Telling the Beads Bead 15 - Episode 2 ...and was buried

B15 - E2 ...and was buried 

At the moment of his death, Mary sank her head into John’s shoulder and wept. The centurion who had led the soldiers and had observed everything that had happened, seeing the manner in which Jesus had died, spoke aloud, almost to himself. “This man was innocent of any crime,” he said, with utter conviction. “He truly was the Son of God!” Even the hard-bitten soldiers who had carried out hundreds of crucifixions before this one were somewhat bemused.  

There had been something different about this prisoner. For a start, he wasn’t one of the usual ‘run of the mill’ felons they had to deal with. There had been something about him, his dignity, his demeanour - something they couldn’t quite put their finger on - and then, there were the crowds who had followed him up the hill. Amongst the usual hangers-on had been this large group of silent and obviously grieving people, many of them women, who hadn’t drifted away as most people did but had stayed at a distance, in quiet and solemn reverence.

The group of faithful followers of Jesus now wept aloud, shaken by grief. Some of them made their way home but many of the women, particularly those of his friends who had followed him from Galilee, stayed at a distance watching everything that happened. The Jewish leaders were very keen to make completely sure that Jesus really was dead and that the bodies of the three men were not left hanging on their crosses during the Sabbath, especially as it was the feast of Passover.

A group of them went to Pilate to ask for the legs of the prisoners to be broken to make sure that they were dead and for their bodies to be removed. Pilate agreed and the soldiers were sent back to perform the task. They broke the legs of the two thieves who had been tied to their crosses and could have hung there for a long time. However, when they came to the cross of Jesus, they could tell that he was already dead but just to make absolutely sure, one of the men took his lance and thrust it into the side of Jesus. 

John was still keeping watch and testified with absolute certainty that blood and then water had come out from the gaping wound, showing, beyond any doubt, that Jesus had shed his last drop of blood on the soil of Calvary. There had been a prophecy that although the Messiah would suffer and die, none of his bones would be broken and that a sword would pierce his heart, just as Simeon had foretold that Mary’s heart would be pierced as deeply as with any sword of steel and so it had been.

A wealthy man named Joseph, from the Judean town of Arimathea, went openly to Pilate to ask if he could have the body of Jesus in order to give him the burial he deserved. Despite being a respected member of the Jewish Council, Joseph was also a secret believer in Jesus and, as a good and just man, had disagreed with the plans to have him put to death. Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died so he summoned the centurion who confirmed that it was true, at which point, Pilate readily agreed.

So Joseph, accompanied by his friend, Nicodemus, who had secretly admired and believed in Jesus from the outset of the ministry when he had visited him by night, went back to Golgotha to accomplish this last act, taking a large amount of myrrh and aloes with them. They took the precious body down from the cross and laid him in the aching arms of his mother who held him in a last embrace. 

They had brought clean linen cloths in which to wrap his body, together with the spices, in the Jewish burial custom. They also had the myrrh which Mary had given them, treasured by her through all the years of his life as the third gift of the wise men from the East and given at his birth. They carried him gently to the nearby garden where Joseph had a new grave which had been hollowed out from the rock and it was here that they laid him down tenderly. The large stone which was used to seal the door of the tomb was then rolled across.

Joseph and Nicodemus had now pinned their colours openly to the mast of Jesus and were to become his disciples and follow his teachings for the rest of their lives. Mary and John had accompanied the two men to the tomb and were led away by them to return to the upper room to console and comfort one another and try to rest.

Mary Magdalene and a group of women from Galilee who had helped to provide for Jesus and his closest friends and companions in their mission had followed behind the funeral procession., They remained behind for a while and noted the position of the tomb so that they could return after the Sabbath to anoint the body of Jesus with more ointments and spices. By now, it was evening, so they left the garden to return to the upper room or to take shelter in the homes of the many friends of Jesus who lived in Jerusalem itself.

The Jewish leaders, however, had one last act to perform before they were done. Returning to Pilate, they said, “Your Excellency, we have been reminded that when that imposter, Jesus of Nazareth, was still alive, he said that three days after his death, he would come back to life. We think it would be a good idea if you had a guard posted over the tomb until the third day in case his followers come and take his body and say to the people that he has risen from the dead. This last deception would be worse than the first!”

