How Jesus Faced His Friday
Everyone struggled on crucifixion Friday. The disciples struggled to keep faith, Pilate struggled to save face, faithful women struggled to help Jesus, Pharisees struggled to discredit Jesus, and soldiers struggled to hurt Jesus. Nevertheless, no one struggled more than Jesus. People called him a liar, beat him with sticks, and plastered his face with spit. They yanked chunks of flesh from his back with a hook-tipped whip and crucified him naked in front of family and friends. When he stumbled beneath the weight of the cross, no one came to help him. When hung up to die, no one rescued him. How did Jesus endure such an ordeal? He turned a day of suffering into Good Friday “…for the joy set before him...” (Heb. 12:2) Jesus faced his Friday by looking into eternity, and by making Heaven bigger, his pain became smaller.
