Friday, September 01, 2006

The Servant Messiah 25

The Lamb of God - Luke 23: 26-46
Messiah was rushed to the Roman Governor to secure the death penalty. Pilate could find no problem with this humble teacher. He sent him to King Herod the governor of his home country, Galilee.
Since Messiah would not turn the stick into a serpent to entertain the monarch, he was sent back to Pilate.
An ugly crowd had been gathere to bring pressure on the Roman Governor. He was wise to their purpose. First, he offered to release a prisoner for the feast season. He brought one of the most notorius prisoners. He placed him in contrast to the Servant Messiah. When they selected Barabbas to be released, he had Messiah scourged and brought his bleeding body for the crowd to witness. This did not satisfy the crowd: ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate washed his hands publically that the guilt would be on the mob.
Messiah had borne the pain and ridicule in a magnanimous way. The Father had supplied him with the strength and the vision of the meaning of this climatic event. He was led away with two criminals. Because Messiah was physically exhausted a large muscular by-stander from Cyrene carried the cross for him. The pain of the nails was mild compared to the taunting and scoffing that came from the peoplehe loved "If thou be the Son of God come down from the cross and save yourself. He saved others, himself he cannot save."
The pain mounted as Messiah watched the drunken soldiers divide his clothing among them. They played a gambling game for the cloak that could not be divided. Messiah mustered a prayer:"Forgive them Father for they know not what they do". One of the dying criminals was impressed by these kind words and indeed believed. "Today you will be with me in paradise." Messiah tugged at the nails to come down from the cross to comfort his agonizing mother. He asked John to care for her.
Messiah felt the life leaving him as his blood, drop by drop, coated the rocks below. "I thirst." After refusing the spear with vinigar:"It is finished" The sacrifice to put an end to all sacrifices was completed. The Lamb of God had been slain.

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