The Crucifixion
Scripture – The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They dressed Him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head. Then they saluted Him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck Him on the head with a reed stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.
And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). Then the soldiers nailed Him to the cross. They divided His clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him… At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me?” Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, He exclaimed, “This Man truly was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:16-20, 22, 24-25, 33, 37-39)
Today is Good Friday. Over the years, this day has been called Holy Friday, Mourning Friday, High Friday, Silent Friday, and even Sorrowful Friday. The Danish are known to call it Long Friday, which is a suitable name for the day when Jesus spent multiple hours undergoing a mockery of a trial, merciless beatings, crucifixion, and death.
At the time, crucifixion was the type of execution reserved for serious criminals and slaves. Jesus, the Son of God, was flogged with a lead-tipped whip and forced to carry the very cross He would die upon. Upon His head was a crown of thorns meant to humiliate Him further while inflicting further pain. On the hill where He would die, the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross and lifted Him up between two thieves. For six hours, Jesus bled and struggled to breathe as the crowds mocked Him. Halfway through His agony, sometime around noon, the sky grew dark. Before He died, Jesus cried out, “Father, in Your hands I commend My Spirit,” and then, He died.
Yes, it was certainly a long Friday. The Holy Son of God had been lifted up high on the cross so all could see His death. His followers mourned, and His mother was obviously sorrowful. Even though the crowd was loud, there were certainly times of silence, for many, there was nothing more to say. What’s so good about this Friday when Jesus suffered for hours and finally died on a cross?
Everything. The price was paid. Redemption had been won.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice that paid the price for my sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Follow-up Activity: Read Mark 15 on your own or with your family and then write a prayer to the Lord, thanking Him for the price He paid for our salvation.
*Image Courtesy of Ismael Paramo
**This devotion is a part of RENEWED, a Holy Week Devotional by Celebration Church available for free download at http://www.celebrationchurch.org/library.
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