Monday, February 6, 2012

A Morning Cup of Tea: At the Cross

Good morning! Today we are reading the twenty third chapter of Luke. Jesus had been betrayed by Judas, with a kiss, and captured by the chief priests. After the elders had decided he was guilty, they took him to Pilate. Pilate spoke with Jesus, but saw no fault in him. Pilate, I think, was not a strong willed man. He didn't want to make a decision against Jesus, so when he discovered that Jesus was from Galilee, placing him under the jurisdiction of Herod, Pilate sent him to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. 
  Herod had heard of Jesus and had wanted to see him for some time. He wanted to see a miracle. But Jesus spoke nothing in Herod's presence. Herod and his followers mocked Jesus and dressed him in a royal robe and sent him back to Pilate. 
  Again, Pilate saw no guilt in Jesus, certainly none that would require death, as his accusers wanted. He suggested that he would chastise Jesus and let him go. The custom of the time was that at the Passover a prisoner would be set free. But the people insisted on crucifying Jesus. They wanted Barabbas, a known murderer set free. Pilate gave another attempt to set Jesus free, but the crowd wanted Barabbas. They insisted that Jesus be crucified.
  On his way to Calvary, where he would be crucified, a Cyrenian by the name of Simon was pressed into service to carry the cross for Jesus. Two thieves who would hang on crosses that day also, were with him. Just as the soldiers were mocking Jesus, one thief also taunted him, saying save yourself, and us too! But the other thief rebuked the first one. He understood that Jesus had done no wrong, as he and the other man had. Jesus told him that he would be with Jesus that very day in paradise.
  At the sixth hour, about noontime, the sky grew dark. It stayed dark until about 3 pm, or the ninth hour of the day. The veil in the temple tore completely in two. Jesus gave up the ghost.
  Afterwards Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He wrapped him in linens and placed him in the tomb. The women prepared spices, then rested on the Sabbath. 
Have a great day.

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