The end of the road?

Stations 9 - 10

Station 9: Jesus' death; He took it all for you (and me)

The words in the background are some of the most heartwrenching in the Bible: Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani ...' (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) (My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?). Jesus cried to God the Father as he hung on the cross and as the sins of the world were placed on His shoulders. The sins of the world ... mine and yours, from time immemorial to time to come. What a burden, to be made sin, when Jesus was sinless. But He did it for you and I, and in the process, for a while, The Father turned away from Him ... as He took on our sins, humanity's sins.

What a Saviour, my saviour. Hallelujah.

As Jesus cried to the Father, the people thought that He was calling to Elijah (a great old testament prophet). The soldiers then took a sponge soaked with vinegar and raised it to Jesus' lips to drink. Jesus takes the meagre offering and declares finally, 'It is finished' and commits/surrenders His spirit to God the Father (dies) (John 19:30).

The picture depicts what happens next: the soldiers come to check on the victims of crucifixion, they break the two theives' legs and then find that Jesus had already passed. To confirm this they took a spear and pierced His side, bringing forth both blood and water. Once more the Scriptures were fulfilled ('Not one of His bones will be broken' (Psalm 34:20) and 'They will look on the one they have pierced' (Zech 12:10)).

The exhibits in this Station show the words of Jesus and beneath them, this beautiful picture (see pic below). The worshipper was invited to write a message of love, thankfulness, praise, etc to God as now we are cleansed through His sacrifice. Amen. Also beside the picture, there was a basketful of dried bread and vinegar, to allow the worshipper to dip the bread (sponge) into the vinegar and taste it as Jesus did.

Station 9(b): Transition

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split (Matthew 27:51).

The 'moment' the verse refers to is the moment of Jesus' death. The torn curtain in the Temple is most significant. You see, in Old Testament times there was a curtain which separated the Most Holy area of the Temple from the rest, and this is the place the High Priest met with God. By this act of tearing the curtain in two, God now provides a way for us, normal people, people under His grace and salvation, to come before Him. Jesus tore the curtain for us. Let us now approach the Throne of God boldly and courageously. Amen.

Worshippers were invited to walk through the curtain ... come.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

(Matthew 27: 51 - 54)

The centurion confessed and (hopefully) believed. Yes Jesus is the Son of God.

Station 10: Jesus Christ's burial

The Burial of Jesus

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb (Matthew 27: 57 - 61).

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. Prophetically, at Jesus birth (Matthew 2:11), the magi brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Gold symbolised His Kingship, the Frankincense symbolised His role as our High Priest (interceding for us) and the Myrrh foretold His death.

Our God is an awesome God. Amen.

To many of Jesus' followers that day was a most tragic day. To Jesus, it was necessary ... but the best was yet to come ...

God bless you.