Today is Good Friday, a day we celebrate in remembrance of Christ dying on the cross to wipe away our sins and give us the hope of everlasting life. As a young child growing up in the Catholic Church I had heard the Crucifixion story over and over again but I never really got the full understanding, or maybe I never paid much attention until I was about ten or eleven years old and read about it in St. Matthew.
Back then I was a very ardent reader and one Saturday not being able to find a book I had not already read, I picked up the bible and began reading St Matthew. I read about Mary becoming pregnant with the young child, the birth of Jesus and how he grew up in Nazareth. What I found fascinating was when Jesus began teaching and healing. He was healing the sick, making the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk. I thought this is really a good person, He is doing all these great things!
When Jesus began to speaking of His death, I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to betray Him or kill such a good person. I remember the part where He went into the Garden Of Gethsemane to pray and the disciples kept falling asleep and I kept thinking, He is always there for them and now when He needs them, they can’t stay awake.
I remember how Judas betrayed Him and how Peter denied Him three times, just as He had predicted. When they brought Him before Pilate, he could find nothing wrong with Him and I thought, surely they wouldn’t put an innocent man to die? By now I was so caught up in the story that everything seemed real. I t was as if it was happening right there and then and I was witnessing everything. It seemed as if I had gone back in time and these thing were happening right in front of my eyes.
When Pilate asked the people if they would have him release to them Barnabas or Jesus, they shouted for him to release Barnabas. I felt so disappointed, I was so sure they would have chosen Jesus, but no, they wanted Him to be crucified. It was then that I began pleading with God. I remember saying ”You really not going to let them kill Him?” I said “Look what He did for these people and now they want to kill Him. You going to let Him die for these people? They don’t deserve it! I smile sometimes when I remember that. Little did I realize back then that He was dying for my sins too!
By this time I was literally crying as I read how they mocked Him, spat on Him, struck Him on the head and when He asked for water, they gave Him vinegar to drink. I thought these people are so wicked, couldn’t they just give Him some water? When He gave up the ghost, I felt sad to know that He was dead.
Then I read about Mary going to the tomb and finding it empty. When He appeared to His disciples I realized that He was no longer dead. He had risen! I found myself laughing and crying at the same time and I recall saying ” Wretch them, the think them was going to kill Him and Him was going to stay dead!” I had this experience many years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday!
Here is a poem about the crucifixion. I am not quite sure who this poem but I hope you enjoy it.
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| He Was Crucified
I remember the day he was crucified
The cross stood bold on the hillside.
The nails stood out, and on the cross there He was.
The crowd gathered around as I watched Him.
HE WAS IN PAIN!
His eyes were red and blood shot, His body was limp.
The high pitched screams were like tormented demons they deafened our ears.
They stunned us as He suffers.
The people scourged Him; they cursed Him they spat on Him; they teased Him.
The even filled His mouth with vinegar.
WHAT A SET!
I watched death fall upon Him.
The shadow came closer, and then
AS IF HIS SOUL WAS TORN FROM HIM.
HE SCREAMED!
The spasm of pain tormented His soul.
HE SCREAMED AGAIN!
And then………… He was silent.
I still remember Him, but what can I do?
When He is now dead after He was crucified |
- Away with Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! (prhayz.com)
- Good? Friday (nebraskaenergyobserver.wordpress.com)
Author Marva Seaton 