“He suffered; crucified and resurrected on the third day!” Daily Prayer
The redeemer of the world, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came down to earth from the heavens, be born from Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary, be baptized, taught the gospel, healed and cured many aliments and leprosies. On wards all His miraculous, He was sued in the Calvary in front of the roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate not only for a crime He has not committed but also for scam of liberating the bandit Barabbas, on the sixth day.
“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” (Matthew 26:59-66)
His Suffering: –
After their conviction, “the Jews spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” (Matthew 26:67-68)
Lord Jesus Christ was captured on the fourth day, locally known as “Hamus,” and put to trail early morning “Arebe. “When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” (Matthew 27:1-2)
The betrayer Judas had previously led the Jews to capture Jesus, selling Him, but then, knowing that he had been condemned, thought of returning back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, but was refused. So, after throwing down the pieces of slivers in the temple, went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)
Later on, “The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore, that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.” (Matthew 27:6-8)
On the Calvary, Lord Jesus Christ was questioned by Pontius Pilate; “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.” (Matthew 27:11-14)
The governor Pilate knew the Jews persecuted Lord Jesus out of envy and jealousy but with no fault at all. As the Jews had a custom of releasing one prisoner they desired and hence, Pilate had to ask whether he shall release Lord Jesus or the notorious prisoner Barabbas whom they liked. The crowd preferred the release of the bandit instead of the redeemer of the world our Lord. “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” (Matthew 27:15-29)
Pontius Pilate asked saying, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:23-26)
The soldiers stripped the Lord and put on Him a scarlet robe. They had then beaten Him 6666, times, kicked and dragged by the rope and fallen Him down “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.” (Matthew 27:29-31)
His Crucifixion
Whilst reaching to Golgotha, a place of skull, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” (Matthew 27:33-35)
“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” (Matthew 27:45) The sun had hidden its light when it saw its creator incarnated, hanging with His own free will on the wood of the Cross, inclined His head, and yielded up His spirit. (Coptic Synaxarium)
The ninth hour was where His soul departed from His body. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) After His death, “the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.” (Matthew 27:57-60)
His Resurrection
At the end of the first Sabbath, dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher that the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was buried in. Then followed earth quake for the Angel of God came and rolled back the stone. “behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:1-7)
Then, as they went to tell the disciples about the Lord’s resurrection, Lord Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Afterwards, some of the guard told the chief Priests the disciples stole the Lord’s body while they were sleeping. This saying is told among the Jews even till present day. (Matthew 28:9-15)
Onwards, the disciples went to the mountain in Galilee, which Lord Jesus had appointed for them. “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
May the Lord’s mercy, benevolence and blessing be upon us, Amen!!!