Good Friday -Jesus' Hours on the Cross

Good Friday

Jesus’ Hours upon the cross:

The clock is wound back to the Era of Jesus upon the cross 29 A.D

Everyone knows that it is History. The archaeologist can speak volumes about his findings. Jerusalem stands as a living Gospel. A trip to Jerusalem will confirm the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Church of Annunciation, and the Church of Nativity are the special memoirs of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now the ticking of the clock begins:

It is 9.00 am, the Jewish clock says the 3^rd hour, Jesus is crucified, there is a small crowd at the cross, some are scoffers, soldiers, Chief priests, Scribes, and others are the passers-by who stopped by to mock Him.

While others of his beloved Mary, the mother of Jesus, her sister, John the son of Mary, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Of his twelve disciples, one betrayed him, the other fled, except two of them, Peter and John followed close, of whom Peter denied Him.

Jesus was scourged and his sinews and ligaments were shredded apart.

Blood drained out, slow death is creeping in, the blood- flow to the brain has slowed down and the heart beat too is slowing down.

Jesus gasping for breath utters:

1.The First Saying on the Cross:

‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do ‘(Luke 23:34).

Jesus is the intercessor for mankind, the mediator between God and man Christ Jesus.( I Timothy 2:5 )

Jesus and God- relationship is seen - Jesus is the son and God is His father.

‘They know not’- They are the ones to fulfil God’s plan. His amazing love for mankind was fulfilled by the Romans, they crucified Him to the cross , the price paid to purchase you and me.( I Cor 6: 20)

2. The Second Saying on the Cross:

‘Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise’.

- Assurance for Salvation, for the sinner who confesses to Jesus

- The thief was the first sinner to be forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ.

- Good works is not the criterion to enter heaven.

3. The Third Saying on the Cross:

Woman behold thy son- Behold thy mother: (John 19 :26, 27).

- Jesus fulfilling the duties of a son to a mother.

Or of a child to his parent and His honour for her, even during the moments

of suffering.

- Mary called herself the handmaid of the Lord. She was not a goddess as

some heresies say.

4.The Fourth Saying on the Cross;

. ‘My God My God why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 Ps. 22:1, 1 Peter 3:12.)

- Jesus calls the father ’God’.

- “Why are you so far from helping me”

- Separation of God and a sinner: separated from God, and not under the

banner of God’s love, nor His help.( I Peter 3:12 )

- Jesus Christ was punished for our sins. The fulfillment of Isaiah the prophet’s

prophecy in 712 B.C.

- It was for our sins that was laid upon Jesus, that His father was far from helping him.

5. The Fifth Saying:

I thirst: (John 19:28).

Jesus was human-

The genuine physical death of Jesus Christ is vivid on the cross. It reveals that Jesus was human. The dehydrated body, due to the loss of water- caused the thirst.

It was a custom for the Romans to offer Vinegar as a pain- killing-drink to the criminals during the crucifixion.

Jesus refused it . It portrays the complete death of Jesus’ body, the absolute draining of the blood and loss of water from the body that triggered the thirst.

6. The Sixth Saying:

It is finished: ( John 19 :30)

The work begun for salvation was finished by Jesus on the cross, Completed by Jesus.

Only simple belief in Jesus is ‘The only way to God and heaven ‘.

7. The Seventh Saying:

Father into Thy hands I commit my Spirit:

The Son and Father relationship is seen. The handing over of Jesus’ spirit to the Father reveals a task accomplished and committed to the keeping of it.

The entire history stands a mystery, why did God love me so? The land of Jerusalem remains a tourist site down through the ages. Ever since that day,29 A.D Gethsemane and Calvary ring out the euphony:

Hosanna, Hosanna to the lamb that was slain,

Hosanna , Hosanna , Jesus died and rose again.