Meet Jesus, Part 2 of 3 Parts

Note: To view Part I of this article click on date Oct 22 (to the left). For three years Jesus taught, raised the dead, healed the sick, made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk again or for the first time. The crowds increased, people sought after Jesus relentlessly, perhaps to get something from Him. There was no loyalty of any sort from the people; it was something people wanted from Him. After feeding thousands with so little, word of that miracle got around faster than the fastest computer of our day. One day Jesus took Peter James and John up a high mountain. As they were going up Jesus was transfigured, i.e. while His body retained its form, it began to shine, His face becoming like the sun, His garments like snow (or a shining light), and two men, Moses and Elias, representing the Law and the Prophets, were talking with Him. As they were speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” Having just foretold His Passion (Lk 9:22), Christ was transfigured to strengthen His disciples for the severe trials soon to come. Christ’s transfiguration showed an example of what His glorified body would be after the Resurrection and of what our bodies will be after the general resurrection. As His mission on earth was nearing a climax, He arranged for the Last Supper and His solemn hours with His Apostles. While together in the Upper Room, He indirectly told Judas to do what he needed to do now. Judas slinked out to meet with the Jewish High Priests who want to kill Jesus because they were afraid He would weaken their positions in the eyes of the people. Meanwhile, still in the Upper Room, while Judas was arranging for Jesus’ “capture” Jesus taught His Apostles a personal lesson in the importance of humility. Then Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, asking His Apostles to stay awake and watch while He prays. Judas’ betrayal took place here with a kiss. The ordeal began Thursday evening in the dark garden of Gethsemane, with this kiss by Judas. The Jewish High Priests brought false charges against Jesus. Because of the Jewish law, the High Priests could not kill Jesus. That led to sending Him to Pontius Pilate, who found no guilt in Jesus, but sent Jesus to Herod, who thought Pilate ought to take care of this, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, who, because of the Jewish High Priests’ trumped up charge of Jesus being a threat, had Jesus tortured – even after he declared Jesus innocent four times! Without further ado, you could say that Jesus was “flogged.” That would not be correct. Jesus was tortured by the Romans beyond anything imaginable, including inhumane whipping no one but Jesus could endure. Then a crown of thorns* was crudely fashioned and pressed down upon His head and pushed into His skull; all of this would have killed any other man. Jesus was then returned to Pilate who claimed himself innocent for “this man.” * Click on Oct 12 for article "A Crown of Thorns." Pilate asks the Jewish Priests and the crowds “What do you want me to do with this man?” Like a political campaign with shills in the audience, the voices shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! There were more exchanges between Pilate and the people but the result was the same, “Crucify Him!” Those who were ignorant and those just plain evil were shouting louder,commanding more attention than those good and knowing. The Christmas birth, God-Man, who came into the world that He created, to the people He created, was now being condemned to an earthly death by the very people He loves and came to save by showing the way to heaven and eternal salvation. Jesus could have called on legions of angels to defend Him, instead He carries His heavy wooden cross, freely giving up His earthly life – no one takes it from Him, He gives it up to obediently fulfill His mission given to Him by the Father to save humanity. Reaching Golgotha, the cross drops to the ground and Jesus’ hands and feet, roughly handled, are nailed to it. The crown of thorns still pierces His head and now, His bodyweight, held by nine-inch crude nails holding his hands and feet to the cross, is pain beyond anything we can imagine. His horrible passion continues with taunting and laughter, and gambling for His clothes. Despite all, Jesus prays "Father,forgive them for they no not what they do." Jesus was just 33 years old; at approximately 3PM, Friday (now Good Friday), Jesus uttered, “It is finished.” His head slumped to His chest. The sky and earth blacken, the earth shook, and the curtains in the Jewish Temple tore apart. Onlookers became perplexed; for the first time many participants realized they could have made a mistake. Part III tomorrow, Oct 24, 2010. Be advised: I feel that I am charged in telling you about Jesus, I do not feel charged in making you believe it. Thank you for visiting. - Bob Eph 5:1-17