Some History of "Good Friday"

 Today is called "Good Friday" by the Christian community. It's not because it was a good day for anyone, except perhaps for the bloodthirsty Roman soldiers and the mobs who observed the crucifixion in ignorance, but because it's the day that our Lord sacrificed His life for each and every one of us to reconcile our sins before God. His ugly, painful death brought each of us new and eternal life. Our only cost? We must accept Him and believe.

After being betrayed by Judas, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemeny where He and His disciples had gone to pray. He was bound and likely taken up this stone stairway to Mount Zion and eventually to the house of Caiaphus, which stood on this very sight.

Jesus first faced Annas, the former high priest and Caiaphus' father-law. Annas questioned Him about His teachings and His disciples but made no public determination. 

Caiaphus was woken in the night and presented with Jesus for a determination of His fate. Caiaphus asked Jesus if He was the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus answered "I am." Caiaphus called for Jesus' death for blasphemy. 

Jesus faced several "trials" that night, all of which were illegal by Jewish and Roman law. Jesus was taken before Pilate who found no fault with Him. Jesus was taken before Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod found no reason to execute Jesus and returned Him to Pilate. Pilate, wanting no part in the death of Jesus, ordered Him scourged and released. He returned Jesus to the soldiers.

The soldiers stripped Jesus of His garments and tied Him to the Column of Flagellation, a stone or wooden column in a public place where the victim was in a kneeling position, unable to stand or sit, and beaten severely. Unlike whipping, the cords of flagellation were leather straps infused with pieces of lead and bone that cut through the victim's skin, fascia and muscle all the way to the bone or bowel. They pulled chunks of muscle and bone from the body when they were pulled away. Flagellation was usually fatal on it's own yet Jesus survived to take Himself most of the way to the place of execution, carrying the cross bar of His own cross.

After the scourge Jesus was returned to Pilate, who still saw no reason to crucify Him. By that time, however, Pilate knew someone was going to be put to death that day by the mob and even though he found no reason for it, he offered the growing mob the choice, as was customary, of releasing Jesus or Barabbas. The mob chose to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus.

Pilate washed his hands to symbolize that he had no part in Jesus fate. Jesus was released to the Roman soldiers once again. The cross bar of his own cross was laid upon His shoulders and He was forced to carry it to the site of Hs crucifixion, a hill outside the city called Golgotha - the place of the skull. 

Golgotha still exists to this day although centuries of weather and erosion have mostly destroyed the original image that resembled a skull. Standing close to it one can still imagine its former appearance and understand how it got the name.

Jesus was tired, weak from devastating injuries, blood loss and lack of sleep, and carrying such a heavy load. He stumbled and fell more than once. Eventually, about halfway there, He fell for the last time and was unable to stand under the weight. The soldiers, knowing Jesus might not survive His trip to His own execution, forced a bystander, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross for Jesus. Simon was a foreigner from what is now known as Libya. We don't know the specific reason he was chosen but he carried the cross and followed behind Jesus. Was that symbolic? The other Gospels simply say Simon carried the cross but in Luke it specifically says Simon carried it behind Jesus. Was this in reference to Luke 9:23 where Jesus said "If anyone would come after me let him deny himself an take up his cross daily and follow me?"

Upon arrival to Golgotha, Jesus was placed supine on the ground, Accounts of the actual process vary but I believe large spikes were driven with hammers through His wrists (not his hands as has been portrayed) into the crosspiece of heavy wood. The crosspiece was then picked up from the ground, not gently, with Jesus hanging by His wrists, and raised to the slot on the top of the upright, where it would be dropped into place, causing agony to Jesus' back and shoulders. Splinters and the rough wood would have been extremely painful on his open and raw back. Using those same spikes, Jesus' feet were nailed to the upright in a position that did not allow Him to kneel or stand straight.

As was customary in a crucifixion, Jesus would have to force Himself to stand to take a deep breath. Suffocation was the most common cause of death during crucifixion as the body was unable to take in appropriate amounts of oxygen. But standing, forcing Himself up to breathe, would have been excruciating. He suffered most of the day, calling out to His father, forgiving his executioners, inviting His fellow prisoner into paradise with Him, before announcing "It is finished" and literally willing Himself to die.

At that moment the skies darkened, the ground shook and the Temple veil was torn in half. But in reality, "It is finished" turned out to be only the beginning for those who believe.