From Tomb to TriumphSample

Following the Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus of Nazareth walked into the garden of Gethsemane. There, the Son of God knelt among olive trees. His disciples, asked by Jesus to watch and pray, fell asleep. And while they slept, Jesus prayed in anguish as blood fell like sweat from his brow: “...O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39, NKJV).

Returning to His disciples, Jesus found them sleeping. “...Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand” (Matthew 26:45–46, NKJV).

As He said this, the flickering torches of Roman soldiers began to pierce the shadows of the olive trees, led by Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.

The following morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate. After interrogating Him, Pilate declared, “...I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4, KJV). According to Roman law, the trial should have ended. But justice wasn’t what the Pharisees wanted. They sought death. They gathered others to scream with them, “...Let Him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:23, NKJV)

What happens next is heart-wrenching. When Pilate saw that a tumult was rising, he took water and symbolically washed his hands of the situation. Jesus was then mocked, slapped, and spat upon as a crown of thorns was placed on His head. He was scourged with a Roman cat o’ nine tails. Then, the rugged Cross was laid on Jesus’ torn back and He went up the blood-soaked slopes of Golgotha. There, nails were driven into His hands and feet.

God turned His face away — not because He didn’t love His Son, but because in that moment, Jesus became sin. He bore our guilt and shame. He Who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him!