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February 21, 2025 49 mins

Chapter 18 of Heroes in the Bible: Jesus is inspired by the Gospels.

It is Finished - In a final act of defiance against death, Jesus marches up to the place of the skull. This is the climax of all history, the focal point of scripture, and the ultimate blessing of mankind.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said it
is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up
the ghost. John nineteen thirty Thank you Jesus for carrying
your cross up the hill. When my moment comes, I
will be like Simon. Then I will take the weight

(00:23):
of your cross upon my life until I complete my
mission here on earth. Reflecting on the most holy of moments,
Like Jesus, I give my life to you God as
a living sacrifice. May you use my life to bring
your name glory as long as I am breathing. In

(00:47):
the same way that Jesus brought hope to the thief
on the cross in the midst of his pain, so
too will I bring hope to others. Even when I
feel the burden of life's challenges, I will remember that
the greatest act of devotion to you God is to
bring people into the knowledge of your saving grace and forgiveness.

(01:11):
Through your death and burial, Jesus, you put into action
the greatest chess play in all the cosmos. Through your
death and burial, you have given us the ultimate checkmate
over Satan and his plans. The best is yet to come.

(01:31):
In Jesus's name. Amen, Stay tuned to immerse yourself in
the Greatest Stories Ever Told from pray dot COM's podcast
Heroes in the Bible.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, jehost for Heroes in the
Bible Jesus. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please
share it with your family and friends so they can
know Jesus Christ in a personal way, because knowing Jesus
is the key to understanding the Bible. Welcome to the
greatest story ever told. It is a story of a
shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's love for his children,

(02:07):
and a hero's triumph over death and darkness. This is
a story that continues to shape and mold the world
around us, bringing the divine heart of God right into
the hearts.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
Of you and me.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
This is the episode we have been teasing since the beginning.
Our hero is ready to face the enemy and a
cosmic war is about to be weighed. There could be
no real storytelling that will do this event justice. How
can one truly capture the most extraordinary event in human history?
My prayer for you is that this episode starees your

(02:40):
heart to understand the passion of Christ. As you listen
to the beatings, the whips, the marching up the hill,
and the crucifixion, understand that Jesus would have done it
all just for you. If nobody else needed saving but you,
he would have done it all. You are the reason
he joyfully endured pain, suffering, and separation. Jesus, this act

(03:00):
on the cross was the bride price to buy you
back from sin and death. This episode will begin with
the prelude, a story captured from another time in space.
The story of David and Goliath is renowned throughout the
world as an underdog story, but that's the wrong way
to look at it. David's victory over Goliath wasn't an

(03:21):
upset or surprise. It was an image. David was a
foreshadowing image of Christ, the ultimate hero, slaying the ultimate
enemy death. Let's not wait any longer. Here is the
episode we've all been waiting for, Episode eighteen. It is finished.

Speaker 4 (03:43):
Prin lude to chapter eighteen. The giant steps shook beer
as he approached the small shepherd boy. Israel had refused
to provide a true warrior, so a small boy from
Bethlehem stood before the giant with only a sleeve and staff.
The giant mocked him and his God. David pointed his

(04:05):
staff to Goliath and raised his voice. Today, the Lord
will deliver you into my hand. The giant laughed and
ran towards the boy with fury. He was the greatest
warrior the world had ever seen. His legs were like
tree trunks, and his fists were like stones. David planted

(04:26):
his feet and gazed at the enemy before him. He
breathed in deeply and drew a stone from his pouch. Calmly,
David put the stone in his sling and began to
swing it behind him. Goliath was a formidable opponent. No
one expected a small boy from Bethlehem to stand a chance. However,

(04:47):
God was at work to put his plan on display.
God would use a shepherd from Bethlehem to topple the
very embodiment of evil. Ling swung in place behind him.
As Goliath narrowed the gap between them, the giant swung
his sword back and launched himself at David. David swung

(05:09):
his hips and released the stone into the air. It
released with precision, whistling through the air towards Goliath. The
stone sank deep into Caliath's skull and the giant toppled
over and died. The earth quaked as his body fell
to the ground. David ran toward the Philistine, took his

(05:30):
sword from his hand and drove it straight through his neck.
He held the head of Goliath in his hand for
all the Philistines to see. He made a mockery of him.
This would be a foreshadowing of a hero to come.
One day, a figure from Bethlehem would emerge. He would

(05:51):
be unsuspecting and humbling, yet behind him would be the
might of God. He would conquer a greater enemy than
Eliath and freed the entire earth from its bondage. However,
while David was able to leave the battle unscathed, this
new hero would have to pay the ultimate price. Chapter eighteen.

