Crucifixion

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Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus knew that His time to be betrayed and persecuted has come, so after the last supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane where He asked Peter, John and James to join him in prayer.

The Bible says:

“Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Judas had planned with the temple priests saying “whomever I kiss, He is Jesus”. So after Jesus completed his prayer, the chief priests, captains of the temple and the elders arrived where He was. Judas, who had just eaten with Him, was leading the group. Judas approached Jesus and greeted Him with a kiss. Jesus told him “Judas have you come to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”. Then Jesus was bound and brought to the high priest.

The temple leaders tried very hard to find fault with Jesus, they put Him on trial and had many people give false testimony against Him. They finally got very angry when the high priest asked Jesus if He was “the Christ, the Son of God”. Jesus replied “you have said I am, I say to you, you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

The temple leaders then took Jesus to Pontius Pilate who was the Roman Governor of Jerusalem at that time and demanded that he put Jesus to death. After Pilate interrogated Jesus, he came to the Jews and told them “ I find no fault in this man”. But the people began to yell “Crucify Him” because they were instigated by the priests.

Pilate tried many ways of releasing Jesus because he found no fault in Him but the Jews insisted of His guilt so Pilate sent Jesus away and had him beat and scourged.

Since it was the Passover, Pilate told the Jews that he will release one prisoner hoping the crowds would choose Jesus, but the crowed insisted that Jesus be crucified. Pilate then washed his hands and told the Jews “I innocent of the blood of this righteous man”.

So they lead Jesus carrying His cross to a place called Golgotha to be crucified. When they reached the place the Romans nailed His hands and feet to the cross. Two criminals were crucified with Him.

As Jesus was hung on the cross He looked to Heaven and said “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”

Then He said “Eli, Eli, lam sabachthani?” Which translated means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Then He cried again with a loud voice and said: “It is finished. Into Your hands I commit my spirit.”

And having said these words, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

And immediately the veil of the temple was torn into two pieces, in the middle from top to bottom. And the earth shook and the rocks cracked in pieces and darkness came upon the earth. The people then saw great miracles and became very afraid and then confessed saying “Truly, this was a righteous man, this was the Son of God”, they were filled with sorrow.

Syriac Orthodox Sunday School of North America

ܡܕܪܫܬܐ ܕܚܕܒܫܒܐ ܕܣܘܪ̈ܝܝܐ ܬܪ̈ܝܨܝ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܒܐܡܪܝܟܐ ܘܟܢܕܐ