Holy Week Day by Day-Friday-Trials and Crucifixion-“It Is Finished!”

“When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him over to Pilate the governor…So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves. And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children! Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified.” – Matthew 26:1-2, 24-26 (ESV). “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour…And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.” –Matthew 27:45, 50 (ESV). “And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.”-Matthew 27:29-51 (ESV).

From the time Jesus was taken captive in the Garden of Gethsemane until His body was laid in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea, a ‘disciple of Jesus,’ the last day of His life was filled with unbelievable occurrences. Judas went to Gethsemane with a band of soldiers and officers of the chief priests. The Lord readily owned to being Jesus of Nazareth when they inquired which was He, and, surprised, they “fell to the ground” (John 18:6). Impetuous Peter took out his sword and cut off an ear of the high priest’s servant, but Jesus touched the ear and healed it (Luke 22:51). They took Jesus first before Annas, the immediate-past high priest who was looking for legitimate evidence that would bring on a verdict of capital punishment. The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. Annas was influential with the Jews and with the Roman procurator. It was in the courtyard of Annas’ house that Peter denied the Lord three times, as Jesus had predicted; and then the cock crew. While Peter was denying Jesus, the Lord was on trial protecting Peter and the others. Jewish law required that witnesses be called to testify on behalf of the accused. Annas hired false witnesses. In stage two of the Jewish trial, Jesus was taken before Caiaphas and some members of the Sanhedrin, assembled at night. They found him guilty of blasphemy which had the penalty of death, but the Jews had to get the Roman ruler to levy the death sentence. Then came appearances before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again, who could find no fault in Jesus. But the sentiment of the crowd was for Jesus to die; Barabbas was released and Jesus condemned to be crucified.

The worst suffering we can imagine took place on the cross. Death by crucifixion was the most cruel and shameful of all punishments. Jesus was offered a pain-reducing drink but He refused it. His physical suffering was excruciating, for He had a human body. His seven statements from the cross have great significance: He thought of others, those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He assured the believing thief: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). He made arrangements for His mother’s care: “Behold your Mother, ' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:27) He felt momentarily His separation from God: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). As He was bearing the sins of the world on His body, He felt the wrath of God against all sin. His anticipation of this moment as He was in Gethsemane was prelude to the darkness. Now He was experiencing it and bearing it in His body and His spirit. The last three statements focus on Jesus Himself: His body, “I thirst!” (John 19:28). Jesus received a sponge with vinegar to wet His lips. His soul, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And His spirit: “Father, inyou Your hands I commit my spirit!”(Luke 23:46). The Lord Himself gave up His spirit at the “ninth hour,” which would have been about 3:00 p. m. The penalty for sin was finished, once for all, forever. The mission God the Son came to earth to accomplish had been completed. The soldiers made sure he was dead. They inadvertently were fulfilling prophecy about the Paschal Lamb, the Son of God: They did not break his legs, fulfilling Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 that specified the sacrificial lamb’s legs were not to be broken. Zechariah 12:10 states that His side was to be pierced. Water and blood flowed out. His body was removed from the cross and quickly taken to a tomb owned by a secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus by night according to John 3, assisted Joseph. By touching a dead body, these two Jewish men could not participate in the Passover. Dr. Warren Wiersbe notes: “What difference did it make? They had found the Lamb of God!” (Wiersbe Bible Commentary, New Testament, 2007, p. 308). Because the Sabbath began at sundown, they had to quickly lay the body in the grave. There was not time for embalming with spices. A heavy stone was rolled over the entrance. Roman guards were assigned to watch. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were observing across from the tomb.

In Christendom, we call this day “Good Friday.” What was good about the Savior’s trial, scourging, suffering, shame, humiliation and death? Before the Sabbath began, Jesus had finished the work He came to earth to do. A New Covenant was established. “”The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17b). From then and forever believers glory in the cross and in the Lord who gave His life a ransom for mankind. This is the goodness and unfathomable glory of the day Christ died. It centers on Jesus and His love, His great sacrifice. Jesus could take His rest. “It is finished!” What a crowning declaration of Good Friday! We and all believers are safe under the New Covenant. Praise be to God!