Speaker 5 (06:18):
It is finished, so they tell me you call yourself
King of the Jews? Is this true?

Speaker 4 (06:26):
Pilot passed while pouring himself a cup of wine. He
sat back in his seat, gesturing to Jesus conscious. Pilot
was reigning governor in the region of Judea. He was
the representation of Caesar and a living monument to his
cruel reign.

Speaker 5 (06:43):
Are you as they say, are you king of the Jews?

Speaker 4 (06:46):
He asked again with a slight grin. Jesus had been
brought to Pilot by their religious leaders. Since they could
not kill him, they desired Rome to execute him. Pilot
rolled his eyes at the petty rigs religious squabbles of
the Jews. He found them irksome and not worth his time.

(07:07):
Jesus's face was swollen from the beating the night before,
bound with chains around his wrists. Jesus responded, saying, are.

Speaker 3 (07:15):
You asking on your own account or because of what
others have been saying?

Speaker 4 (07:20):
Pilot scoffed.

Speaker 5 (07:21):
Do I look like a Jew to you? Your own
people have brought you here. They must hate you a
great deal for it to come to this, So do
not waste my time and answer my question. What have
you done to be here? Do you call yourself king
of the Jews?

Speaker 4 (07:37):
Jesus's face was impassionate and resolute.

Speaker 3 (07:41):
My kingdom is not of this world. If it were,
my servants would have fought and I would not be
bound in chance. However, my kingdom is not from here.
It is not of this world.

Speaker 4 (07:56):
Pilot tilted his head in slight confusion. He speaking to
a madman. From everything he had heard about Jesus, he
heard nothing about him being insane. Pilot leaned forward.

Speaker 5 (08:11):
So you are a king.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
Now, he asked, It is as you say? Jesus answered,
it is.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
For this purpose I have come into the world and
their witness to the truth, and all who are of
the truth hear my voice.

Speaker 4 (08:26):
Pirate scoffed and looked out the window. He shook his head,
lost in thought for a moment, truth, Pilot exclaimed. He
stood up and walked to the window overlooking the palace courtyard.
It was midday and a large group of people were
gathering to see what would happen to Jesus.

Speaker 2 (08:48):
What is truth?

Speaker 4 (08:49):
Pilot looked at Jesus. He saw no fault in him.
He took Jesus outside where the Jews were waiting.

Speaker 5 (08:58):
This man is guilty of nothing, Pilots said.

Speaker 4 (09:01):
The men outside were indignant.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
He has stirred up the people for a rebellion.

Speaker 4 (09:07):
They yelled.

Speaker 3 (09:08):
People follow him from Galilee to Jerusalem.

Speaker 5 (09:11):
Do you want an uprising on your hands?

Speaker 4 (09:14):
Pilot paused and looked at Jesus. There was nothing outwardly
remarkable about him. How could this man procure so many loyal.

Speaker 5 (09:24):
Followers Galilee, you say, Pilot asked, Now that is certainly
under Herod's jurisdiction. Take him to Herod. He is here
in Jerusalem. I want nothing more to do with this.

Speaker 4 (09:37):
So the temple guard took him away to the estate
where Herod was staying. Jesus entered the lavish estate. Fountains
carved by Greeks decorated the courtyard gardens. He was led
into the living area where Herod was lounging in a
room filled with decadence. He was surrounded by women and
gorging himself on fine wines and meats. When he saw

(10:01):
Jesus approaching in chains, he stood.

Speaker 6 (10:04):
Up and applauded, Ah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Speaker 7 (10:09):
They told me you were coming.

Speaker 4 (10:11):
Herod drunkenly stumbled towards Jesus. He leaned in close, slurring
his words.

Speaker 7 (10:17):
As he said, the miracle worker has come to see me.

Speaker 6 (10:21):
What an honor.

Speaker 4 (10:23):
The king was drunk but still dangerous. He was a
man who knew no boundaries. He had already displayed his
great cruelty by killing off children many years before. Little
did he know the infant king he was seeking to
kill stood before him in chains.

