GOOD FRIDAY 2021: "It Is Finished"
By : Bro. Nathan
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53:5)
The Trial Of Jesus
It is the last day ng mortal ministry ni Jesus Christ here on earth. Jesus after His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, there was a mob coming and they are about to arrest Jesus. He was betrayed by Judas with as kiss, para maipakita kung sino nga ba yung hinahanap nila (Mt. 26:45-57; Lk. 22:54-65). Jesus was then arrested at dinala sa Jewish authorities para majudge (Lk. 22:66-71). at the palace ng high priest na si Caiphas, they asked Jesus many questions at even nagpadala pa ng false witnesses to speak against Jesus at sinabi nila na dinisobey daw ni Jesus Christ ang law by saying that He was the Son of God and said na blasphemy daw ito. Jesus then declared ang kanyang glory as the Son of God by saying "...ye shall see the Son of Man, seated on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of Heaven." (Mt. 26:64). Jesus was then declared by the Jewish authorities as a blasphemer at siya ay pinagduduraan, at binugbog. Jesus was then sent to Pilate para patayin.
According sa laws noon, it was unlawfull na maghearing ka in the midst of Passover, and all ng mga accusations against kay Jesus Christ was proven false according to the Law. in other words, ang hearing na ito at the palace ni Caiphas ay illegal. ginawa nila ang lahat para lang mapatay si Jesus.
When Jesus was sent to Pilate na isang Governor sa Judea (Mt. 27:11; Lk. 23:2-5; Jn. 18:30), then when nalaman ni Pilate na nanggaling si Jesus sa Galilee, pinadala siya kay Herod dahil si Jesus ay nagmula sa jurisdiction ni Herod. Herod was so pleased nung nakita niya si Jesus and even asked to show him a miracle. they questioned Jesus but hindi siya umimik. then they made fun of Jesus and was then sent back to Pilate for Herod himself did not find any guilt in Jesus (Lk. 23:7-15).
Pilate questioned Jesus. Pilate asked kung si Jesus ba ang King of the Jews. Jesus then responded to Pilate na kung tinanong niya ba ito dahil sa sinabi ito ng ibang tao sa kanya. Pilate then asked Jesus kung ano ba ang ginawa niya, Jesus then responded :
" My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Pilate therefore said unto him, " Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." (Jn. 18:36–37)
The hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders was put on display when they led Jesus to Pilate to be judged. They would not enter into the hall of judgment, which was a Gentile structure, because doing so would make them ritually unclean and they desired to eat the Passover meal the next day (Jn. 18:28). Yet at the same time, they were willing to falsely accuse Jesus before Pilate and seek His death
Then in response sa patuloy na pagtatanong ni Pilate, He acknowledged, “Thou sayest that I am a king” (Jn. 18:36–37). His statements are consistent with His refusal throughout His ministry to present Himself as an earthly king (Jn. 6:15), while openly declaring that He was the Messiah.
The Savior had stated that His followers were also “not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn. 17:14; cf. 15:19; 17:16). While serving in the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander taught that as followers of Jesus Christ and members of the kingdom of God, we are to be separate from the world and seek after that which is sacred and eternal:
“In answer to Pilate’s question ‘Art thou the King of the Jews?’ the Savior answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ (John 18:33, 36). With these few words, Jesus declares His kingdom independent and distinct from this world. The Savior’s teachings, doctrine, and personal example lift all who truly believe in Him to a divine standard that requires both eye and mind be single to the glory of God (see D&C 4:5; 88:68). The glory of God encompasses all that is holy and sacred. Our ability to seek, recognize, and reverence the holy above the profane, and the sacred above the secular, defines our spirituality. Indeed, without the holy and sacred, we are left with only the profane and secular” (“Holy Place, Sacred Space,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 71).