Pilate, though, was having none of it. “You have your own guards! Do it yourselves and make it as secure as you like!” So the leaders accompanied their guards to the tomb to make sure that it was completely sealed then left the men there with strict instructions to keep watch. Jesus had died - and was buried securely in the tomb. The deed was done. They could relax now, satisfied that their purpose had been accomplished - or could they!

 

Telling the Beads Bead 15 - Episode 1 He died...

Bead Fifteen - Crucified

B15 - E1 He Died

The first act of the soldiers was to offer the prisoners some of the cheap Roman wine which was stored in a large jar at the site. The wine was laced with myrrh which was known to dull pain and no doubt made the work of crucifixion easier for the men who were detailed for the task that day. Like most soldiers, they had become callous and hardened to the deeds they carried out routinely by the nature of their long years of service. Jesus tasted the wine but wouldn’t drink it, unwilling to have his senses dulled.

Having stripped him of his clothes, their next and most gruesome act was to lay the cross on the ground, drag his body onto it and then position his limbs so that the huge nails could be hammered in at the right places. The searing and unimaginable pain of that action was then coupled with the agony involved as the cross was lifted into the upright position where he would hang until he died. The soldiers themselves were oblivious to the cries of anguish which rose involuntarily from his lips. As far as they were concerned, they were just doing their job.

A notice stating the criminal’s name and crime was usually nailed to the top of each cross. Before the cohort left his palace, Pilate had instructed the centurion who was to be in charge that day to write, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, the current languages of the time. It was as if, by this last act, he was making one final attempt to give Jesus the recognition that, in his heart, Pilate knew was his due. 

He also knew that many people would read the inscription because Golgotha was very close to one of the gates into the city and crowds of worshippers would be flooding into Jerusalem that day to celebrate the Passover. The chief priests had remonstrated with him, saying, “Don’t write, “King of the Jews” but “This man claimed to be king of the Jews”. On this point, however, Pilate was adamant. “What I have written, I have written,” he said and he was not to be shaken from it.

In the case of robbery with violence, the two criminals were tied rather than nailed to their cross so the crucifixion of the other two prisoners was more straightforward. The soldiers erected the crosses, one on the right and one on the left side of Jesus and began to share out the prisoners’ clothing as they usually did. They divided them into four parts, one for each of them, until they came to Jesus's robe. This was a seamless garment, lovingly woven by his mother in one piece from top to bottom, many years before.

They decided not to tear it but to cast lots to see who should have it. Then they sat around to watch the goings-on and to keep guard. The bystanders were bawling and shouting derisively and even passers-by began calling out insults such as, “Said you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, did you! Save yourself then. If you are the son of God, come down from the cross!”

The chief priests, scribes and elders had also made their way up the hill. They stood at the front, mocking Jesus amongst themselves; “Look at him now,” they said. “He saved other people but he can’t save himself. He said he was the Messiah, didn’t he; the Son of God! He trusts in God, so let’s see if God saves him now if he wants to.” Turning their venom on their victim, they scoffed at him, chanting, “If you are the King of Israel, come down from the cross and we’ll believe in you!” 

One of the two thieves who were hanging on either side of Jesus began to join in the derision. “You’re supposed to be the Messiah, aren’t you? Save yourself then and us!” but the other one rebuked him strongly. “Have some respect! We have been condemned justly and are getting the punishment we deserve for our crimes but this man has done nothing wrong!” Turning his face towards Jesus, he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom,” to which Jesus replied, “Today, my friend, you will be with me in Paradise.”

Even the soldiers, diverted by all this derision, joined in the sport, coming up to him and offering him some of the sour wine. “You’re supposed to be the King of Israel, are you; save yourself then!” As the people stood there watching, Jesus, despite the agony he was suffering, began to speak. “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Gradually, from midday until three o’clock in the afternoon, the sun’s light began to dim and darkness fell over the land.

All the while, his mother had remained standing at the foot of the cross, with John by her side, accompanied by Mary Magdalene and Mary, the wife of Cleopas who was a follower of Jesus. Despite her agony of soul, nothing could shake her from her place beside her son throughout his suffering. Seeing Mary standing there with John, the young companion he loved so much, Jesus said to her, “There is your son,” and to John, “There is your mother.” 