Speaker 6 (10:43):
Well, now, Jesus, I believe I can be a great
help to you. If you are who they say you are,
why don't you perform a miracle for me? Herod asked, cause.

Speaker 7 (10:58):
My cup to fill again with wine.

Speaker 6 (11:00):
Set one of my servants on fire, show me a sign.

Speaker 4 (11:04):
The mad king laughed at Jesus. He gestured to his
soldiers to come forth. They punked and prodded Jesus to
perform a miracle, but he did not move. His face
was impassive and resolute. He remained silent as they mocked him.
They dressed him in royal robes and danced around him.

(11:26):
Although they made a mockery of him, Jesus was immoveable.
After he had had his fun, Herod sent Jesus back
to ponscious pilot. Pilot watched as he was brought back
into his quarters. The pilot sat at his desk and
rubbed his temples. He was amazed that a man as

(11:48):
harmless as this required so much attention.

Speaker 5 (11:52):
You know, I think you are innocent, Pilot said. However,
there is.

Speaker 8 (11:56):
A peace to keep with these Jews. I cannot simply
let it go. They are calling for your head. Let
us see if a flogging will satisfy them.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
So Pilot sent Jesus out with his soldiers to be flogged.
After being beaten, they led him back to Pilot. The
Roman governor looked at Jesus. His face was swollen and
his beard had been stripped from his face. Pilot winced
at the sight.

Speaker 8 (12:24):
They are waiting for you outside, Pilot said to Jesus,
they are calling for blood, yet it seems that they
may already have it. Pray to your God that the
crowd spares you.

Speaker 4 (12:37):
Pilot then took Jesus and led him out onto the
balcony overlooking the courtyard. Thousands of people had gathered. Every passover,
Pilot would release one prisoner at the request of the people.
Already out there was a man named Barabbas. He was
a terrorist, traitor, and a known murderer, Yet it was

(12:59):
not his name that the people chanted. The people were
thirsty for the blood of Jesus. Pilot gestured to the
beaten figure next to him.

Speaker 5 (13:09):
Behold your king, he yelled.

Speaker 4 (13:13):
The whole crowd erupted and curses. Jesus peered out into
the group, many of them he had seen laying palm
frands out for his arrival. How thickle the hearts of
men are? The priests were among the crowd, riling them
up to shout, rosefy him, roseafy him. Pilot washed as

(13:35):
the entire throng of people called out for the murder
of Jesus. It was a deep evil that had come
forth like a rising tide. It since shivers down Pilot's spine.

Speaker 5 (13:47):
If he is this guilty, then why don't you kill
him yourselves? I find no guilt in this man.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
Pilot shouted. Yet the Jews were indignant. We have laws,
they shouted. According to our law, he must be put
to death for claiming to be God. Pilot's eyes darted
towards Jesus. He grabbed him by the arm and escorted
him back into the room. Pilot paced the room.

Speaker 5 (14:14):
Do you hear them?

Speaker 8 (14:16):
He asked that crowd will not be appeased unless I
do something. Now, you must tell me where you are
really from.

Speaker 4 (14:23):
Pilot sought to help Jesus. However, he was silent. He
did not open his mouth, nor did he look Pilot
in the eye. Jesus's trembling body pointed north towards the hills.
Pilot put his hands on his head.

Speaker 8 (14:41):
And gasp, unbelievable. Here you have a man with authority
to release you, and you answer with silence. Do you
not know that I have the power to crucify you?

Speaker 4 (14:53):
Jesus finally looked on. His eyes were intensely locked in
despite the pain.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
You have no authority off of me, Jesus said. All
power you think you have has been given to you.
Yet do not be troubled. Those who shout out there
have the greatest sin.

Speaker 4 (15:13):
Pilot sighed. His wife had warned him of this. She
had a dream about Jesus and knew that he was
now caught up in something far greater than himself. Pilot
brought Jesus before the crowd again. He looked, pointed, and
then to Barabas. He gestured to the two of them

(15:35):
and shouted to.

Speaker 5 (15:35):
The crowd, who shall I free? Shall it be Barabas,
the murderer and terrorist? Or Jesus King of the Jews.

Speaker 4 (15:46):
The Pharisees slithered through the crowds, whispering the name of Barabas.
A unanimous name cried out to be released Barabas. They yelled,
Free Barabas, they chanted. Pilot looked at Jesus. His heart
was pounding in his chest. He knew something had been

(16:07):
set in motion something dark. Pilot raised his hands to
silence the crowd. When they were silent, he spoke.