“For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37). Elder Morrison used this statement to describe the purpose of Jesus Christ’s mortal existence:
“‘For this cause came I into the world.’ What was that cause? Why did Jesus, the Lord God Omnipotent who sits at the right hand of the Father, creator of worlds without number, lawgiver and judge, condescend to come to earth to be born in a manger, live out most of His mortal existence in obscurity, trudge the dusty roads of Judea proclaiming a message which was violently opposed by many, and finally, betrayed by one of His closest associates, die between two malefactors on Golgotha’s somber hill? … It was love for all of God’s children that led Jesus, unique in His sinless perfection, to offer Himself as ransom for the sins of others. In the words of the beloved hymn, ‘Jesus died on Calvary! That all thru him might ransomed be’ (‘’Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love,’ Hymns, no. 176). This, then, was the consummate cause which brought Jesus to earth to ‘suffer, bleed, and die for man.’ He came as ‘a lamb without blemish and without spot’ (1 Pet. 1:19) to atone for our sins, that He, being raised on the cross, might draw all men unto Him (see 3 Ne. 27:14)” (“For This Cause Came I into the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 25–26).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that just as the Savior came into the world for a specific cause, we too have a cause in our mortal lives:
“As He began to feel the awful weight of the approaching Atonement, Jesus acknowledged, ‘For this cause came I into the world’ (John 18:37). We too, brothers and sisters, came ‘into the world’ to pass through our particularized portions of the mortal experience. Even though our experiences do not even begin to approach our Master’s, nevertheless, to undergo this mortal experience is why we too are here! Purposefully pursuing this ‘cause’ brings ultimate meaning to our mortal lives” (“Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 22).
Pilate found Jesus not guilty of any disobedience to the Roman law, so sinubukan niya na palayain si Jesus Christ. however, inoposse ng mga tao ang decision na ito ni Pilate. binigyan ni Pilate ang mga Jews kung sino ang papalayain sa dalawa, si Barabbas na isang criminal, or si Jesus Christ. according sa Jewish customs, isang criminal dapat ang palayain sa Passover. the Jews finally made a decision. they decided Barabbas to be freed and Jesus to be killed (Jn. 18:39-40). Pilate then sentenced Jesus to be crucified. hinugasan niya ang kanyang kamay at sinabi na " i am innocent of the blood of this just person." (Mt. 27:24). Pilate then sent Jesus to be scourged (Jn. 19:1)
The Death Of Judas
Iscariot
Matthew was obviously affected by the suicide of Judas, a fellow Apostle, but he knew it was also a fulfillment of prophecy. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote the following regarding the death of Judas Iscariot as the fulfillment of prophecy: “However desirable the thirty pieces of silver seemed before the deed, their ill-gotten weight became a crushing burden on the soul now. In his frenzy Judas discards them so as to fulfill in literal detail the remainder of Zechariah’s Messianic utterance about them: ‘And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.’ (Zech. 11:13–14.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:798).
The Old Testament quotation Matthew cited (Mt. 27:9–10) may be a combination of words from Zechariah 11:12–13 and words from the prophet Jeremiah (perhaps Jer. 18:2; 19:1–2), even though Matthew cited Jeremiah as the writer. Early Christian writers knew the Old Testament prophecies so well that sometimes they combined the information from various sources.
The Scourging
Jesus after sentenced, was sent to be scourged (Jn. 19:1; Ang scourging ay isang form ng punishment where ang isang victim ay hinuhubaran at itinatali sa isang poste and then ay nilalatigo. ang whip na ginagamit ng mga Romans ay tinatawag na "flagrum" o "flagellum" which consist of leather straps with a wooden handle at ang flagrum/flagellum na ito ay modified with sharp objects like sharp pieces of sheep bones, lead, at basag na salamin. ang pag-strike nito sa katawan ng victim ay pwedeng makumpara sa shotgun. napupunit nito ang laman at nagiging dahilan ng bloodloss, shock, at thrauma. sa Jewish scourging, limited ang number ng ipapalo sa 39 pero sa roman scourging, ito ay hanggang kahit ilang beses dahil wala silang awa kung torture ang usapan. one Jewish historian once recorded someone na iniscourge hanggang sa magpakita ang mga buto niya. the victim can die from scourging alone at hindi na makaabot sa crucifixion. but Jesus Christ endured all of these
The tearing of bread in the sacrament is an act reminder ng napagpupunit-punit na laman ni Jesus Christ sa kanyang scourging. for "with his stripes, we are healed." (Isa. 53:5)
The Crowning Of
Thorns
After Jesus was bloodily scourged, the Roman soilders then took Jesus sa isang praetorium (Mt. 27:27; Mk. 15:16; Lk. 32:1-5). in here , they made fun of Jesus. gumawa sila ng koronang tinik at inilagay at idiniin ito sa ulo ni Jesus and binihisan ng isang robe, at binigyan ng reed at kanilang sinabi "Hail, King of the Jews" (Mk. 15:18; Jn. 19:3), then kanilang kinuha ang reed at pinagpapalo ito sa kanya at pinagsasampalan siya. ang crown of thorns na ito causes migrane.
