Good Friday

After the events of last night, one might think that Jesus deserves a break.

Not to be. Today we celebrate Good Friday, which is good for those of us who know why it’s good. There was little good to see about it on the first Good Friday. Those living it were having a very bad day.

Beginning with Matthew 27,  we see how Jesus’ morning begins … with a trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. When Jesus refused to answer any of the charges against Him, Pilate knew that he was in the presence of someone special. The various Gospel accounts talk about just how Pilate reacted to this. For now, I leave it at this … Jesus had no need to play into the trial.  He knew what was going to happen … He had to be crucified, and for that to happen, He had to be tried and sentenced. There was no reason for Him to take part in the formality, the useless spectacle, that was His trial.

Maundy Thursday

It’s 11 pm as I begin writing this, which is later than I meant it to be … one of those days … anyway ..

Of course, it is reasonably appropriate to be talking about Maundy Thursday this late at night, because this is the night really to remember the Last Supper. Surely, we all know the story. Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, and Jesus told the Twelve that each of them would fall away from Him that night.

This is a sleepless night for Jesus, and the beginning of the horrors that we call Good Friday.