Speaker 5 (16:17):
Saying, shall I truly crucify your king?

Speaker 4 (16:21):
He asked. We have no king but Caesar, they chanted,
and if you do not kill him, you are no
friend of Caesar. Just days prior, a crowd rallied to
make Jesus king. Yet now there was a throng of
people violently decrying him and calling out for his death.

(16:41):
Jesus looked upon the faces of hatred. Their hearts were
calloused and deceived. Jesus did not judge them. He did
not come to judge the world, but to save it.
Pilot shook his head. The religious zeal of the Pharisees
had stirred up the out to an unmanageable degree. He

(17:02):
spread out his arms.

Speaker 5 (17:05):
This is your doing, not mine. I washed my hands
clean of this man's blood.

Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yet a servant gathered a basin of water and washed
his hands. He turned to Jesus, I am sorry, and
with that final word, Jesus was thrown at the soldiers
to be crucified. Jesus was led through the sea of people.
Their cries for blood were animalistic and wicked. Satan slithered

(17:33):
through the ground. He was reveling in their hatred, stirring
them up. Jesus kept his gaze forward through the gauntlet
of people spitting on him and throwing stones in his way.
He said nothing. The Son of God was escorted into
the public square. Dozens of religious leaders followed and took

(17:55):
their places to watch the flogging. Midsu and the crowd
stood John accompanied by Mary, Jesus's mother. They watched helplessly
as Jesus was bound to a wooden beam sticking out
of the comblestone floor. The stone floor had been stained
red in the middle with the beam stuck out. It

(18:18):
was an ominous sight. The rope was tied around Jesus's
wrists and the stone was cold on his knees. A
band of soldiers laughed behind Jesus, toying with the different
objects of torture. Jesus looked to Heaven. Now it had
truly begun. Three soldiers approached Jesus with his back turn.

(18:41):
In their hands were cats of nine tails, long whips
with nine strands. Attached to the tips were shards of glass, bone, steel,
and fishhooks. The whips rattled as they dangled from the
soldier's hands. The Romans were masters of torture. Ancient Egyptians

(19:03):
had created such practices of scourging that the Romans had
perfected it as an art form. Jesus breathed in deeply
and looked at the skies. The storm swirled above him
like a hawk eyeing its prey. He was ready. Jesus
rolled his shoulders back, calmed his breathing, and looked ahead.

(19:27):
The first soldier shifted his hips back and raised the
whip high in the air like a bolt of lightning.
The nine strands met their target on Jesus's back. The
glass and hooks dug deep into his skin. Then, with
a jolt of the soldier's arm, it was ripped out.
Jesus gasped at the pain, yet he did not scream.

(19:50):
He looked forward, ready for the next blow. The next
soldier swung his arm back and leaned into his swing.
The nine tails wrapped around Jesus's ribs, tearing through the
flesh on his side. Blood spurted out on the stone below,
and Jesus's eyes rolled back in pain. John helped Mary,

(20:11):
shielding her from the sight. The third soldier got a
running start and swung downwards towards Jesus's hamstring. The claws
dug in deep and gashed his entire leg. Each soldier
had his turn scourging Jesus. With each swing and pull,
more flesh was ripped away from his back and sides.

(20:34):
Blood flowed on the cobblestone floor like a river. After
Jesus's back had been torn to shreds, the soldiers took
thick branches and struck his head. Still bound to the
wooden beam, there was no way for Jesus to shield
himself from the quick blows of the Roman soldiers. They
toyed with him and spat in his face.

Speaker 3 (20:57):
Ah, it is the king of the jew Who was that?

Speaker 4 (21:00):
One of them sang as he bowed before Jesus his
mangled body. All hail, another yelled, before striking his forehead
against the beam. The crowd laughed at the spectacle. Jesus
peered up to see the Pharisees scowling in the corner.
This is what they had wanted, They wanted him to suffer.

Speaker 5 (21:22):
Every king needs a crown.

