Holy Week—Friday

Jesus, for us.

“Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. 

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him. 

Meanwhile—

Then he (Peter) began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,”

Matthew 26:50, 59-60, 67, 74 NIV.

And He was beaten, mocked, tortured and hung on a cross to die. Not a meaningless death as some thought, but one filled with love for all humanity.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, (Adam) and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many (those who accept God’s gift) be made righteous.

Roman 5:12, 19, NIV.

Are we the many or the few? Do we understand this gift of freedom? Are we willing to step into God’s grace fully and unashamed?