03/27/2021
Good Friday, and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We like to focus our eyes on the resurrection story of Easter morning, and sing of the blood that has washed away our sin, but what of the body that was scourged, and hung outside the walls of Jerusalem just days prior? What of the corpse that laid in a dark tomb far from the temple mound? Do we relate to the true suffering, and understand what was required of Christ as He became our sin offering? When Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him it isn’t to the whipping post where His blood was shed... it is to Calvary, a place of ridicule, shame, and suffering unto death; a desolate place, separated from the gold candlesticks, and far from the altars of the temple.
“For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”
Hebrews 13:11-13 ESV
When we think of the blood offering that Jesus bled out for us we think of the spear piercing His side as he hung dead on the cross at Calvary, and that remnant of His blood mixed with water as it flowed from His wound, but we forget the volume of blood spilled from His slowly dying body at the pillar where He was beaten, and flogged to within an inch of His life. We forget how the Holy women in His life diligently gathered the blood from the post, whip, and ground; the same blood we drink in remembrance of Him, and that washes us clean of sin.
To collect the blood of lambs used for the sin offerings their blood was taken within the temple walls, and their carcasses were then burnt and discarded outside the encampment. To better understand the sacrifice of Jesus, we need insight into the customs and methods of offering these lambs. Although not scripture, but rather a recollection of visions, there is an interesting account of the scourging of Christ that was written by Anna Catherine Emmerich, a Catholic nun, and stigmata, in her early 1980s book “The Dolorous Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ”, and I have included a link to the chapter which details the scourge for you to read simply because it is an interesting account of this event...
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
Hebrews 13:14-15 ESV
We were told to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, but Jesus didn’t pick up His cross until after He had been beaten, scourged, and was nearing death... By beginning our journey with Him at this point, as He begins making His way along the Via Dolorosa towards His crucifixion on Calvary, we were meant to be spared the whip, because only His blood is worthy, and capable of redeeming the world from sin. We are to follow Him in suffering, death, and resurrection as we make our way outside the encampment, but by His blood, He has already defeated sin, and conquered death... having done so once and for all.
“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:10-11 ESV
As Christians we like to celebrate Easter, and the resurrection, but it is so hard for us to grasp any joy from the intense suffering, ridicule, and separation from the Holy of Holies as we are taken with Him outside of Jerusalem on Good Friday. Yet, this is where Jesus went, and where He awaited His resurrection, so this is where we must go too if we are to answer His call to follow Him.
Are we prepared to pick up our cross, and follow Him through our own Good Friday experience? Are we ready to begin at the foot of the Via Dolorosa, and make our way to the tomb? Are we ready to wait there for His arrival, and our resurrection? If so then Easter morning becomes far sweeter than anything we could ever have ever imagined.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son, the Lamb of God, and the blood offering He made for our sins. Thank you for His calling us to shoulder our own crosses, and to follow after Him. Help us Lord, and strengthen us, just as you strengthened Him in his final days. Send an Angel to walk beside us for that moment when we stumble, and need help. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who helps us in our unbelief, and gives us the resolve to follow Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem to our death on Calvary, and then on to the New Jerusalem that has been prepared for us. We praise you Father for every step we take along the way, and for the remembrance of Christ through His blood, and body. We pray in His Name, and humbly ask that you see Him in us at the moment of our judgement. We prostrate ourselves before you and await your amazing grace to lift us into eternity where we will be in your presence, and where your hand will dry all of our tears... both of suffering, and joy. Call us home Lord, and seat us at your table forevermore.
Rich Forbes