Ecce Homo!
(Behold, The Man)
Pilate brought Jesus to the people, and sinabi niya "Behold, The Man!" (Jn. 19:5) which in latin, it says "Ecce Homo!", at kanya din sinabi na "Behold your king!" "shall i crucifiy your king?" (Jn. 19:14-15) ginawa ito ni Pilate para maipakita sa mga tao na enough na ang parusang binigay niya kay Jesus para payagan na nila na palayain siya, but instead, the people said "Away with him, away with him, crucify him......... We have no king but Caesar." (Jn. 19:15). then sinabi ni Pilate kay Jesus na may power siya na palayain si Jesus at may power siya na ipako sa krus si Jesus (Jn. 19:10) but Jesus then responds :
In here, sinabi ni Jesus kay Pilate na dapat mangyari ang dapat mangyari since ito ay nakatakda na before siya ipanganak. Jesus here also declares na tanging siya ang may authority na kunin ang kanyang buhay at hindi ang sinuman. it references sa sinabi niya sa John 10 na :
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" (Jn. 10:17–18)
Jesus was then sent by Pilate to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
Jesus was sent to be crucified. ang crucifixion ay originated mula sa mga assyrians hanggang sa ito ay na-adopt at minaster ng mga Romans. ot was done by nailing someone on the cross at hayaan na mamatay. ito ay isang form ng execution na slow and was considered as ang pinakamasakit na form ng execution. binuhat ni Jesus ang kanyang cross from main Jerusalem hanggang sa Golgotha. the fact is, hindi actually buong cross ang idinala ni Jesus Christ sa Golgotha kundi isang crosspiece lang. sa site ng crucifixion ay may permanent na poste o punongkahoy where ikakabit ang crosspiece sa poste, making a cross. impossible na nagbuhat si Jesus ng buong cross dahil ito ay impossible dahil sa bigat nito na baka mamamatay ang sentenced criminal sa daan kaysa sa execution site. ang victim ay hinubaran at ipinapako sa crosspiece in his hands (both palms and wrist) at paa. ang nails usually ay nilalagyan ng wooden washers para hindi matanggal. ang victim ay iniraraise up sa cross. Jesus was then nailed to the cross (Mt. 27:35; Mk. 15:16; Lk. 23:33; Jn. 19:18). there after, ay may nilalagay na sinage or also called Titulus Crucis na nakasulat doon na "Jesus of Nazareth, King Of The Jews" in Hebrew, greek, and latin (Jn. 19:19-20) :
ישוע מנצרת מלך היהודים (Yehoshua Hanatzri Vemelech Hayhoodem)
Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων. (Iesous o Naswraios o Basileus twn Ioudaiwn)
IESVS NAZARENVS REX IUDAEORVM (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum) (ang I.N.R.I ay isang acronym ng latin nito)
The Seven Last Words Of
Jesus
Sa kanyang mga huling sandali, Christ made 7 statements on the cross na kadalasang tinatawag na "The Seven Last Words Of Jesus". in this seven statements, its shows how Jesus is :
- A Healing Savior
- Have Humanity
- Divine
The healing statements, which is the first three statements na sinabi ni Jesus Christ, shows na kahit siya na nangangailangan ng justice, comfort, at healing, ay mas pinili niya na -heal ang ibang tao. the first statement that He made was for the Roman Soilders na nagpako sa kanya which shows us an example ng forgiveness (cf. Mt. 5:43-45; 6:12) :
1. "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34)
Jesus gave mercy sa mga taong pumatay sa kanya. He showed the example na ibinigay niya sa Sermon on the Mount na "....Love your enemies" and "pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." (Mt. 5:44). Christ here teaches us na dapat tayong magpatawad willingly. kahit na hindi ito hinihingi o kahit hindi mo kagustuhan na patawarin yung nagkasala sayo. we should have to establish a good feeling for both sides dahil through this ay magkakaroon tayo ng peace of mind.
