Lenten Devotionals from our DS's wife Robbie Craker

Good Friday…as I read the scriptures this morning it seems more like BAD Friday to me.

Jesus, before the Sanhedrin being questioned by the High Priest – ridiculed, lied about – all alone.

Peter on the outskirts of the crowd skulking around among the servants denying he even knew Jesus.

Jesus before Pilate and Herod – the crowds calling for His death – give us Barabbas – we’d rather have a murderer among us than this man stirring up trouble.

Herod, finally getting to meet this miracle worker, Jesus, he’s heard so much about. But Jesus won’t perform for him. So he’s disgusted and sends him away.

Pilate washing his hands of Jesus…

The soldiers mocking and spitting, beating and laughing.

Peter lying – Jesus turning, looking straight into Peter’s eyes. Betrayed. Alone. Peter, running, weeping. Desolate. Alone.

Darkness reigns.

As Jesus is standing in the midst of all of this, is He remembering the temptations? Possibly. But He has taken the cup. He has set His course and He will walk the path all the way to the CROSS.

Now the cross is not just a thought in His mind. Now the cross is not just a fear in His heart. Now the cross is not His future. It is His reality. He must carry it, weak, bruised and bleeding, exhausted from the night of prayer and trial.

His Father has given Him this great task. It’s not an easy task. It’s painful. It’s full of self-denial. He won’t fail the Father. He will obey.

Through the city with the crowds following – some to gape at that horror – some to mock and ridicule – some to weep bitter tears.

Up the hillside in the stark light of the noon-day sun. The pain of stumbling on the rocky path. The nails pounded into His hands and feet. The agony as He is raised and the cross is dropped into the hole.

He had said it to His disciples last night as He broke the bread – this is my body broken for you. I wonder if He’s thinking about that now. I wonder if He’s remembering Satan’s words – “turn these stones into bread. There is another way.”

Is He regretting His choice of emptying Himself of the glory and power and honor of heaven? Look what He has now, humility, weakness, and seeming defeat.

The Father asked and the Son answered. His life wasn’t taken from Him – He gave His life away.

It is finished.