From that moment on, knowing that he had been given the precious duty of taking care of the mother of his beloved Master, John determined that he would cherish, guard and shelter her for the rest of their lives together. At this point, Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli,” (which, in their Aramaic language, meant ‘’My God, my God’’) “Why have you forsaken me!” Some of the bystanders thought he was calling on the prophet Elijah but others said, “Leave him alone. Let’s wait and see if Elijah comes to save him!” 

The words, “I’m thirsty,” came rasping from his cracked and dried lips. Someone in the crowd ran across to the wine jar and soaked a sponge in it. Lifting it up on a hyssop stick, which was known for its cleansing properties, he held it to the lips of Jesus to try to bring him some relief. Jesus managed to sip some of the wine and then uttered the words; “It is accomplished. Father, I commend my spirit into your hands.” His head bowed and fell on his chest and he gave his last and dying breath.

Telling the Beads Bead14 Carrying the Cross

Bead Fourteen - Carrying the Cross

Having finally been condemned to death, Jesus was pushed and shoved into the courtyard of Pilate’s palace where the crosses used for crucifixion were stacked up along the side of the wall. Two thieves awaiting the same fate were shivering in the cold, trembling in fear of what lay ahead of them. Somehow, the sight of Jesus, bruised and beaten and yet still radiating a calm dignity, filled one of the thieves with a sense of wonder and awe and calmed his terror.

The three men were lined up and a cross was laid on each of them. Jesus, at the back of the line, was so weakened by lack of sleep and the cruel treatment he had received that his body immediately gave way beneath the weight of the cross and he fell down, bruising himself on the harsh flagstones. The soldiers shouted at him and dragged him up roughly, kicking and pushing him on his way.

Gathering all his strength, he staggered out of the courtyard. A small group of people had already gathered there. Some of them had just come to watch the spectacle, others were curious to see what was going on, and there, amongst them, stood his mother. Mary moved forward instinctively, her arms outstretched towards her son. For once, the toughened soldiers fell back in awe at the sight of the radiant love which shone in the face of the woman before them. 

Mother and son exchanged a look which, without words, spoke of a lifetime of love and gave Jesus the comfort and strength he needed to continue on the road he had chosen to take. Close by Mary’s side were John and Mary Magdalene, the latter, a devoted follower and close friend of Jesus. Together with a small group of friends and supporters, they followed on behind as the prisoners, pushed and prodded by the soldiers, trudged their weary way onto the road which led up to Mount Calvary, the place of execution.

As the road steepened, Jesus, weakened from the loss of blood which still trickled down his face from the thorns which had been pressed into his head so cruelly and the wounds on his back from the flogging, fell again. Impatient and irritated, thinking that this prisoner might not even make it to the top of the hill, the soldiers spied a likely passer-by who looked strong enough to be press-ganged into helping to carry the cross with Jesus and seized hold of him. 

Protesting was useless against the might of the Roman soldiers so the man had no option but to do as he was told. Jesus was dragged to his feet and the cross was laid on his shoulders again while the man was forced to walk behind, carrying the lower part of the cross on his back. Two young men who had been travelling with the man, gazed in shock and horror as their companion was pulled away. Frightened and worried, they fell in with the crowd which had by now gathered behind.

They were immediately approached by the friends of Jesus who did all they could to comfort them. The young men explained that it was their father who had been taken. The three of them had come from Cyrene in Libya on a 'once in a lifetime' pilgrimage to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Their father was named Simon, they said, and their names were Alexander and Rufus. They walked on up the hill, while their companions explained as best they could who Jesus was and what was happening. 

The sons would have followed their father anyway but felt encouraged and protected by the warmth which now surrounded them and began to trust that their father would eventually be safe. As the journey continued up the hill, they passed a group of women weeping and holding each other in grief at the spectacle of their beloved teacher and friend in such pain and anguish. One of them, a young woman, emboldened by compassion at the pitiable sight before her, without thinking of her own safety, ran across to Jesus.

The soldiers were so taken aback by her action, that they gawped in amazement as she pulled off the shawl which had covered her hair and held the soft white cotton veil up to his bruised and battered face and gently laid it upon him, absorbing the blood, the sweat and the spittle which ran into his eyes and mouth. He gazed back at her with so much love that her heart melted. She ran back clutching the cloth which was destined to become her most treasured possession. 

