It's Friday But Sunday Is Coming

IT’S FRIDAY BUT SUNDAY IS COMING

On December the 7th 1941 the Japanese raided Pearl Harbor. This was a defining moment in American history. The U.S. fleet was reachable by an aircraft carrier force only. The Japanese planes attacked just before 8am. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Most of the combat planes were knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. But that was December 7th 1941 but August 6 1945 was coming.

On Friday Jesus stood before his accusers. The chief priests and the scribes wanted to Kill Jesus. He was a disturbance to the people. The religious leaders would seek to accuse him of anything that would cause him to be put to death. So they accumulated some false witnesses to testify falsely concerning his work. But they testimony was not consistent so therefore would not be convincing. People heard him say that he could destroy the temple and raise it up in three days. The priests were pushing him to say something. But Christ just stood there silent. He had no reason for speaking. In the Jewish law one did not have to testify. He could choose to remain silent. Finally, Christ states that he is God and he is coming back. With this saying the Priest declared him to be guilty and worthy of death. And then some of them began to mistake him. They wanted him dead and here was their chance. Mark 14: 65 “And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.” But today its Friday but Sunday is coming.

But the Jews knew that did not have the power to crucify someone. So they had to take him to Pilate to receive his approval. Pilate does not want to be involved in this affair. He is not in good standing with the Jews nor with Roman. Caesar sent Pilate to Palestine to keep the peace in the region but ever since Pilate became governor peace was never realized. Pilate attempts to question Christ. Once again Christ was silent before his accusers. The Priests were throwing harsh accusations against him and he remained silent. Isaiah 53: 7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”

Pilate even tries to appease the Jews by freeing one of the criminals for the Passover as was the custom. Pilate gives the people the choice between an insurrectionist named Barabbas and Christ. But the people cry out for Christ to be killed. Pilate was perplexed. He did not know why the Jewish people were against this man so much. What did he do that caused the Priest to so adamantly want his blood to be shed? Pilate could see that this man was innocent and he wished to release him but the people shouted all the more to Crucify Him. Pilate did not want to cause another riot or disturbance in Jerusalem so he gave into public pressure and sent Christ away to be killed. Mark 15: 15 “And wishing to satisfy the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” But today its Friday but Sunday is coming.

Poor Christ, his disciple Judas has betrayed him. Peter has denied him. His Disciples have fled from Him. And now he is all alone to face death. He prayed in the garden for strength during these final six hours on Friday. He needs help. But there he is, treated like a criminal while he is the Son of God. How could man kill his God? But today is Friday but Sunday is coming.

Now the soldiers are going to treat him like dirt or worse than dirt. They are going to beat him, hit him, spit on him, and mock him. They are going to dress him up like a king so that they can despise him. The place purple on him because this is the kingly color. You can picture these soldiers laughing and taunting Christ. They are sarcastically teasing him. The king of earth has become a joke to his creation. Creation taunts the Creator. Mark 15: 16-20 “And the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. And they dressed Him up in purple, and after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting at Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.” All of this is done on Friday but they do not realize that Sunday is coming.