Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:03 Welcome to Lent Meditation and Worship with Westside Church. As Lent comes to a close, we find ourselves in Holy Week or Passion Week. This is Jesus last week on Earth before his death and resurrection. Each day this week, we'll be reading accounts from the Book of Luke about what took place. Let us immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus. See the things he sees, taste what he tastes, feel what he feels. Let's take a moment to close our eyes, open our ears, quiet our minds. Let the Holy Spirit speak and ask that he reveal new things about Jesus that you haven't seen before. Let's take a deep breath. In and out and another in and out.
Speaker 1 00:01:08 Luke chapter 22, verses 66 through 71 and chapter 23. At daybreak, all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of the religious law. Jesus was led before this high council and they said, tell us, are you the Messiah? But he replied, if I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer. But from now on, the son of man will be seated in the place of power at God's right hand. They all shouted, so are you claiming to be the son of God? And he replied. You say that I am. Why do we need other witnesses? They said, we ourselves have heard him say it. Then the entire council took Jesus to pilot the Roman governor. They began to state their case. This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.
Speaker 1 00:02:23 So Pilate asked Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? Jesus replied, you have said it. Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, I find nothing wrong with this man. Then they became insistent, but he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem. Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders along with the people, and he announced his verdict. You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herd came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing. This man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged and then I will release him. Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd and with one voice they shouted, kill him and release Barabbas to us.
Speaker 1 00:03:32 Barabbas was imprisoned for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government and for murder. Pilate argued with them because he wanted to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, crucify him, crucify him. For the third time, he demanded, why? What crime has he committed for? I have found no reason to sentence him to death, so I will have him flogged and then I will release him. But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified and their voices prevailed. So P sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded, as they had requested. He released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder, but he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished. Two other criminals were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called the Skull, they nailed him to a cross and the criminals were also crucified.
Speaker 1 00:04:44 One on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing, and the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. He saved others. They said, let him save himself if he is really God's messiah, the chosen one. The soldiers mocked him too by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. A sign was fastened above him with these words. This is the king of the Jews, one of the criminals hanging beside him, scoffed. So you are the Messiah. Are you? Prove it by saving yourself and us. Two, while you're at it, but the other criminal protested, don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom, and Jesus replied, I assure you today you will be with me in paradise.
Speaker 1 00:06:04 By this time, it was about noon and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone, and suddenly the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn down in the middle. Then Jesus shouted, father, I entrust my spirit into your hands, and with those words, he breathed his last. When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what happened, he worshiped God and said, surely this man was innocent. And when all the crowd they came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching. Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish High Council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders.
Speaker 1 00:07:11 He was from the town of Aramathea in Judea and was waiting for the kingdom of God to come. He went to pilot and asked for Jesus body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation as the Sabbath was about to begin. As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished, the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by law. Let's pray. We veil our faces before your glory, a holy and immortal one, and bow before the cross of your wounded Christ with angels and arc. Angels, we praise you our mercy, and we bless you our compassion for in our brokenness. You have not abandoned us. Hear us as we pray. Through Jesus, our high priest, heal all division. Reconcile the estranged, console, the suffering, and raise up to new life. All that is bound by death. Amen.