She was known forever afterwards as Veronica, a name which meant ‘true image’, because she had the imprint of the beloved face of the man who had shared his life and his love with her and with all the people. She would cherish this cloth for her lifetime and leave it in the safe hands of those who came after her. Little did the perpetrators who had inflicted those wounds upon him know that it was those very wounds which were to etch his face indelibly on her veil, its contours outlined by the blood which they had caused to flow.  

In compassion and love and with the whole essence of his being, Jesus found the strength to turn to the women and say, “Don’t weep for me, my beloved daughters; weep for yourselves and for your children.” for he knew that sorrow and grief would never be far away from them in the years which lay ahead.

Labouring onwards up the hill which steepened suddenly towards the top, Jesus fell for the third and last time. Yanked up again by the soldiers, as before, but, this time, with the aid and gentle but strong support of Simon, who was by now, fully caught up in the mystery of this man before him, they had reached the top of the hill and come to the place which was known as Golgotha, which means ‘The Place of the Skull. The final and brutal act of crucifixion was about to take place.

Telling the Beads Bead 13 Crowned with Thorns

Bead Thirteen - Crowned with Thorns

Having dealt out the vicious punishment of flogging with their usual ferocity, the soldiers gathered around Jesus and began to taunt him. The purple cloak which Herod had placed on him had been dragged off earlier and was lying around on the floor so they draped it over his shoulders. Someone spied a thorn bush and, ripping off some branches, twisted them into a crown and pressed it into his head in cruel mockery. 

Someone else fetched a long reed from a nearby stream. They placed it in his right hand, kneeling down in front of him in a callous parody of worship. “Think you are a king, do you?'' they snarled at him. “Well here are your sceptre and crown! Let’s see how much you like them!” Continuing their cruel sport, they hit him and spat in his face, saluting him and chanting, “Hail, king of the Jews! Long life to the king!” Then, taking the reed out of his hand, they struck him repeatedly on the head with it.

Pilate went outside and addressed the huge crowd. “I shall have the prisoner brought out and I tell you again that I have found no case whatsoever against him.” Jesus stumbled out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate pointed at him and said, “Look, here is the man. Look at him!!” thinking that when they saw his wounded body, bleeding from the punishment he had just received, their hearts might be softened and their thirst for blood satisfied but no, they simply continued their mindless chanting.

Yet again, Pilate said, “Take him yourselves then and have him crucified! I have told you that I have found no case against him!” but the leaders of the people called out in one final effort to have Jesus executed. “According to our law, this man must die because he claimed to be the Son of God!” Pilate was by now even more afraid than ever. Returning to the courtroom, he had Jesus brought to him again. “Where are you from?” he said but to this question, Jesus gave no answer.

Pilate said to him, in some desperation, “Are you refusing to speak to me? Don’t you realise that I have the power to release you or have you put to death!” Jesus replied calmly, with the inner strength which only he possessed, “You would have no power whatsoever over me if it had not been granted to you by my Father in heaven. It is the people who have handed me over to you who will carry the greater guilt.” 

From that moment on, Pilate made even greater efforts to persuade the crowd to agree to the release of Jesus. He had him brought out for the last time and took his place on the judgement seat, saying to the crowd, “Here is your king,’’ but by now, the leaders had worked them up into a frenzy. “Take him away! Crucify him! Crucify him!” they shouted mercilessly. 

Many of them would have been the very same people who had hailed Jesus as their Messiah and Saviour only five days earlier when he had ridden into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. They had lined the streets with their children, joyfully waving palm fronds in front of him in adulation and laying them on the very ground he rode upon, crying out to him, “Hosanna to our King!” 

At the last moment, as Pilate sat in front of the crowds, his wife sent him a message. She told him that she had had a very disturbing dream about the innocent man who stood before him and that he should have nothing to do with his death but Pilate was afraid that if he didn’t give in to the demands of the crowd he might have a riot on his hands so he felt powerless to change his decision. 

He sent for a bowl of water and a towel and washed his hands ceremoniously in front of all the people, saying to them, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” to which they shouted back. “Let his blood be upon us and upon our children then!” By now, It was nearly noon. So, in weakness and fear, Pilate felt he had no alternative but to hand Jesus over to be crucified, having done everything that he dared risk to spare and release him.

