GOOD FRIDAY: A DAY OF REDEMPTION TO HUMANKIND

It was time for Passover-a Jewish festival that begins in late March or early April and that last for 8 (eight) days. The Chief Priest and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

Then it was Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples who took bribe-thirty pieces of silver, and delivered Jesus into their hand. They sought false testimony against him that they might put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

The next morning, the Chief Priest and the elders came to the decision to put Jesus to death; they tried Him and delivered to Pilate- the Governor.
Now it was the Governor’s custom at the feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time, they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So, Pilate asked the crowd whom would he release –either Barabbas or Jesus. At that moment, the crowd shouted to release Barabbas to them and crucify Jesus. But Pilate was reluctant to, as he did not find any guilt on Jesus.

But 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 he released Barabbas and delivered Jesus to be crucified.

WHY CHRIST HAD TO DIE:
We question ourselves why did Jesus Christ have to give up His life so that our sins could be forgiven. If God is all powerful, and filled with compassion and mercy, could it not have been done some other way? Why did He let Jesus Christ die for human sins? Why did the forgiving of sins have to be accomplished by the bloody death of an innocent man?

Since creation, God has endowed humans capable of making moral choices. He gives us the freedom to choose between good and evil, to obey or to disobey. He gives us the freedom to choose between life and death (Deut.30:15&19). But Adam and Eve have chosen to disobey God in the “Garden of Eden”. They chose to disregard God’s instruction and listened to the tempter Satan. They took of the forbidden fruit God told them not to eat. They disobeyed their Creator, and cut themselves off from a fulfilled life in contact with God.

Inspite of our first parents’ sin and our subsequent failings, all have not been lost. God had a monumental plan to reconcile mankind to himself.

In the Old Testament, God, showed through a system of sacrifices by which ancient Israel acknowledged their sins. The nature of these rituals made it clear that without shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness/remission of sin (Hebrew. 9:22). God commanded the congregation of Israel to shed the blood of animals to atone for sin. Yet the blood of these animals did not effect a complete reconciliation with God as far as human conscience is concerned. Their killings/deaths were only reminders of sin. In those sacrifices, there is reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible or blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb. 10:3, 4).

And since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3: 23) and since the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), somebody had to shed blood; and Jesus Christ was uniquely only qualified to pay for the lives of all mankind. Of all who have been born of human flesh; only Christ never sinned. Christ uniquely, never earned the wages of sin. So He and only He were in a position to bear the death penalty in place of others so that they could be spared.

And since God so loved the world, He gave Jesus Christ, His only son to die for our sins (John 3:16); to bridge the cut off between God and man. We need the forgiveness-the reconciliation between God and man. We need the forgiveness, the reconciliation, the new life in Christ that the Cross makes possible.

So, God has reconciled all things to himself by making peace though Jesus blood, shed on the Cross (Colossians 1:20-22, 2 Cor. 5:19). Our old self said Paul is also crucified and nailed with Jesus Christ on the Cross. Peter said “, we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. We are totally forgiven on the Cross owing nothing.

WHAT IS THE CROSS?
The word Cross is a translation of the Greek word Stauros. It referred to any wooden stake firmly fixed in the ground. During ancient days, criminals, captured enemies and rebels were used to be impaled/pierced on pointed stake and publicly display their bodies or corpses or heads as a sign of punishment.
During New Testament times, Romans were using several forms for crucifixion. One was the so-called St. Anthony’s cross, shaped like a ‘T’. Another was what’s called the Latin cross, in which a horizontal crossbar intersected the upright beam somewhere along its upper half.
One of these two crosses form most likely was used for the execution of Jesus Christ.

JESUS CRUCIFIXION-WHY ON THE CROSS?
These questions arise why Jesus Christ had to die on a Cross. Even if He was to be put to death or had to shed blood for our sins; why on a cross like a criminal of those times? Instead He was put to the most shameful death.

In those days, the murders, thieves, the criminals if convicted had to die by crucifixion in the hands of the Roman authorities. The convicted person had to carry his/her own cross to the execution site. The execution usually took place outside the city walls. As the victim carried the wooden cross bar, herald walked in front carrying the written accusation or the accusation placed around the convicted person’s neck, then removed and nailed to the Cross for all to see.

Death of the criminal used to be slow and agonizing, sometimes taking days. Eventually, it would come through loss of blood and shock, exposure, exhaustion, disease and hunger. Death of the crucified individual used to be speeded up by breaking the victim’s legs.

That type of death or crucifixion, though Jesus did not deserve at all- he was not found guilty of anything by the Roman authorities; yet, he had to die and was put to such a shameful criminal death so as to bring new lasting hope to us.

He came as God in human flesh to suffer a shameful death on the Cross. His purpose was to free us from sin and death. This was the day humankind has been freed from the slavery of sins. This was the day humankind has been redeemed!
    
JESUS CHRIST RESSURECTION:
After Jesus death on the Cross, they put Him in a tomb and buried by rolling a great stone to the door of the tomb and properly sealed. The Chief priests and Pharisees convinced Pilate and put military guards and made the tomb secure; because Jesus Christ told them that He would rise up again on the third day while He was still alive.
But while the Roman contingent was on guard, an angel descended from heaven. The angel caused a great earthquake and rolled back the stone from the entrance. Three days after He was dead and buried, Jesus resurrected and glorified as He had said He would be.

So, after paying the penalty for our si ns, Jesus Christ did not remain dead, He resurrected on the third day and is alive to this day.
    
WHAT JESUS TELLS US TODAY?
Now He tells us to go and sin no more (John 8:11). Forgiveness is not a license to continue to do wrong. Now He wants us to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts. 2:38).

And now, it is our turn to take up our cross and follow Him. “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt. 10:38). He also says “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily” (Lk 9:23). “Carrying the Cross” has a meaningful analogy. It signifies pain, distress and burden bearing. Jesus Christ used the term “Cross” as a spiritual sacrifice required of his followers.

He is again appearing for the second time not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him (Heb. 9:27).