Sweet Injuries: Good Friday

When the time for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles had come, Jesus’ brothers took the opportunity to be quite nasty to Him. They jeered at Him about His works, spurring Him to go and make a public spectacle of Himself at the Feast. O how they tempted and goaded Him, telling Him some most dishonouring words. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world. John 7: 4. We are informed that even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Why, what has Jesus done to His brothers, to have them disbelieve Him to the point of evil envy and horrid spite?

Hear and See! Possessed with secret jealousy, envy and covetousness, we hold inner malice towards our Brother Jesus, as Joseph’s brothers held against him.  Jesus is our Brother, because He has called us His family. Has not Jesus openly and proudly announced His family to the world? Be reminded of what Jesus stated. For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother. Mark 3: 35. We know that He is our Brother, but somehow, we are not inclined to go along with His words and ways, which neither reflect nor adhere strictly to our family traditions, rules and regulations. He thinks that He is God’s Son and we have no patience with Him. We’ll resist Him and stick to the law, traditions and family customs. Isn’t that killing Jesus, the Living Word?

Nevertheless, after His brothers leave, Jesus goes to the Feast. But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. John 7: 10. However, about midway in the feast, Jesus goes into the temple and teaches. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How does this Man know letters, having never studied? John 7: 15. Then we hear Jesus saying to those same people who have heard Him speaking and teaching and who have marvelled at His wisdom, Why do you want to kill Me? John 7: 19b.  They denied Jesus’ accusation, but Jesus, who knows all things and only speaks what is factual, stated, I did one work and you all marvel. John 7: 21b. Why do you want to kill Me?

Why, what was that work which Jesus did there in the temple, which could send them into such frenzy, despising Him to the point of wanting to kill Him? 

Hear and See! We have witnessed the Supreme Wisdom, Supernatural Works and Singular Ways of Jesus. They leave us in wonder and awe, as we have never seen done by human might and power, yet, we are so fettered by the ropes of law and traditions, we immediately smash down all grace. Jesus is Grace in flesh and so we, though we marvel, too many of us are coached and carried by evil. Isn’t that, killing Jesus, the Living Word?

Jesus had been speaking and teaching and many believed in Him, including Jews. He then turned to those Jews and said to them. If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8: 31b – 32.

They became highly offended when Jesus spoke about them being free, and proudly held up their ancestry to Him. They said that they were descendants of Abraham and had never been in bondage to anyone. Jesus responded, acknowledging that they were Abraham’s descendants, but that they were seeking to kill Him, because His Word had no place in them. They became more argumentative and hostile, as they kept saying that they were children of Abraham and did not need freedom from Jesus’ truth. Then Jesus uttered those extremely sad, but ever so true words. If you were Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. John 8: 39b – 40.

Hear and See! We have heard the Word of God and we have felt the call of the Gospel on our lives. We have responded and will follow Jesus. All is going well until we hear something from the Word which brings disagreement. Straightway, without even being conscious of it, we try to kill Jesus, the Living Truth, by claiming that He is speaking what is erroneous. We also, many of us, argue, gainsay and bring all kinds of legal, lawful interpretations of God’s laws, to show that Jesus is not infallible. Isn’t that killing Jesus, the Living Word?

I bring you one final showing of how many of us, like those religious, God-fearing people of long ago, tried to kill Jesus. Jesus had been talking to the crowds about Himself as the Good Shepherd and His loving relationship to the sheep. Then He made this pronouncement. I and My Father are one. John 10: 30. Suddenly, all mayhem breaks loose, as Jews who are present take up stones to stone Jesus.  Jesus responded by saying this to them. Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me? John 10: 32b. They told Jesus outright that they were not stoning Him for His good works, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God. John 10: 33b. Why, what has Jesus done to those believing Jews, to have them become so belligerent and violent to the point of wanting to stone Him?

Hear and See! These believing Jews, having received the Word, now have shown their true selves. Like the soil which Jesus spoke about in the parable of the sower, they have received the Word in their hearts, but their cares and concerns to uphold tradition and lawfulness, choke out what Jesus has just planted in them. Very many of us want to be Jesus disciples and believe His Words, but our cares about traditions and ancestral laws take full precedence over anything Jesus brings that demands us to give up our old selves and put on His new self, which His words give to us.  Notwithstanding, if we fail, to accept all Jesus says to us, we place ourselves above Him. Isn’t that killing Jesus, the Living Word? 

So Jesus is dead, crucified by those to whom He never did wrong. Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? This is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up Hos spirit. Matthew 27: 45 – 46 & 50.

Jesus Is Dead Indeed!