SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Good Friday; the most awful day, but also the most blessed in the life of the Christian Church, for Christ died a cruel, inhumane, unjust death on the cross so that our sins could be washed away. He was the only one that could do it, therefore, let’s praise and thank Him for sacrificing His innocent life for us unworthy sinners. ‘Oh Jesus, although we were not worthy, being exceedingly sinful, you still gave your life for us on that rugged cross, bore all our sins, shed your precious blood as a sacrificial lamb, so that we could return to a right relationship with the Father. For this we are eternally grateful and will always praise Your name. We will also try to walk as You walked while here on earth. We ask that you stand always beside us as we journey along life’s rough and rocky road, until we come to meet you at the end. We pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen.’ Oh my people, can you imagine the agony and true ‘sufferation’ that Jesus went through to save our worthless, sinful souls? I doubt it. I doubt that any of us can really comprehend the scourging, spitting, beating, taunting, mocking, jeering, the crown of thorns on His head, the poking and prodding, the spear to his side. And we won’t even consider the actual crucifixion for that’s too horrific for words. But that’s only the physical aspect. What about the emotional damage that such a belittling process can cause? What thorough humiliation. Mankind at their cruel best, which I doubt many of us have actually witnessed. And I don’t think we want to either. But it just goes to show what fear, anger and jealousy can do to a human being. We’re talking about the Jewish rulers who tried from the very beginning to get rid of Him because He was exposing them as frauds and hypocrites and lessening their hold over the people. Finally, after about three years they got their evil hands on Him. But Friends, little did they know that Jesus was here for a specific purpose and that their wicked intentions were an integral part of it. ”But for this cause came I unto this hour.’ (John 12:27) They were so blinded by pride, jealousy and a sense of their own importance, they never even considered the power of Jesus’ miracles, that possibly He could miraculously escape their evil clutches if He really wanted to. The same night they arrested Him, Peter cut off the ear of a servant and Jesus healed it with a simple touch. Wouldn’t that make a sensible person stop and think, especially if he knew that his actions were false and unjust? Obviously the Jewish leaders didn’t consider that possibility, their sole purpose was to put Him to death, and they would stop at nothing to protect their turf. They never realized that they were only able to arrest Him because He allowed it. As He said to Peter after He smote the servant. ‘Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?’ (John 18:17) Matthew’s version is slightly different and more explicit. ”Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?’ (Mat.26:52-54) The players in the drama did not realize that it had been scripted thus from the beginning of time, and the show must go on regardless. Jesus trial was such a farce with no credible witnesses and Jesus’ silence, which He broke only when the high priest brayed at Him in frustration: ‘I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.’ (Mat.26:63-64) This so enraged the high priest that he tore his clothes and decided those words were blasphemous enough to be worthy of death. ‘Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted (beat ) him: and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophecy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?’ Mat.26:67-68) Oh Friends that was just the start of the cruel travesty perpetrated on Jesus. In the morning they took Him bound, before Pilate the governor and the same nonsense ensued; lying witnesses and Jesus’ silence which had Pilate marvelling. He knew they were railroading Jesus, and tried to extricate himself, especially when he got a message from his wife: ‘Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.’ (Mat.27:19) In between all of this Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who sent Him back finding Him innocent. But the Jewish rulers were out for Jesus’ blood come hell or high water and convinced the crowd to call for the customary release of a murderer and insurrection leader, Barabbas instead of Jesus. And despite Pilate’s best efforts to show Jesus’ innocence, the crowd cried vociferously to crucify Him. Seeing the futility, Pilate ‘took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.’ (Mat.27:24) Oh Friends, it doesn’t matter what Pilate thought, the crowd gave him no choice, they would have rioted had he released Jesus. ‘Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.’ Hn! Can you imagine a crowd so stirred up, one accustomed to blood sacrifices making such a disgusting statement, putting innocent blood on their children’s head? But they did. That’s what happens when people are brainwashed and follow like sheep. Why would any person in their right minds want innocent blood to not only be on their heads but also that of their children? And since then they’ve been trying to say that they did not kill Jesus. To a certain extent they are right, because as Jesus said: ‘Therefore doth my Father LOVE me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.’ (John 10:17-18) My people, I won’t go into all the cruel and unusual punishment that Jesus suffered once Pilate washed his hands because we all know the gruesome story and the gory details. Suffice it to say that it was an exceedingly rough row for Him to hoe. But He did it all for us, not once flinching or trying to run from it, just so that we could be set free from sin. That’s the most important thing. Now it’s time for us to honour and glorify Him, for His selfless, unconditional LOVE. All believers should now seriously consider the state of their souls, to ensure that they’ve received Him, accepted that He paid our sin debt in full and are paying proper homage to the GREATEST MAN that ever lived; our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That’s all He asks of us. Much LOVE!…and despite the inhumane, unjust treatment…His final words were…Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…