Here’s a rough outline of the events during those last 24 hours…

On Thursday night,

Jesus meets with His disciples in the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover.

Jesus taught about many things (John 13-16).

He took the Passover meal and gave it a new meaning.

Luke 22:14-20

(Luke 22:14-20 NKJV) When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. {15} Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; {16} "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." {17} Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; {18} "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." {19} And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {20} Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

That evening I imagine that the disciples didn’t really understand what Jesus was talking.

Jesus was setting up something to remind us of what would take place the very next day.

Later that evening,

Jesus went with the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed and they slept.

Then Judas showed up with the guards and Jesus was arrested.

Early Friday morning

Jesus was put on trial before the Sanhedrin where He was condemned for blasphemy, claiming He was God.

Then Jesus was sent to Pilate with a plea from the Jews to have Jesus put to death. Pilate talked with Jesus. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod to see if Herod knew what to do. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.

Pilate appears to have been reluctant to have Jesus crucified, but he ends up giving in to the Jewish demands in order to keep the peace with these volatile people. He’s already had a few run ins with these fanatical people and he decides to put Jesus to death.

Pilate has Jesus scourged and sent to be crucified.

Luke 23:26-49

(Luke 23:26-49 NKJV) Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. {27} And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. {28} But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. {29} "For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' {30} "Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' {31} "For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" {32} There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. {33} And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. {34} Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. {35} And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." {36} The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, {37} and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." {38} And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. {39} Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." {40} But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? {41} "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." {43} And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." {44} Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. {45} Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. {46} And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. {47} So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" {48} And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. {49} But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

After Jesus’ body is certified by the Romans to have been dead, the body is given to Joseph of Arimathea, where he buries the body in an unused tomb in a garden next to the place where Jesus was crucified.

Play Passion clip – mixing the cross and communion

What does this make me think about?

1. How bad my sin really is.

Jesus’ scourging and death on the cross was a horrible thing.

Isaiah wrote:

(Isa 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Sometimes we’re tempted into thinking that our sins aren’t all that bad.

We usually compare ourselves to other people.

“At least I’m not doing THAT”

When I’m tempted to think that this little lie, or that lustful thought, or whatever it is I’m doing isn’t that bad… look at the cross.

He was paying the price for my sin.

2. How great God’s love is.

On the night before He died, Jesus said,

(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

John writes,

(1 John 3:16a NKJV) By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

As horrible as my sin is, I need to also remember that God’s love is greater.

All God has ever wanted is for us to know Him. He has paid a great price for this relationship.

The problem I have with understanding God’s love is that sometimes my circumstances make me wonder if He really loves me.

Love is such a confusing thing, isn’t it? When we were kids we used to pick daisy petals while chanting, “She loves me, she loves me not,” trying to figure out if that cute girl that sat in front of me liked me or not. I remember being chased and punched by girls, and then being reassured that this meant that they liked me. I imagine a few of you have heard someone whisper in your ear, “If you really love me you will …” followed by a suggestion to do something naughty. That kind of makes us think that if a person loves us, then they will make our life better, easier, or more fun.

When it comes to God loving us we might get a little confused as well. We might be able to demonstrate that He has made our life better. But easier? More fun? The truth is that sometimes our lives can be quite hard. We get a termination notice at work. A loved one walks out on us. Our health fails. We might begin to wonder, does He love me?

The answer to that question is found at Calvary. It’s found where Jesus laid down His life for us. The answer lies with the body held on the cross, not by nails, but held by love. He didn’t have to, but He willingly chose to die and pay the price of my sin and rebellion. I may not understand my difficult times, but one thing I know, Jesus loves me.

Paul wrote,

(1 Cor 11:23-26 NKJV) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24} and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {25} In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." {26} For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

We are going to celebrate communion now. We are here to remember what Jesus did for us.

Don’t forget who put Jesus on the cross. We did. Our sins did.

Don’t forget that it was love that held Him to the cross. He loves you.