Resurrected and Revealed
John 20
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div
© 2008 Harold Dinsmore.

Having gone without sleep on Thursday night after being tossed back and forth from court to court, Jesus was scourged by the command of Pilate, whipped by a cat of 9 tails, then led away to be crucified.  Pilate had made every attempt to release him but to no avail.  Thus Jesus was paraded through the city streets to the place of the skull: and there he was nailed to a cross and raised into the air along with two thieves.

               For several hours our Lord hung there in agony and severe pain.  Loss of blood and fatigue took its toll on his body.  Deep bruises appeared from the beatings.  Stripped and humiliated, spat upon by men.  Jesus gave up his spirit and died.  It was finished!     Jesus completed what he had set out to accomplish.  He had taken upon himself the sins of the whole world.  He took our place and bore in his body the penalty for our sins.   

               Rushing to beat the Sabbath deadline of burial, some friends took his body, and laid it in a tomb.  Sealed by the authorities, guards were posted at the door to assure no one would steal the body and start rumors of him coming back to life.