The movie started with, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Then you see Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane - praying to God, asking God to take this burden off of Him (Jesus). While Jesus is still praying you see Satan creeping up. Waiting, watching, hoping Jesus wouldn’t be able to do what God has put in front of Him. But Jesus still prayed. Then Jesus prayed, “Let Your will be done, not mine”. About that time they show Judas telling the High Priest where they can find Jesus. And the one he (Judas) kissed is Jesus. In return for betraying Jesus the High Priest gave Judas 30 pieces of silver.
Next you see the guards coming to arrest Jesus, as they throw chains around Him His disciples tried to help Jesus, but they weren’t able to. During this time Peter cut off one of the guards’ ear. As the guard grabbed what used to be his ear he looked at Jesus. Jesus simply bent down and picked up the guard’s ear and put it back on! The guard just stood there and looked at Jesus with a puzzled look. The other guards took Jesus away to the high priest. As Jesus stood in front of the priest and religious people, others surrounded Him. At first the crowd was outraged that they had arrested Jesus, but after hearing the lies the priest were saying they turned again Him too.
As this was going on Peter was standing off watching and listening. Then someone realized Peter was a disciple of Jesus. Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. This happened two more times. After the third time Peter remember Jesus telling him, “You will deny me three times before the rooster crows”. At the time Peter told Him, “I will never deny You, I will follow You anywhere You go, even to death”. After he realized this he looked at Jesus, who was being mocked, and spit upon.
Next they showed Judas pleading with the High Priest to release Jesus for he realized what he had done. He offers to give them their money back. But the priest wouldn’t listen to him. Eventually Judas couldn’t live with himself for betraying Jesus, and he hung himself.
Next, they showed Jesus standing before Pilot. Pilot asked the crowd what they wanted him to do with Jesus. They all yelled, “Crucify Him!” He asked them again but they only yelled louder. (I wonder if I had been there that day would I have yelled “Crucify Him”?) Jesus was sentenced to be beaten with a cat of nine tails, and to be crucified. They tied Jesus up, and beat Him, not just on His back, but also on his legs, arms, stomach, head, everywhere. You see pieces of His skin ripped, and in parts missing. As He laid there in a pool of His own blood He was silent. “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” (Isaiah 53:3) “Just as there were many who were appalled at Him— His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (Isaiah 52:14)
When the guards came to take Him away they showed Him no mercy. As they dragged Him away He left a trail of His blood behind him. After they beat Jesus they put a crown of thorns on his head, and beat it into His skull. And then they mocked Him.
The next scene shows Jesus being forced to caring His own cross to Golgotha where He would be crucified. As He walked up the rocky path He stumbled and fell countless times, but the guards still beat Him, and mocked Him as He walked. Eventually they got a Jew named Simon to help Jesus carry it.
Once they reached Golgotha Simon was told to leave. As he was leaving the guards made Jesus lay down on His cross. With his arm stretched out they placed a nail on the top of Jesus’ hand, they then drove the nail through Jesus’ hand and through the wood of the cross. They did this to the other hand too and then nailed both feet together on the cross. With His blood dripping from the cross to the down below Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Before they stood the cross up they placed a sign above His head that read, “The King of the Jews”. After the sign was placed they lifted the cross up and waited for Jesus’ to die.
Also that day two criminals were also being crucified. One of the criminals hanging beside Him said, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us”. But the other criminal protested, and said, “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 says, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise”. Then Jesus looked up at heaven and said, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Shortly after this Jesus died.
After seeing a visual of what Christ did I felt extremely nauseous. The first thing that came to my mind was, wasn’t there another way? Why did God allow this to happen? But as soon as I thought it God said, “I did it because I love you. Jesus bore your sins so you wouldn’t have to. The only thing I ask you to do is to love everyone like Christ loves you.” But seeing how Jesus loved the very people who nailed Him to the cross is the greatest example of what love truly means!
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway
See now, I am the man who yelled out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking
ground.
(You Love Me Anyway by Sidewalk Prophets)
