31st May 2011

John 19:28:37 – The Crucifixion.

• “Why did so few object to Jesus’ Crucifixion?’”
• It always used to surprise me that so many shouted ‘crucify him’ and that Jesus suffered this death even though He still seemed to have maybe followers.
• Until I realized the timing of all of this.
• The evening during Jesus trial many would have been worse for wear from a hard day partying.
• Traditional Passover involved a huge meal and four cups of wine.
• It started at sunset and finished at midnight.
• This is the reason Jesus’ disciples were so tired when He asked them to pray.
• In fact the Rabbis said that a man could doze lightly and still be part of the Passover meal but someone who fell asleep could not.
• When Jesus is on trial many are sleeping the night off.
• According to Mark – Jesus’ sentence was passed around sunrise the next day.
• The only people around when Jesus is presented to “the people” are the priests and Roman soldiers.
• At the time of crucifixion, 9am , it was the first Temple Service of the day.
• The first most knew was on their way to church and the trial had already happened, Jesus had received the forty lashes minus one, had a crown of thorns on His head and was in the first stages of the crucifixion procedure.
• Evil always operates behind closed doors – even when things are seen to be done in the open air.
• How alone must Jesus have felt?
• All of this happened at night with no-one around.
• For us to do His will, we will often find ourselves in the same position.
• Alone.
• Our greatest tests will come when those we rely on not around. They may not have turned our backs on us, they may be simply otherwise engaged.
• It then comes down to Faith.
• The faith to go through with it alone.
• But we of course are never fully alone.
• Which leads me to my final question.
• Do I not only have Faith in Jesus but do I have Faith in the thing that Jesus had Faith in; a loving Father in Heaven?