#339  Passover Perspectives  Exodus 12:  The Fires that Proved Him Faithful

The lamb roast with fire   Exodus 12:8-9  “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire…Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts.”

Christ’s life was in direct contact with trial, and his offering was consumed quickly in three and a half years.  May we fully appreciate the intensity of testing the our Savior endured.

“Therefore, If you would escape becoming weary and faint-hearted, compare your own sufferings with those of Him who endured such hostility directed against Him by sinners.”  Hebrews 12:3  Weymouth

Please accept any dramatic renditions as attempts to make the last experiences of Jesus more of a reality

The High Priest Caiaphas looked at Jesus with narrow eyes of contempt, his finger wagging in his face.  “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?  I charge you under oath by the living God,” his voice was loud and demanding.  “Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

“Yes, I am.  It is as you say,” Jesus replied, looking straight into the High Priest’s eyes.  “But I say to all of you:  In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Caiaphas tore his clothes in a show of dramatic frenzy. “He has spoken blasphemy!” the High Priest raved.  “We don’t need any more witnesses.  You have heard the blasphemy yourselves.  What do you think?”

Angry voices cried out, “He is guilty!”  “He deserves to die!”  “Let him die!”  Jesus stood in fearless silence.   Matthew 26:63-66

The temple guards spit in his face.  They pushed him around.  They struck him.  They blindfolded him.  “Prophesy!” they demanded, “Who hit you?”  They insulted him.  They mocked him.  They jeered.  Matthew 26:67-68, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63

“The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.  Because the Sovereign LORD helps me I will not be disgraced. Isaiah 50:5-7

 hey struck him repeatedly with their fists and he doubled over from the blows.  He sensed another kind of blow, a blow to his heart that hurt him far deeper than the physical blows which sent him reeling to the floor.  He sensed that Peter, in a second wave of temptation, was even at that moment denying with cursing that he ever knew Jesus.

One man had been watching Peter with suspicion.   He saw that Peter had denied his association with this man from Galilee a number of times.  The man was sure of his accusation.  “This man must have been with him, for he is Galilean,” he exclaimed   Luke 22:59

“Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.”  Peter felt his throat tighten and a nervous sweat beaded his forehead.  He cursed and swore.  “I don’t know the man.”  A rooster began to crow.

At that moment from across the Courtyard Jesus turned and looked upon Peter.  There was great sorrow and great love in the Master’s eyes.  Peter’s eyes met his Master’s gaze for a brief moment and then he looked away.  Peter felt the pain of a thousand knives sink into his heart.  He had failed his Master when he most needed a friend.  All was lost.  He flung his outer coat over his head, rushed out into the night and wept bitterly.  Luke 22:59-60, 61-62; John 18: 27, Matthew 26:67-75, Mark 14:71-72

Those who guarded Jesus continued their cruel sport for the remainder of the cold night hours.  They beat him.  They blindfolded Jesus again, while others struck him repeatedly with their fists and with rods.  They continued their taunts.  “Prophesy to us, Messiah.   Who is the one who hit you?”Jesus sensed the lonely pain of the calloused men who beat him.  He sensed the shame and anguish of those who had been victims at the hands of men such as these.  “For this cause was I born, and I came into the world,” he prayed, “to set such men free….”  Luke 22:63-65, 66

“Because the Sovereign LORD helps me I will not be disgraced.  Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.  He who vindicates me is near.  Who then brings charges against me?  Let us face each other!  Who is he that will condemn me?  They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.  (Their victory is only temporary.)”  Isaiah 50:7-9