In the Garden of Olives Jesus accepts and contemplates His Passion and death.

     Because we are so aware of Jesus’ divinity, we sometimes fail to fully appreciate His humanity. It’s staggering to realize what dread and apprehension He must have felt that lonely night in Gethsemane. He knew - from the Kiss of Judas to His last words on the cross - what was ahead for Him …and throughout that awesome anticipation, his best friends slept. Let us be with Him now, thanking Him for His incredible act of love.

After his arrest, Jesus is stripped, tied to the whipping post, and cruelly beaten with whips.

     Herod is not convinced that Jesus should be sentenced to die. Hoping brutal treatment will pacify the mob, Herod has turned Jesus over for ruthless abuse by his soldiers who show no mercy. They beat His Body and scorn His Personhood, mocking His kingship with derision...We must remember His patience and unshakable love – even for those who hurt Him.

The soldiers press a crown of thorns on the head of Jesus. They then spit on Him and scorn Him.

     In mockery of Jesus’ kingship, a wreath of thorns is thrust upon His head and one can almost hear the taunts of “behold, the King of the Jews!” While His Body bleeds, His Heart must ache…how little His tormentors seem to understand.

Christ carries the cross upon which He will die.

     The road that leads to the top of Calvary is long and Jesus is already weary. People, some curious, some vengeful, line the path…many agitated by His critics and anxious for His death. Among the crowd are His friends, probably frightened by the intensity of His enemies and desperately sad because of His certain future. A few will be brave…wiping Jesus’ face, ing tears to mark their own sorrow. Where in that mob would we have been; would we have had the courage to stand with Him?

With hands and feet crudely nailed to the cross, Jesus suffers for three hours before bowing His head in death.

     Three hours, with full body weight pulling away from nailed hands and feet…it is hard to comprehend the pain or the length of time…180 minutes of intense agony, finally ended when a soldier thrusts a sword to pierce Jesus’ Heart.  Having so often heard or read the account, we become desensitized -forgetting what three hours on a cross really means.  Forgive us, God…a three hour headache can unstring us - - how easily we forget the awesome price of our redemption.