It all started with a kiss…when soldiers seized Jesus in the dim Garden of Gethsemane.
Running…in all different directions…some arriving in the silent Upper Room. Hours earlier a great table set with various chalice of wine symbolising the stages of the Seder meal. Jesus instructing His Disciples, a door opening and Judas scurrying off to a secret meeting with the Sanhedrin. A rush to get the “transaction” done before the Great Sabbath. 30 pieces of silver in a skin pouch tossed in Judas’ direction. The scene set, a kiss and embrace in the Garden…start of seizing the Lord.
The rushed walking to a night’s urgent call for Sanhedrin members to judge. The charges already known, blasphemy of the highest order, witnesses bribed and primed for the occasion. The first meeting decides the charge and send Him to Herod. Who taunted Him and prodded Him for information or even a miracle. Then back to the Sanhedrin with the instructions to send Jesus to Pilate, persuasion of breaking Roman Law.
All this thought, remembered in the darkness of that Upper Room.
The next event shocking as they were as Jesus is flogged.
He is made to carry the Cross through Jerusalem with the crowd having a mixture of attitudes. From sadness to mockery. Until they arrived at Golgotha. Nailed to a cross and for 6 hours is passing through stages of agony, thirst, humiliation.
From the shadows of that Upper Room, disciples relive the horrors.
From the spectacles of 3 men on the crosses a darkness grew on the horizon, shaking, and huge drops of rain. As Christ’s blood began to course it’s way down the cross to the ground.
The sky became dark as Christ cried out to His Father to receive His Spirit.
This scenario is the centre and culmination of His Road to the Right Hand. The suffering afforded gains legal right to institute a New Covenant for us. May we meditate on this scenario today.
Maranatha!!!
Leave a Reply