The Wagley GroupMarch, 2023 – Faithful Living ~
During the week-long festival culminating in Passover, three of us are jailed for starting an insurrection in the city. With so many people in Jerusalem, we thought our plan would work. Two Roman soldiers were killed and we hoped to raid their treasury in the upper city to supplement our movement for more weapons. Logistically, the plan was well thought out, but the execution of it failed miserably.
The Praetor decides quickly that our punishment deserves death. We have been flogged. The pain is excruciating. I wish I were already dead.
The next day, all of us hear the commotion in the courtyard above. We are held in the basement of the captain of the guard’s home. The windows are barred and open to the outside.
They have brought another man in for questioning before the governor. He is bound and quiet. Those gathered begin screaming to crucify the man. He doesn’t defend himself. You would think that if he was not guilty, he would have pleaded for his release. Nothing.
When the tumult gets out of control, the ruler asks what should be done to this man in whom he has found no guilt. Most of the mob loudly cries to release our friend, the notorious Barabbas, and crucify this man. Sadly, their opposing voices prevail. Our ringleader is pardoned because of a Jewish tradition, and this prophet is sentenced to death, like us.
Early Friday morning, Jaiden and I are taken from the dungeon and strapped to cross beams. The security detail whips us as we struggle along a narrow street up and outside the city to the hill of death. I stumble and fall a couple of times. My strength and hope are gone.
When we get to the hill, both of us are nailed to the cross beam and the base. We have to pull ourselves up to catch each breath. The ripped open flesh on my back continues to bleed and sting against the rough wood of the upright. Pulling away and arching my spine from the cross is my only way to reduce the pain.
A short time later, the other man that we saw in the courtyard has a large crowd following him. He is heading toward us. We saw him slip and fall under the weight of his cross and a woman knelt and gave him a drink. I look down and he is going to be hung between us. I see a bystander is compelled to carry his stauros the rest of the way.
On top of the hill, the guards strip him and force him down to the beams. He winces as the nails are driven through his hands and feet. They pull him up with ropes and the base falls sharply into the hole. I see the guards playing a game for his garments. His thorny crown causes blood to drip down his swollen face and shoulders. He has trouble breathing like us. His body looks worse than ours.
The minutes seem to last an eternity, and yet, in the middle of the day, the sun is forbidden to shine. Total darkness is everywhere and it lasts for three hours. This man was solemn, silent and never complained. Jaiden on the other hand was angry and resentful that our plan did not work; that Barabbas gets off and we are condemned. So, he rails against me and this innocent fellow. We are guilty. He is innocent.
I mustered up enough strength to silence my friend from the accusations he was leveling against the guy in the middle. When I look at the sign above his head written in Latin, Hebrew and Greek, it states he is the king of the Jews. I ask him about his kingdom. He tells us it is not of this world. Finally, I get the courage to ask him to remember me when he gets to his kingdom. I can’t believe his words that follow…
“Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 MSG
Did you get that? TODAY, I AM GOING TO BE WITH HIM IN PARADISE. Me! Can you believe it? All the bad deeds of my life are swallowed up with this statement uttered by the Innocent One.
Then I see Him lift His gaze to the sky and He tells someone that it is finished. After this, He gives up His Spirit and dies. At this moment, the thunder, rain and rumbling of the earth is powerful and strong.
Not long after, the throng begins leaving very sorrowful. As the sun is beginning to set, the soldiers come and spear the King in His side to make sure He is dead. Then they break Jaiden’s lower legs so he can’t lift himself up to breathe any longer. Now they are headed my way. I cry out, remember me Lord!
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OMGoodness, Jesus keeps His word! He is the first person I meet in this most beautiful place He calls Paradise. He kept His promise to me and He will keep it with you. I know. I am living proof!