A bad Friday is a Good Friday

Jesus is falsely accused.

Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

Jesus answers a question honestly.

So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The leader, Pilate, believes Jesus.

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

But the crowd pressures.

But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.  

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

Herod questions a silent Jesus at length.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

Herod and leaders mistreat Jesus and send him back to Pilate.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

The enemies, Herod and Pilate, suddenly become friends.

That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

Pilate still says Jesus is innocent, and Herod agrees!

Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

The crowd goes wild again.

But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate tries to reason with the crowd.

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.

Pilate tires.

So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.he Crucifixion

Jesus heads to the cross.

As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

Jesus continues to teach the crowds with a cross on His back.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Jesus is treated as a common criminal.

Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

Jesus asks God to forgive disrespectful, mocking, sneering people. 

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Jesus teaches criminals while hanging on the cross. 

One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

And in what looked like a mess, Jesus died for our sins.

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

Luke 23:1-46 BSB

The message of Good Friday:

• God is always in control. The weak, evil and ignorant behavior of leaders and the masses played right into God’s hands and His rescue plan for humankind. May you and I never forget His control of all details. 
  
• Jesus was about God’s business until He took His dying breath. May you and I live and die that same way.
• Sin needs to be paid for. Are we going to pay our sin debt, or let Jesus pay for us?

Picture Explanation: Today is only for the cross.

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