Friday of Holy Week

Friday

Last Week

We come to the time of Jesus’ passion. It actually begins at the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas comes to betray Jesus with armed guards both temple and Roman soldiers. All four gospels speak of this betrayal though there are some differences in actual content. Jesus is taken to the High Priest prior to dawn. This was illegal according to the Torah. The council could not meet until after sun rise. In all the gospels, there are no witnesses that come forward except false witnesses. This would have broken one of the commandments about bearing false witness. Finally when Jesus stated that he could tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days, did the council condemn him for heresy.

As the religious leaders could not kill Jesus, they took him to Pilate the Roman governor. While there Pilate interviews him and determines that he is innocent. Yet, when the crowd threatens to become a riot, Pilate condemns Jesus to crucifixion. He does release a zealot named Jesus Barabbas who had committed murder, probably of Roman soldiers.

Jesus is mocked and tortured by the Roman soldiers prior to his crucifixion. He is taken to Golgotha carrying the cross beam of the cross. In the synoptic gospels, Simon is conscripted to help Jesus. Jesus hung on the cross for about 6 hours. During that time, he spoke the famous last words. Upon his death, the synoptic gospels talk about darkness, earthquakes, the dead being resurrected, and the temple curtain being torn in two. He is buried by Joseph (in all four gospels) and Nicodemus in the gospel of John.

And the people rested for the Sabbath.

Reading one: Matthew 26:47-27:61. Much of what is written is also found in Mark. It is in Matthew that we read that Judas committed suicide by hanging. It is also in Matthew we learn that Barabbas first name is Jesus. So we have a trial of two Jesus’. We also have the centurion’s witness that truly this was the son of God.

Reading two: Mark 14:43-15:47. Mark takes that Friday following Jesus’ arrest and breaks it down into 3 hour periods.

6am-9am: The trial before the Sanhedrin. The trial before Pilate. The release of Barabbas. The torture and mocking of the soldiers. Simon of Cyrene conscripted.

9am-noon: crucifixion. The mockery of the passer-byes.

Noon-3pm: The sky darkens.

3pm-6pm. The last word “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani. My God my God why have you forsaken me? The burial prior to sunset.

Luke 22:39-24:56: Three of the seven last words are found in Luke. Father forgive them for they do not know what they do. Today you will be in Paradise. Father into your hands I commend my Spirit.

It is only in Luke that we have the interaction with the two thieves crucified with Jesus.

John 18:1-19:39: In the gospel of John we have the other three last words. Woman here is your son. Here is your mother. I am thirsty. It is finished.

John speaks in more detail the questioning of Pilate. Three times Pilate questions Jesus and it is in this gospel that we get more of the idea Pilate sees Jesus as innocent. He reacts to the guard’s torture and humiliating Jesus with fear. It is here that Pilate orders the flogging and we find that only Rome could order crucifixion. John also speaks that only John, Mary mother of Jesus, Mary wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were present at the foot of the cross the entire time. Only in John do we hear that Jesus side was pierced and immediately water and blood poured out. In John, Joseph and Nicodemus were the ones to ask for the body and buried Jesus.