Speaker 4 (21:24):
Another soldier exclaimed. So they formed a crown of thorns
and placed it onto Jesus's head. The thorns were thick
and sharp. They did not fit onto his head, so
they took turns hammering the thorns into his temples to
make it stay and everything. Jesus was silent, like a

(21:47):
lamb led to the slaughter. He did not open his mouth,
for he saw the purpose before him. No pain would
keep him from the task at hand. The skin on
Jesus's back was reduced to ribbons. They hung from his
body like loose leaves ready to fall. The soldiers continued

(22:10):
in their mockery and clothed him with a robe of purple.
They bowed, laughing at the quivering jew lying on the beam.
Jesus lay there, barely able to breathe. The pain had
gone beyond comprehension. He raised his head towards the hills
in the distance. He knew that his present pain was

(22:33):
not comparable to the glory awaiting him. Death had beckoned
him for a fight. It would not win. He thought
of his disciples, the sick he hid, healed, and the
poor he had preached him. They were his sheep, the
people he was called to redeem. The words of Isaiah

(22:54):
echoed from ancient days. They prophesied of this very moment, saying.

Speaker 7 (23:01):
Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrow.
We considered him stricken, smidden by God, and afflicted. Yet
even so he was pierced for our transgressions. He was
crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the punishment that

(23:21):
brought us peace. And by his wounds we are healed.

Speaker 4 (23:28):
With the full might of God's spirit behind him, Jesus
rose to his feet. His knees trembled, and his whole
body shivered, Yet he stood tall, still tied to the
wooden beam. The soldiers glared. Usually by now their victims
had been unconscious or dead, Yet Jesus stood, ready to

(23:50):
receive more. Out of fury, they continued their onslaught of
whips until his body was tall apart. Each blow, each whip,
in each scar meant more freedom for the children of God.
So the Son of God stood. He stood at the
bloodied wooden post, with splinters in his forearms. The skin

(24:14):
on his back was held together only by the purple
robe draped over him. Blood dripped from his body on
to the stone floor. The scourgeon was over, but the
worst was yet to come. The thunder boomed from the heavens.
As Jesus was unbound and thrown under the ground. A

(24:35):
few of his followers watched in panic. As Jesus lay
still on the red stained stone. Mary's heart stopped beating
for a moment, until she saw Jesus raise himself to
his knees. The soldiers picked him up and dragged him
to the edge of the city. Thousands of people followed.
Some were cheering, others were weeping. They brought Jesus too,

(25:00):
the wooden cross lying at the floor at the base
of the hill. Jesus looked up. He was there Golgotha,
the place of the Skull cavalry. The storm began to
rage and form At the top of the hill. Death
was awaiting Jesus. It called to him with the fury

(25:23):
of Goliath. Jesus directed his gaze downward. The cross was
over one hundred pounds of splintered wood. The soldier's gesture
for Jesus to lift it on to his shoulders with
whips at his heels and insults in his ears, Jesus
lifted the cross onto his back and marched towards his adversary.

(25:44):
The wind was howling against Jesus as he walked forward.
A trail of blood followed his every step faster. The
soldiers yelled, whipping at his legs. Jesus fell to his knees.
The cold wind pierced his exposed flesh. Jesus closed his
eyes and gritted his teeth, and stood to his feet again.

(26:06):
Jesus took a step forward on to a large stone.
His ankle cracked, and Jesus fell forward with a cross
on top of him. Its weight crushed his chest and
choked his breath. The soldiers grunted and lifted the cross
off him. Then they beckoned to a man from Siree.
Simon was his name, and he was charged by the

(26:29):
men to carry Jesus's cross. He marched behind Jesus as
he limped up the hill. The thunder shook the skies,
and the heavens burst forth flashes of lightning. The soldiers
rode their horses against the wind, but the Son of
God marched on foot. The cup of God's wrath was

(26:50):
being prepared to pour out on Jesus. The peak of
Gogotha revealed itself as they highted. It was an ominous sight.
It was a place where many had been crucified before
two thieves hung on crosses. Already there was no shelter
from the wind on the top of that hill. It

(27:11):
was as if nature itself was raging against the people.
The crowd covered themselves, continuing to weep, shout, cry, and mock.
Jesus scanned the multitude. It had not been long since
he once fed them loaves and fish. Jesus closed his
eyes and prayed to the Father. As he did this,

(27:35):
a soldier kicked him to the floor. They bound him
with rope, stretching his arms outward to reach the ends
of the cross. They took large metal stakes and placed
them on his wrists and feet. They raised their hammers
high in the air, and in tandem with the light
of the pup he drove the stakes into his wrists

(27:56):
and feet. Slowly and painfully, they nailed him to the cross.
Jesus gasped prayer, huh. The wooden cross scraped against his
exposed back, and the nails pierced his nerves. There was
no escape from the pain. There were no moments of respite.

