MSW: The journey continues ...

The journey of our Lord Jesus this Good Friday continues ...

Stations 6 - 7

Station 6: Jesus crucified - Salvation is free, but it cost God everything.

The journey of our Lord Jesus (this Good Friday) reaches it's peak with the crucifixion of our Lord. Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha only to have His hands and feet nailed to a cross.

"Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered ..." (from The Servant King).

Mel Gibson was right when he said during the filming of the Passion of the Christ that it was his (and our) hands that nailed Jesus to the cross - our sins, our iniquities. Jesus could have called forth armies of angels to rescue Him from the Roman soldiers, but it was LOVE for us, not the nails, that kept Him pinned to the cross.

And through it all (God dying for sinful men), Jesus said "Father forgive these people, because they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.

The worshipper was invited to write their fears, sins on a piece of paper and stick it to the wooden cross: acknowledging that Jesus Christ's work of redemption for us is complete. Amen.

Station 7: Prophecies fulfilled

Hallelujah! God's Word is true.

The next exhibit shows how a prophecy about Jesus was fulfilled. It had been foretold in the Old Testament that after Jesus was crucified, his garments would be divided among the Roman guards and they would throw lots for them.

So they said, "Let's not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it." This fulfilled the scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe." John 19:24. (The prophecy is in Psalm 22:18).

The worshipper is called to meditate on the truth and accuracy of the prophecy. The Bible is filled with other instances of prophecies and prophecies fulfilled.

Two more examples are given (the two pictures on the left and right of the robe):

(1) Jesus Christ's birth to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem:

Prophecy:

‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14) (Immanuel means ‘God with us’; Jesus Christ is referred to as Immanuel).


Prophecy fulfilled:

The Gospels of Matthew (1:18-25) and Luke (2:1-20) record the virgin Mary giving birth to Christ.

(2) Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, riding a donkey (colt):

Prophecy:

‘Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Zechariah 9:9)

Prophecy fulfilled:

All four Gospels: Matthew (21:1-11), Mark (11:1-11), Luke (19:28-38) and John (12:12-19) record the Triumphal Entry, where the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

God bless you.