Memory Lane Series

The Road To Easter

Pt. 5 - Memory Lane

I. Introduction

We are almost there. One more exit and we arrive. We just need to taxi to the gate. Anticipation is coursing through our veins. We lean forward, we gather our belongings, we prepare to jump up and exit the plane. We can't wait to unbuckle the seat belt and bail out of the plane/car even before it stops. The last few miles and last few minutes seem to take the longest. We long for the final destination. But in this journey we can't afford to miss the stops along the way. Jesus' journey to Easter is our focus. The destination holds so much meaning and hope for us that if we aren't careful our drive for that day causes us to miss important moments along the way. We are attempting to pause and reflect on the road Jesus took to get to the empty tomb. What happened on the Tuesday or Thursday before He is raised from the dead? Do you know? Does it matter? Let's walk this road together and see as we head to the Disneyland of our faith . . . Easter!

(SLIDE 2) We have reviewed Palm Sunday and the Triumphal Entry. We talked about Jesus' Monday when He cleansed the temple. We discussed Tuesday. It was the day Jesus hands out hope. On Wednesday we don't really know. On Thursday, He communes with His loved ones.

It is now Friday. Jesus has dreaded this moment. He prays and asks His Father for a different way. His body, so repulsed by what He is about to endure, bursts until His sweat is blood. His prayer time produces a man so bloody and disfigured that He is almost unrecognizable. Fulfilling Isaiah 54:12 which says, "His appearance was beyond recognition as being a man." Judas' betrayal is complete. Delivered with a kiss. Peter has denied Christ. Fake trials have been held. Repeated opportunities for the religious to wake up and recognize Jesus as The Son of God have been tossed aside. A common and convicted criminal by the name of Barabbas is chosen. Jesus is crowned with thorns. Healing stripes have been viciously applied to His back. The heavy crossbeam of His cross has been carried. And all before 9am. We call it "Good Friday!"

Here is what happens:

4:00 to 6:00a.m. - Jesus’ trial before Annas and Caiaphas.

6:00 to 8:00a.m. - Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate and Herod. Jesus appears before Pilate, is sent over to Herod, and then back to Pilate where he is sentenced to be crucified.

8:00 to 8:30a.m. - Jesus carries his cross, with Simon of Cyrene’s help, to Golgotha.

9:00a.m. - Jesus is crucified.

9:00 to 9:30a.m. - The soldiers divide Jesus’ clothing. He prays for them.

9:30 to 11:00a.m. - The soldiers watch over the crucifixion and mock Jesus: “He can’t save himself. Come down from there, Son of God.”

11:00a.m. to Noon - Jesus speaks from the cross to the thieves on either side. And to his mother, Mary, and to John, Jesus says, “Woman, here is your son. . . . John, here is your mother.’”

Noon - A three-hour darkness descends upon the land.

Noon to 3:00p.m. - The earth quakes, the temple curtain is torn, and Jesus thirsts but refuses to drink the wine mixed with gall. This would have numbed His senses. A pain killer. He chooses to feel the full effect of what we feel.

3:00p.m. - Jesus dies: “At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” “Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ and he gave up his spirit.”

Good Friday. Good for who? Us? Without a doubt. Good for Jesus? Not even close! Friday is terrible and beautiful at the same time.

On Friday, you would think we would write down on our card the word - crucified. It is the highlight of the day. It is the highlight of history. It is this singular act of complete and total submission and surrender that is accepted by the Father as the sacrifice for every sin committed or that would be committed including ours. It is His cross that makes it possible for us to find life. If it wasn't for Friday there would be no hope for Sunday. There is not and cannot be a bloodless Gospel. It has been written that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins."

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. I am responsible for His cross. I am thankful for the cross. I am humbled by His cross. It was His blood shed on the cross that causes the veil of separation to be torn so that I can have access to the Father! Separation is separated.