As we celebrate spring and observe the Lenten season, let us remember the core events of the month: the Suffering and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The suffering started in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus took His disciples to pray. In prayer, He exactly knew what was going to happen that His sweat turned to blood, big drops falling on the ground(Luke 22:41-44).
Moving on, Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night and He was brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphas, the high priest for questioning. He was then blindfolded and a soldier struck Him through the face again and again.
Early the next morning, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate for trial and found no guilt in Him, but Barabbas was released. Pilate ordered his soldiers to flog and crucify Jesus. The scourging ripped open the skin of Jesus’ back, shoulder and legs. The beating continued until near death.
The soldiers began to mock Him, placed a robe on His shoulders, and crowned Him with thorns on His head with wooden scepter in His hands. The robe has become stuck to His body by the oozing blood. When they tore it off, it probably reopened the wounds and caused more excruciating pain.
The procession began along the Via Dolorosa. Jesus carried the cross. He was weak due to loss of blood, lack of food, dehydration and no sleep. He stumbled and fell several times. Along the way, the soldiers came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
Now at Calvary, again the soldiers stripped off His clothes, stretched His hands across the beam and nails were driven into His wrists and one nail driven into His foot. As the cross was raised, pure agony went into His body, for His body hanged on the cross. The only way Jesus could speak was to raise His body with excruciating pain. He spoke the seven last words in pain. His last word spoken was “Father, into Thy hands, I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) and with those words He breathed His last.
The following day, His followers took Him out of the cross and buried Him. On the third day, which is the highlight of our celebration, Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christianity. If Christ has not been risen our faith is futile and we are still in sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). The rolled away stone has a message for us. The empty tomb means Jesus is alive and we have eternal life.
With these in mind, Filipino Christian Center is holding two church events this April:
On Good Friday, April 10, the Ladies’ ministry will be in-charge of the Seven Last Words of Jesus. At the same time, there will be washing of the feet to be led by Pastor Andy Miranda.
On Resurrection Sunday, April 12, the Youth and Young Adults ministries will present a skit titled Risen depicting Jesus’ suffering and resurrection.