He had sent him to Herod, had offered Barabbas to the people in his place and had even had him flogged although he knew him to be innocent, hoping against hope that it might satisfy the baying crowds but everything had proved to be of no avail. The soldiers stripped the robe from the scourged and bleeding body of Jesus and put his own clothes back on him. And so it was that, after having been dragged from pillar to post throughout the night, treated with the utmost contempt and cruelty, he was led off toward his death on a cross.

Telling the Beads Bead 12 - Episode 2 Brought before Pilate

B12 - E2 Brought before Pilate

At daybreak, the whole Council gathered together and went to the palace of Pilate. It was the day before the Passover so they stayed outside the building. If they had entered the house of someone who wasn’t Jewish, they would have been considered ritually unclean and wouldn't have been able to eat the Passover meal. Pilate came out to them and said, “Why have you had this man sent to me? What charges are you bringing against him?” 

“He is a criminal,” they answered, “otherwise we wouldn't be handing him over to you. He has been subverting the people and has opposed payment of taxes to the Emperor and claimed to be the anointed King of Israel.” Pilate re-entered the court and summoned Jesus to come to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked, to which Jesus replied, “Are you asking me this of your own accord or have others told you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “It is your chief priests and your own people who have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

“If I were a king of this world,” replied Jesus, “my followers would have fought to save me from being handed over to the leaders of my people but my kingdom is not of this world,” to which Pilate said, “So you are a king then.” “Yes, I am a king,” said Jesus, “And I was born for this. I came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to my voice,” to which Pilate replied wearily, “What is truth?” Meanwhile, the leaders outside were continuing to shout their accusations. 

“Can’t you hear all these charges against you?” said Pilate, but this time, to the amazement of his interrogator, Jesus remained silent. Returning to the leaders, he said to them, ”I can find no basis for a case against this man. Take him yourselves and judge him by your own laws,” but, knowing they were unable to pass the death sentence, they insisted, “He is stirring the people up with his teaching. He began in Galilee and has come through the whole country, ending up here in Jerusalem!” 

Latching on to the information that Jesus was a Galilean and would therefore come under the jurisdiction of Herod, Pilate immediately ordered that Jesus be sent to Herod’s palace. Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time and was delighted to have Jesus brought before him. He had been intrigued by all he’d heard about this man and was hoping to see him perform some sort of miracle. He fired question after question at Jesus to all of which, he made no reply whatsoever. 

The leaders had followed Jesus to Herod's palace, continuing to press their charges against him. Finally, Herod gave up his questioning in anger and contempt and, along with his own guards, began to ridicule and mock him. In a final act of indignity against him, he ordered one of his own royal robes to be placed on Jesus, mocking his claim that he was a king, and sent him back to Pilate. From that day on, he and Pilate formed a liaison of sorts, having previously been sworn enemies. 

Pilate called the Council and the large crowd of people together and said to them all, “You had this man sent to me, accusing him of subversion. I have examined him in your presence and find him not guilty of any of the charges you have brought against him and neither has Herod which is why he has sent him back to me. It is quite clear that he has done nothing to deserve the death penalty.” It was then that Pilate remembered he had one more card up his sleeve. 

It had been his custom, at this particular festival, to release any prisoner the people asked for. A notorious criminal named Barabbas was in prison along with a group of rebels for committing murder during their involvement in an uprising against the Romans. In a last effort to extricate himself from this dilemma, Pilate spoke to the people again and said, “Do you want me to free Barabbas or your King?” hoping that they would choose Jesus rather than Barabbas because he knew it was from jealousy that their leaders had handed Jesus over to him.

The leaders, however, had pre-empted his plan by inciting the crowds to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. When he asked them, “What should I do with this man you call the Messiah?” they shouted out, “ Crucify him, crucify him!”. “Do you want me to crucify your King?” he said but the leaders shouted back, “We have no king but Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the Emperor. If you release him, you are no friend of Caesar’s!” 

Pilate, fearing the wrath of Caesar, gave in and sent him to be flogged, hoping that he might then be able to release him. The voices of the leaders and the crowd had prevailed and, with great reluctance, guilt and shame, Pilate had Barabbas, a man imprisoned for rebellion and murder, released, while Jesus, the man he knew to be innocent, was dispatched into the courtyard of his palace. There, he was stripped of his clothes, tied to a pillar and flogged in front of the whole cohort of the governor’s men.