(28:17):
Jesus was in continual agony. The men lifted the cross
high end of the air and allowed the bottom to
sink into a hole carved into the ground. Jesus, the
one by whom all things were created, hung on a
cursed tree between two thieves. A few of the Pharisees

(28:39):
sat there below, delighting in his pain. The people stood by,
throwing food and stones towards him. The priests looked up
and scoffed.

Speaker 5 (28:50):
He saved others.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
Let him save himself, they shouted.

Speaker 3 (28:54):
If he is the Christ and the chosen One, why
doesn't he call down angels to save it.

Speaker 4 (29:00):
The soldiers also mocked him on the cross they carved
in King of the Jews. One of the soldiers poked
Jesus with the blunt end of his spear.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
Come now, your majesty, save yourself.

Speaker 4 (29:14):
They laughed and spat in his direction. Lightning flashed in
the distance, lighting up the skies. Jesus looked down at them.
Crucifixion was a slow and painful death. The position of
his arms and legs made it nearly impossible to breathe.
If Jesus desired to take a breath, he needed to

(29:36):
push up on the nails in his feet and pulled
from the nails in his hands. Every breath was a
precious and painful gift. With those breaths, he prayed for
the people below.

Speaker 3 (29:51):
Father, forgive them.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
They do not know what they are doing.

Speaker 4 (29:56):
He prayed, if Jesus desire, with his single breath, he
could redirect the storm to strike every one of them down. However,
their mockery only proved their deep need to be saved.
With every insult hurled Jesus's way, his will to conquer
sin grew stronger. The thief on his right chimed in

(30:19):
with the goading, aren't you the Christ? The man yelled,
why don't.

Speaker 5 (30:24):
You strike them down and save us?

Speaker 4 (30:27):
The thief on the left had his eyes closed. He
was near death and could barely hold his head up.

Speaker 6 (30:33):
Have you no fear?

Speaker 4 (30:35):
The man mumbled in response, We.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
Are hanging here because we deserve it.

Speaker 5 (30:40):
This man hangs innocent.

Speaker 4 (30:42):
The thief turned his head to Jesus. His eyes were weary.
He only had a few moments left.

Speaker 7 (30:48):
Jesus, my Lord, please.

Speaker 4 (30:53):
He began coughing up blood, then looked Jesus deep in
the eyes. Tears of regret stream down his face. He
looked at Jesus like a frightened child.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
Will you remember me when you enter your kingdom?

Speaker 4 (31:07):
Jesus looked at the man with compassion. Although his face
was mangled, bloody, and swollen, he managed to smile.

Speaker 3 (31:16):
Yes, my child, Jesus whispered, to day you will be
with me in paradise.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
The thief smiled and closed his eyes. Jesus then turned
to the foot of the cross. Jesus's mother was bowed
before him. Her cries were inconsolable. She looked at Jesus
not just as a crucified king or a sacrificial lamb.
She saw him as her baby, the same child she

(31:46):
swadowed in the manger. She ran towards the cross to
touch her son. She wanted to hold him and comfort him,
but the soldiers stopped her and threw her to the ground.
John was there and ran to Mary. Jesus stirred where
he hung. He looked Mary at John. He cried out

(32:08):
in pain as he lifted his chest to breathe. He
cried to his mother in beloved to sighton John was
precious to Jesus. Gesturing to John.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
He said, mother, behold you son.

Speaker 4 (32:25):
Then, gesturing to Mary, he said, son, behold your mother.
John nodded and lifted Mary to her feet and took
her home. Jesus's first miracle was a favor for his mother,
and now as he hung on a cross, ready to
bear the weight of all mankind sins, he made sure

(32:49):
his mother was taken care of. Hours had passed, and
the thundering skies bellowed like war drums. Death itself was
raging like a wild animal. Its claws were sinking deeper
into the neck of God's chosen hero. Jesus knew the
hour had come. It was time for the full weight

(33:12):
of God's wrath to be poured out onto him. Every sin, past, present,
in future required punishment. So Jesus looked up to heaven,
and the mighty judgment of Yahweh struck down like a
bolt of lightning, and that very moment, the entire sins
of humanity were released. Unto Jesus, he who knew no

(33:37):
sin became sin, also mankind could be reconciled to God
once more. He wore the dirtiness of humanity so they
might wear his righteousness. Jesus screamed to the heavens and
cried out.

