Holy Week. Day 6. Good Friday.
As soon as I awoke, I knew the first plan of action for today was to find out who was baking Hot Cross Buns and then go and buy them. Support the tradition, and enjoy a yummy treat to boot.
So, I got online, and made a couple of calls. Then I made my plan. Head to the local bakery, then over to Panera Bread, then to Starbucks. That way, I could compare the various style of buns out there, and wash them down with some wonderful brew. All in honor of Good Friday, of course.
The Hot Cross Buns at Panera Bread hands down were the winner. The local bakery didn’t sell them individually, so I had to buy a pack of nine. I caught my neighbors just as they were packing the car for their Easter trek, so six of the buns went off with them. At only $.99 a piece, I was beginning to think it would be the gift of choice for the rest of my day.
Sure, I make it sound like Good Friday is all about the food, but you and I both know the cross on those holiday buns are simply to remind us of what happened on this day more than 2,000 years ago.
Basically, in the middle of the night, (Thursday night) Roman soldiers accosted Jesus. They arrested him then drug him to a trumped up, illegal trial by the Jewish leadership that was held in the wee hours of the morning. After that, He was brutally beaten. Passed between Herod and Pilate, he was finally handed over for the most brutal torture – crucifixion. Where he was hung between two thieves. (By the way, did you catch that? They crucified thieves! Today, pedophiles and murderers enjoy prisons. But I digress…)
Jesus was put on the cross close to 9:00 am in the morning and hung there most of the day. At noon, the sky grew dark, and there was an earthquake. Close to 3:00 pm, He gave up His spirit and died. One of my favorite parts, that you don’t hear much about, is that graves opened when that happened and the bodies (not spirits mind you. See: Soma-Gk.) of the saints came out and visited loved ones. If you don’t believe me check this out.
Matt. 27:52-53 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
That is just too cool! It was a very full and powerful day. Don’t let it go by without taking a moment to pause and revisit this amazing event.
I know we are all busy, but may I encourage you to read Matthew chapter 27 today.
In Remembrance of Him.
S.
Verses for Today:
Matt 27:1-61
Mark 15:1-47
Luke 22: 66- 23:55
John 18:28-42
It is cool. But my favorite thing is that the Veil in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. I have long wondered what the priests on duty thought of that. Was there anyone in the Holy Place at that moment? I hope there was, so he could see that the rip really started at the top. It just gives me chills, thinking about God himself ripping that symbol of separation between His Holy Self and sinful us. And the veil was a very thick affair, no simple matter for a mere man to rip, even starting at the reachable bottom. It was too high to reach the top without a ladder. What went through the priests’ minds when they saw that ripped veil? Did it make any of them believe in Jesus? I look forward to having these questions answered in Heaven!
I agree that wrongdoing in the West is not punished that much, though I am not in favor of cutting off hands for theft, either.
On a more mundane level, I am not surprised you like Panera best, I like everything they make!