Telling the Beads Bead 12 - Episode 1 Brought before the High Priests

Bead Twelve Beaten with Whips

B12 - E1 Brought before the High Priests

During the deliberations of the religious leaders in the weeks leading up to the arrest of Jesus, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, had said on one occasion that if they allowed Jesus to carry on performing miracles, the people would believe in him and start to rebel against their authority and the Romans might very well decide to put the rebellion down by destroying the temple and their nation, so it was better that this one man should die in order to save the people. This was to be their justification for having Jesus put to death.

The soldiers, with their officer and the religious police, having arrested and bound Jesus, had been instructed to take him to the house of Annas, a former high priest and the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Peter and John had run away at first but stopped in their tracks and decided to turn back and follow the crowds from a distance. John had a friend who worked for the high priest and he allowed him to go through into the courtyard while Peter waited outside. 

John went to the servant on duty at the gate and asked her if he could bring his companion in. She agreed but as Peter passed her to go through the gate, she looked at him and said, “You’re a follower of that man, Jesus, aren’t you?” Peter replied adamantly, “No, of course I’m not!” The servants and guards had made a charcoal fire in the middle of the courtyard and were standing around, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter mingled with them on the outskirts of the group, trying to remain anonymous.  

Annas began to question Jesus about his followers and his teaching but Jesus said in reply, “I have always spoken openly to everyone wherever I went, in the temple, in the synagogues and in the countryside. I've said nothing in secret so why are you asking me these questions now? Why don’t you ask the people who heard me there? They know what I said.” One of the guards standing there struck him in the face, saying, “That’s no way to reply to the High Priest!”

Jesus said calmly to him, “If I've said something wrong, point it out to me, but if I've spoken the truth, why did you strike me.” Annas, realising that he wouldn't get the better of Jesus, sent him across the courtyard to the house of Caiaphas. Outside, Peter was still warming himself by the fire. Another servant-girl, catching sight of his face in the firelight, stared at him for a while then said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus, the preacher from Nazareth,” but once again, Peter strenuously denied it, saying “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”.

Another guard, who was related to the man whose ear Peter had struck off with his sword, whom they were to find out later was named Malchus, said to him, “I’m sure I saw you in the garden with the man we arrested. You're definitely a Galilean. Your accent gives you away!” For a third time, Peter cursed and swore on oath that he had never been with Jesus. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. At that moment, the cock crowed and Peter caught sight of Jesus as he passed through the courtyard. 

Jesus turned and looked at him and his words, spoken only a few hours before, came instantly into Peter’s heart. “Before the cock crows twice, you will have denied me three times.” Turning away in utter remorse, he ran and ran, not knowing where he was going, his eyes blinded by tears, until he found himself back at Gethsemane. Entering the garden, he threw himself down on the ground and cried and cried until deep furrows were cleft into his face and he hid himself away from everyone.

Meanwhile, Jesus had been taken to the house of Caiaphas where the elders of the people and all the members of the Supreme Council of religious leaders, were assembled. They had been searching for evidence against him so that he could be put to death but had been unable to find witnesses who could agree with one another until two men came forward and said, “ This man said he is going to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build another one not made by human hands!” 

Caiaphas stood up and said to Jesus, “Listen to this evidence against you? What you got to say in your defence?” Jesus remained resolutely silent. Caiaphas continued angrily, “In God’s name, I command you to answer! Tell us now, are you the Messiah, the Son of God!” This time, Jesus answered. “You have said it yourself. I am telling you that you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

At these words, Caiaphas, consumed by rage, turned to the Council and shouted, “What more evidence do we need? We have heard this blasphemy from his own lips. What is your verdict?” To a man, they shouted in reply, “He deserves to die!” Some of them began to spit in his face and others blindfolded him, slapping and hitting him with their fists, and mocking him cruelly. “Play the prophet then; tell us who is striking you if you are so clever.”

By now, it was in the early hours of Friday morning. The Council had come together to decide what their next step should be, The decision was made to send Jesus to the headquarters of Pilate, the Roman Governor, so finally, after a night of cruelty, wickedness and deceit, he was led away, bound in chains, to face whatever might befall him.

On the previous evening, Judas had left the upper room to go to the High Priest’s house to lead the guards who had been assembled there to arrest Jesus. He was unsure what to do after his Master was led away so he decided to follow behind and hang around outside the courtyard of the house, trying to see what was happening. When he saw Jesus being dragged off to stand before Pilate, he knew for certain that his friend would be condemned to death and the reality of his betrayal and its outcome suddenly hit him. 

