Last Sabbath Jesus told the repentant thief, “you will be with me in paradise.” But today, we come to the final breath. Jesus dies on the cross.

The passages especially helping us today are:

Matthew 27:45-56

Jesus will at last leave Pilate’s judgment hall and walk to the cross. Here are our passages:

Matthew 27:27-34 Mark 15:16-23 Luke 23:26-34 John 19.17-18

We consider the journey in five sections, beginning with Jesus being mocked and beaten.

As they nailed Him to the cross Jesus’ prayer went out to God. Cruel hammers and Roman nails pierced His hands and feet, and yet He prayed for His tormentors, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Soon after, the cross was hoisted into place, its base leapt cruelly, jolting violently down the hole. Now Jesus is on the cross. He has been positioned centrally, with one thief either side. Pilate has posted over His head that accusation for which Christ was death-sentenced: that He is King of the Jews.

We are looking at the last hours of Jesus. We have followed Him from the garden of Gethsemane, to various hearings through the night, finally to stand for judgment before Pilate. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, Herod abused Him and sent Him back. He faces the prospect of crucifying Jesus, whom he believes to be innocent.

The passages we are especially looking at today are:

God has always been deeply interested in the health and well-being of His people. Consider Exodus 15:25b-26:

There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.

The night begins to give way to morning light and at last they are ready to take Jesus to Pilate for judgment. Our understanding is especially helped by the following passages:

Matthew 27:1-2, 11-13

Mark 15:1-5

Someone said, if you want to know the value of freedom, ask those who only dream of having it. Thousands of conscientious and perfectly healthy people—this is happening today—are being jettisoned from employ through newly imposed vaccination requirements. Across the Western world, millions, who, until now, have been beneficial employees, are being subjected to coercion. Those conscientiously choosing not to submit to bodily invasion are having their employment taken from them for the “common good.”