Key Scripture: Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

(For a full account of the events for this day, see Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23:1-56; and John 18:28-19:42)

As Thursday night turned into early Friday morning, Jesus is betrayed by one of His disciples, arrested by the chief priests and the Sanhedrin, and placed on trial falsely. During the early morning hours on Friday, many prophecies were fulfilled from the Old Testament. One of the prophecies is from Isaiah 50:6 -“I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pull out My beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.”

Within a short amount of time, Jesus would be condemned to death by the very people that praised Him just a few days before (Matthew 21:9). He would suffer much at the hands of wicked men. Paul states in Acts 2:22-24 - “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Jesus Christ was the sacrificial lamb for our sins.

Christ embraces death with purpose and obedience to the Father. While on the cross, our Lord Jesus was hung between two prisoners; one mocked Him, but the other said, “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:39-43). Amidst the most cruel and unjust death a human could endure, Jesus responds with compassion to the criminal beside Him.