The Friday before Easter Sunday – The Guilty Set Free, the Innocent Slaughtered
Nothing would be good about Good Friday if it were not for the glorious victory on Sunday. Because of Easter, Friday’s cross is actually good. For you and me Friday’s cross is the greatest event of history. Because it was on that cross that the punishment for our sin was paid. Reading the events of the Friday of Passion Week brings to light a great diversity of characters. Picture each one in your mind. There is Pilate the politician who tries to please both groups, the crucifiers and the crucified, vainly washing his hands. There is Pilate’s wife who warns her husband not to give Jesus up. There is Judas who shows his true colors and dies a violent death. There is Simon who helps bear the cross. There are the Pharisees who are careful not to break their ceremonial laws while murdering the innocent Messiah. There is Peter, warming his hands, who denies and cries. There are the women who watch and ...