Sa kanyang second statement, nagpakita si Jesus ng comapssion sa ibang tao. Christ was crucified between two thieves (Mt. 27:38-44; Mk. 15:27-28; Lk. 23:32-33; Jn. 19:18). ang isa sa mga thieves taunted him saying, "if thou be the Christ, save thyself, and us" (Lk. 23:39) but the other thief rebuked him saying that patas lang ang nagyari sa kanila kasi dahilan ito ng kanilang mga actions, then sinabi ng thief na ito kay Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Lk. 23:42). ito ang huling recorded na words from someone to Jesus. siya ang tanging tao na recorded na gospels na humiling kay Jesus na alalahanin siya. tinitingnan ng ibang tao ang magnanakaw na ito na worthless na at wala nang pag-asa ka macommit ang salvation pero dahil nakikita ni Jesus na nagsisisi nanga siya sa kanyang mga ginawa, sinabi niya, showing compassion :
2. "Verily i say unto thee, today, shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk. 23:43)
Jesus promises this penitent thief na magkakasama sila pagkatapos nila mamatay at that very day. the "paradise" in the context refers sa isang bahagi ng spirit world where sila ay makakapagpahinga. Jesus began His public ministry sa isang sinagoga sa Nazareth. in there, binasa niya ang isang passage sa book of Isaiah na patungkol sa Messiah na ang Messiah will ".........proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." (Isa. 61:1). Jesus, in this day of His death, proclaimed freedom to the penitent thief who is physically bound on the cross and spiritually bound in sin. gaya ng pagkalaya ng magnanakaw na ito mula sa sin, so as we na maaring mapalaya mula sa spiritual bondage ng sin because of our healing and merciful Savior (Heb. 9:22-28)
Nang nakita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina na si Mary, kasama si John the Beloved na pinapanood siya na magsuffer sa cross, sinabi niya sa kanilang dalawa :
3. (To Mary) ".......Woman, behold thy son!" (Jn. 19:26)
(To John the Beloved) "......Behold thy mother!" (Jn. 19:27)
Jesus was concerned about the needs of His mother, kaya pinagkatiwala niya ito kay John. Jesus here shows an example that we should follow the commandment na "Honor thy father and thy mother." (Mt. 19:19; Ex. 20:12). Jesus showed love to His mother, kahit na sa times na naghihirap siya. Jesus here shows us that we should look outward, even we are suffering.
Sa first 3 statements na ito shows the healing that the Savior gives us. kahit na ano man malalang ginawa mo, o kahit sino ka man, walang tao ang hindi marereach ng healing na binibigay ng Savior. lahat ay makakakuha nito through His atonement.
Although si Jesus ay God in nature at ang God incarnate (Jn. 1:1-18; Acts 20:28; Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Jn. 5:20) at may immortal na Ama at may mortal na ina, the next two statements ay nagpapakita ng kanyang humanity dahil siya ay God in human flesh na subject din na mamuhay ng isang mortal life. At the cross ay nakaramdam si Jesus ng shock dahil sa bloodloss, at ng thrauma, sinabi niya ang kanyang pang-apat na statement :
4. "i thirst" (Jn. 19:28)
Looking back sa sinabi niya sa isang Samarita sa Jacob's well, sinabi niya na, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (Jn. 4:14). Christ truly took all our burdens. nagkatawang tao siya para magsuffer para sa atin (Heb. 2:7-9). nauhaw siya para tayo ay makainom sa tubig na nagbibigay ng eternal life na siya mismo sa mga oras na yun ay nangangailangan. si Jesus Christ, bilang ang Living Water (Jn. 4:10), pinapalakas niya tayo para maovercome natin ang challenges sa buhay.
