Tetelestai

It was nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion began. Nails through each hand and both feet,

high in the air, He hung alongside two condemned criminals. Innocence among the guilty. Jesus knew

that the physical pain He was enduring was about to end. However, the spiritual pain He sweated

blood over was about to begin.

 

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.

Then, at that time, Jesus called out with a loud voice,

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”

which means,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 

A sponge soaked in sour wine was lifted to Jesus’ mouth.

When He tasted it, He said, “It is finished.”

Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

 

By afternoon, He did what He came to do.

            Tetelestai -  “It is finished.”

                                                       Done.

                                                                      Complete.  

Reference: Mark 15:33-34 and John 19:29-30

Hail! King of the Jews!

Jesus saw many people before this dark night was over. The council of religious leaders bound Jesus and took him to Pilate.

Pilate was anxious to please the crowds who were yelling “Crucify Him!!” He ordered Jesus to be flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers. 

The Roman solders took Him into their headquarters and

called out the entire battalion.

They dressed Him in a purple robe and

made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head.

Then they saluted, yelling, “Hail! King of the Jews!”

And they beat Him on the head with a stick,

spit on Him,

and dropped to their knees in mock worship.

 

Falsely accused, tried, and convicted of lies. However, speaking the truth...while being the Truth.

 

I wonder if Jesus got any rest that night. Bleeding rips covered his body, maybe the physical

pain was too much to bear and rest was impossible. Plus, He knew what the new dawn would

hold for Him—being nailed to a cross and hung high for all to see. More suffering is yet to come...

 

Reference: Mark 15:15-19

In Denial

In the darkness, the flickering light of a warm campfire lit up Peter’s face just enough for

one of the high priest’s servant girls to say,

“You were one of those with Jesus, the Nazarene.”

Peter said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The rooster crowed. 

“That man is definitely one of them!” Peter denied it again. 

A bit later some others said to Peter,

“You must be one of them because you are from Galilee.” 

Peter said,

“I swear by God, I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.

Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind:

“Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

And Peter broke down and cried.

 

Despite Peter’s many failures, Jesus loved him, just as He loves each of us,

despite our failures.  

In fact, in John 21: 15-19, when Jesus appears to the disciples after resurrection,

He challenges Peter, asking him three times if he loves Him. Three times Peter

replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Then feed my sheep.”

Jesus reinstated Peter.

 

 

Reference: Mark 14:66-72

Garden Struggle and Kiss of Death

Garden Struggle

 

Jesus and His disciples had just finished eating the Passover meal when Jesus brought them

to the olive grove called Gethsemane.

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” 

-Jesus to Peter and Zebedee in the olive grove 

Jesus was in great anguish over his approaching physical pain and spiritual pain—being

separated from the Father and death for the sins of the world. The divine course was

set, but He, in His human nature, still struggled. 

Jesus went a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying,

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from me.

Yet I want Your will, not mine.”

Not only did He know He’d die a painful death, He knew that because of the weight of a

world of sin, He was going to be separated from the Father. This was more unbearable

than physical death.  Jesus took on our sins that Friday morning and suffered spiritual

separation from God so that we would never have to know what that feels like. We

will never be separated from God. 

Reference: Matthew 26:37-38 and 39

 

 

Kiss of Death

 

Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ

 

In the midst of a beautiful olive grove, as Jesus’ prayers rose to meet the Father’s ear, the end had begun. 

Judas, one of the twelve disciplines, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs.

They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people.

Judas had given them a prearranged signal:

 

“You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him a kiss of greeting.”

So Judas came straight to Jesus.

“Greetings, Teacher!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

 Jesus said,

“My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

 

Jesus says to His enemy, Judas, “My friend….”           

Incredible. Powerful. So God... 

Reference: Matthew 26:47-50

 

 

The Passover Meal

In honor of Holy Week, each day we'll focus one of the moments of Jesus' passion.

 

As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it.

Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”

And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said,

“Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and His people.

It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.  Mark my words, I will not drink wine again until the day

I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane).

 

People under the old covenant (those who lived before Jesus) could approach God

only through a priest and an animal sacrifice. Here Jesus is telling His disciples about

the approaching new covenant which His blood will seal. 

Today, we take of the bread and the cup, called communion, as a reminder that because

of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can commune directly with God. We can also be thankful for the

promise of His return. 

Reference: Matthew 26:26-30

 

Open Studio Cancelled Tonight

Photo from TahoeClicks

TONIGHT'S OPEN STUDIO HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW!

 

So, we moved it to next Wednesday, March 13. See you then! :)

 

Joy and Peace ~ deAnn