All Jesus' disciples deserted him on Good Friday except John. Those who followed him and supported what he was doing in his public ministry must have been shell-shocked, terrified, and bewildered at seeing him suffer and die on the cross (John 18ff) Humanly speaking, it made no sense for Jesus to go when the momentum was gathering pace. More and more were hearing him speak words of life to those broken down in sin. People were coming to touch the hem of his garment so as to be healed. Jesus himself was always willing to heal the sick, and to raise the dead. And to forgive the sinner. So why this roller-coaster of a week where at the beginning people were crying; 'Hosannah', and by the end of it they were saying; 'Crucify him?'
Jesus came on earth on the Father's Terms. He always did what pleases the Father. (John 8:29)
He said; "It was written that the Christ should suffer..."(Luke 24:44-48) This was the master-plan of God the Father that He would prove once and for all that He loves His people.
"Though He was in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God, but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave. And being found in human form he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised Him on High, and gave Him the name that is above other names..." (Philippians 2:6-11)
The cross at first glance is a symbol of failure and of scandal. But looking deeper, the cross is the theatre of redemption. For it is here that we are saved from our sins. Jesus never came down off the cross. (Matthew 27: 40) We are loved unconditionally. The cross of Christ is the touchstone for us with the Kingdom of Heaven and it burns away our sins and failures. The good news is; the cross of Christ is the symbol of hope for the hopeless. And it is a hope that will sustain us for our journey of life here on earth, and it sanctifies us for our life with God in heaven. There is no need to be afraid.
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