Distraught and full of remorse, he went back to the chief priests and the elders and cried out to them, “I have committed a terrible crime. The man I betrayed to you is innocent!” They were, of course, totally unconcerned and replied scathingly, “What is that to us? That is your business. Sort it out yourself!” Throwing the thirty pieces of silver on the floor in front of them, he ran off until he reached the outside of the city walls and in utter despair of ever being forgiven or being able to forgive himself, he took his own life by hanging himself from the nearest tree.

Having picked the money up from the floor, the chief priests had to decide what to do with it. They all agreed that it would be against their law to put it in the temple funds because it was blood money. After some discussion, they decided to use it to buy the field where Judas had died, which had been known as the potters’ field, as a place to bury foreigners and from that time on, it was always known as the field of blood.

Telling the Beads Bead 11 Gethsemane

Bead Eleven - Gethsemane

Jesus led the way to the Mount of Olives and as they walked along, he told his companions that they would all desert him that night but they fiercely denied that they would ever do such a thing. They came to a garden called Gethsemane which they often visited to find peace and quiet after the activities of a long day. When they entered the garden, Jesus asked them to stay awake and pray for him while he went a stone’s throw away taking Peter, James and John with him.

He found somewhere for the three of them to pray while he went further on, knowing he would be overwhelmed by sorrow and distress which they would find unbearable. He was well aware of all that lay ahead of him. He knew his enemies would not be satisfied until they had managed to have him put to death.

They would need the assistance of the ruling authority to deal out the death penalty and everyone throughout the Roman Empire knew that crucifixion was their method, its cruelty, a familiar sight of everyday life. However, the reality of all he was to suffer himself was as nothing compared with the anguish he felt, etched within his heart, for the people of this world, their suffering, pain and sorrow, past, present and to come. 

He fell to the ground and prayed out loud; “Father, if it is possible, take this agony away from me but it is your will that must be done, not mine.” When he returned to his three friends, he found them asleep and said with sorrow in his heart, “Couldn’t you stay awake praying with me for even one hour!” but added, in compassion for them, “I know  your spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” 

He left them again and returned to pray alone and once more, returned to find them asleep. Their grief had found them unable to keep their eyes open. He left them one last time and this third hour of prayer found him so desolate that drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground, but through his prayer, he found the comfort and strength from God that he would need to face all that was to come.

On his return from this last hour of prayer, Peter, James and John were still asleep, as were the others when they rejoined them. Jesus gathered them all together and gave them the stark news that someone had betrayed him to the authorities. “He’s on his way now so we must go to face him,’’ To their uttermost shock and horror, a group of armed guards with a detachment of Roman soldiers, all carrying lanterns, torches, clubs and swords, arrived at the garden, led by none other than Judas.

It was dark so Judas had given the troops a sign to know who to arrest. “The man I greet with a kiss is the one you’re looking for,’’ he said, adding, ’’Make sure you take him away under guard.’’ He approached Jesus who, looking him directly in the eye, said, “Judas, my friend, have you come here to betray me with a kiss?” then added, with a sigh, “Go ahead and do what you have decided to do.” Judas gave the sign and the soldiers came towards Jesus but he stepped forward and spoke to them fearlessly.

“Who are you looking for?’’ he said. They were taken aback but answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I am the man you want,” said Jesus. At this, they fell back, disconcerted by his courage. He asked them again. “Who are you looking for? They repeated his name so Jesus said, “I told you I am the man you want. If you are looking for me, let these other men go free.” 

Before they left the upper room, Peter had spotted two swords and had picked one up, suspecting from what Jesus had said during the meal that there could be danger ahead of them. In the heat of the moment, he drew the sword and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear but Jesus called out to him urgently, “Peter, put your sword away. People who live by the sword, die by the sword. My Father in heaven would send legions of angels to defend me if I asked him.” He reached out and touched the injured man’s ear which was healed instantly. 

He turned and spoke to the angry mob again. “Why have you come here in the dark with clubs and swords to arrest me like a common criminal when I sat preaching to you openly in the temple every day? But no, this is the hour of darkness. This is your hour!” These last words aroused their anger and they arrested him immediately and dragged him off, at which point, all his companions ran away in fear.