Nang malapit na siyang mamatay, isinigaw niya
5."My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mk. 15:34)
Si Jesus Christ sa kanyang mga huling sandali, ay iniwan para buhatin ang sins of the world na walang accompany mula kay Heavenly Father. Jesus said to His disciples the night before, na "i will not leave you comfortless. i will come to you." (Jn. 14:18). He will send us the Holy Ghost to comfort us. sa kanyang mga huling sandali ay nagawa niya na magpatawad, magcomfort, at magrespeto kahit na sa mga oras na yun ay siya mismo ay ang nangangailangan ng comfort. He was left para makabalik tayo sa piling ni Heavenly Father. tanging siya ang makakatulong sa atin through connecting ourself to Him at tanging sa kanya tayo makakahanap ng comfort (Mt. 11:28-30) at only through Him ay makakabalik tayo sa presence ni Heavenly Father (Jn. 14:6; Rom. 8:34-35; 1 Tim. 3:5-6)
Sa kanyang last 2 statements ay nagpapakita ng kanyang divinity bilang ang God-incarnate (Jn. 1:1-18; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:7-9; 1 Jn. 4:2; 2 Jn. 1:7), na kahit na nagsu-suffer siya sa cross ay may control parin siya sa mga bagay. He is still in control. sa kanyang ika-anim na statement, sinabi niya :
6. "it is finished!" (Jn. 19:30)
Sa kanyang ministry, sinabi ni Jesus Christ na ang kanyang purpose ay sundin at tapusin ang work na binigay sa kanya ni Heavenly Father (Jn. 4:34). after all ng pain na kanyang dinanas, Christ finally declares na natapos na niya ang work na binigay sa kanya ni Heavenly Father. kahit na sa buhay natin ay nafe-feel natin na tayo ay out of control, Christ is still in control.
Sa kanyang final moment, isinigaw niya
7. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Lk. 23:46)
This shows the Savior's personal agency, na willing siya na ibigay ang buhay niya. Christ first recorded words in a young age ay nang sinabi niya kina Mary and Joseph na "wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Lk. 2:49) which indicates na kanya nang sisimulan ang work na ibinigay sa kanya ni Heavenly Father, and at the cross, He proclaims na natapos na ang kanyang work by saying the same title "Father....". He gave Himslef completely to God. should we do the same?
Sa 7 statements na ito ay marereflect natin na :
1. Si Jesus ay isang healing Savior na nagbibigay ng relief and comfort (cf. Mt. 11:28-30)
2. Si Jesus ay may Humanity dahil Siya din mismo ay nakaka-relate sa mga pait na nararamdaman natin (cf. Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:7-9)
3. Si Jesus ay isang Divine Savior, na kaya niya na mabigyan tayo ng lakas para maovercome ang anumang challenges sa buhay (Phil. 4:13) at tanging siya ay ang may kakayahan na mailigtas tayo mula sa ating mga kasalanan at para tayo ay makabalik sa piling ng ating Ama sa Langit (1 Jn. 3:5)
Christ suffered and died for us. He was sent by Heavenly Father so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (Jn. 3:15-16). through His obedience to Heavenly Father, He became the author of Eternal Salvation for those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). We are all made alive through His atonement (1 Cor. 15:22) at tanging siya lamang ang Way, ang Truth, at ang Life, na through Him ay makakabalik tayo sa presence ni Heavenly Father (Jn. 14:6; Rom. 8:34; cf. 1 Tim. 2:5-6)
Image : "Forgive them" by Dan Burr
