout the ordeal Jesus reminds us that the image he is portraying is submission to the plan, not weakness to act. We see this clearly when Peter is told by Jesus during His arrest in the garden that he had at his disposal “twelve legions of angels” (see Matt. 26:52-54) to immediately take control of the situation. Jesus indicates there is something greater being accomplished here – the scriptures had to be fulfilled. Jesus was being driven by submission to the Father’s plan to bring hope to mankind, not self-protection or comfort to himself. It is interesting to note that a legion was comprised of 6,000 soldiers. Twelve angelic legions would be 72,000 angels! In 2 Kings 19:35 we read of one angel killing 185,000 men in Sennacherib’s army in one night! Powerless? I don’t think so. Jesus was playing a part and this is the way it had to be done; It was the will of the Father.

Good Friday?

In the morning, after the trial and initial beating by the religious “leaders,” Jesus is taken to a civil trial in front of Pilate. Pilate is the Roman govenor who was in Jerusalem due to the swell in population at the Passover feast. Pilate is charged with keeping the peace in this province. He treats Jesus like a hot-potato and passes Jesus to Herod Antipas – an Edumean, a descendent of Esau, the brother of Jacob (i.e. Israel). He then hands Jesus back to Pilate who surrenders to the will of the people. Pilate washes his hands of Jesus’ fate.

Good Friday?

Jesus is paraded through the streets, after being beaten… again, and is taken to a hill outside of Jerusalem. Jesus is nailed to a cross which is then dropped into a hole in the ground. Jesus will hang on this cross and ask the Father to forgive those who have put him there. He doesn’t call down insults or try to convince people of who He really is. Jesus simply does what He has always done – He reaches out to a criminal who hangs on a cross next to Him.

Good Friday? Yes.