Friday of Passion Week
This week leads up to Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection. While many people may be familiar with Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday, very few are as familiar with the days in between. Jesus didn’t just sit around and do nothing until He was arrested. So, let’s look at some of the events and teachings of Holy Week.
Scripture: Luke 23:34 (ESV)
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The events of today are numerous. From Jesus’ arrest, the disciples deserting Him, three illegal trials, Peter’s denial, the beatings, carrying His cross, the mocking crowd, and the list goes on. There is one thing that happened today that both deeply convicts me and at the same time causes my heart to soar with hope. It is found in the first words Jesus speaks from the cross. “Father, forgive them.” For me, these are the most shocking words that Jesus says today. Why? Because they are words that I would never say. I would be crying in pain or spewing forth hate filled words toward those standing there. Forgiveness would be the furthest thing from my mind, heart, and mouth.
Not Jesus though. The religious leaders gloated in their pride and called out, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him” (Matt 27:42). The chorus from the song “Ten Thousand Angels” says,
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set him free
He could have called ten thousand angels
But he died alone for you and me.
Jesus could have come down from the cross and called down the wrath of Heaven upon us, but praise be to His holy name He didn’t. Instead, He called down forgiveness upon us. With these words Jesus sets the stage for everything that is to come.
You see at the cross we find equal parts judgement and love. At the cross, God’s wrath did pour down, but instead of it falling on me it poured down on Him. At the cross, the wages of sin were forever paid…by His death. At the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them.” When we come to the cross and humbly ask Him to forgive us He pours it out in abundance.
Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You saved my life
At the cross
(At the Cross, Chris Tomlin)