Speaker 3 (33:52):
He lii e liie who amust tomotony, which means my God,
my God, why have you forsaken me.

Speaker 4 (34:07):
People laughed at his cries, but they did not see
the cosmic shift taking place before them. Jesus, who had
been connected with the Father and Spirit since before time
was created, was now separated from them. Jesus endured separation
from God so that no person would ever have to again.

(34:30):
It had been done. The weight of mankind sins were
thrust on his shoulders. Now the only thing left to
do was bury them in the grave. To do that,
Jesus had to die. He looked down at the people below.
His eyes were darkened and nearly lifeless. Jesus whispered. The

(34:55):
soldiers took a sponge attached to a hissop branch and
soaked it in sour wine for him to drink. Over
a thousand years prior, the blood of lambs soaked hiss
up branches to go on the doorposts of the Hebrews.
Now a different lamb was about to be slain. He

(35:15):
lifted his legs and arms to take one final breath.
The lightning strapped aside him, causing the soldiers to fall back. Then,
with the booming voice of the Almighty, Jesus yelled it
His furnished and he bowed his head and gave up

(35:36):
his spirit. As Jesus breathed his last the heavens released
the rains, and the storm hurled itself downward at the
soldiers and bystanders. In the distance, the priests could hear
a loud tearing in the temple. They ran towards the
inner place, where God's presence dwelled. There was a large

(35:57):
curtain separating the Holy of Holies from God people. Yet
in the moment Jesus breathed his last breath, the temple
curtain was torn in two, signifying the manifest presence of
God's spirit. God's presence would no longer be separated from
man in the temple. He would dwell among them as

(36:19):
he did with Jesus. At the foot of the cross,
a soldier stood looking up at Jesus's lifeless body. He
could feel the earth itself weeping over his death. He
took off his helmet and gazed up.

Speaker 5 (36:35):
Truly, this man was the son of God.

Speaker 4 (36:38):
He said. They then took a spear and drove it
through Jesus's side to insure he was dead. Pouring out
of his body was blood and water. Ages ago, God
formed Eve from the side of Adam. He took his
rib and formed for him a bride. He would aalk

(37:00):
beside her and love her. Now from the cross, God
took something from Jesus's side. Water poured forth as a
symbol of the cleansing work of his sacrifice. From this
the Church will be born. The bride of Christ. Jesus

(37:20):
was brought down a rich man who was devoted to Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea had requested the body from conscious Pinot.
There he Mary Magdalen and the other Mary helped wrap
him in clean linen. Then, quickly and without a procession,
the son of God was laid in a tomb cut

(37:42):
from the side of a hill. They rolled a great
stone on the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Jesus's body, laid in darkness. Death had delivered the first blow.
The disciples were dispersed in fear, and the relig jeous
leaders basked in their victory. The skies were dark, and

(38:04):
the entire universe was weeping at the death of its creator.
The Lamb of God had been slain. He was beaten, pierced, mocked,
and killed. Yet in all of this he was not
a victim. Jesus was not dragged to the cross against
his will. He pursued it. He welcomed death as an

(38:28):
unworthy adversary. Since the fall of man, sin and death
had caused a rift between mankind and its creator. Jesus
came to remove death's grip on humanity, so he took
it on himself. Jesus lay in the tomb, yes, but
so did all the sins of humanity. They were buried

(38:51):
and gone in the grave. The enemy rejoiced for a moment,
basking in the triumph. His joy would be short lived,
for the hero of history was preparing to rise again.
He would make a mockery of sin soon enough.

Speaker 2 (39:15):
Crucifii, crucifying. It's hard to believe that some of the
same people in this crowd were just praising his name
a week earlier, but that is the nature of all
human beings. We can be fickle and double minded. Lucky
for us, Jesus isn't double minded. He had a singular
focus the cross. His gaze was continually set on the

(39:35):
Hill of Calvary, where Death was awaiting a battle. A
theme in this episode and a few of the episodes
leading up to this one was the personification of death
as if it were a person or beast. That was
an intentional choice to communicate the heart of God. Satan
wasn't even the ultimate enemy to be defeated. Death was.

(39:56):
The Bible uses several metaphors for death throughout scripture. The
most compelling image to me is Goliath. He was the
embodiment of death, corruption, and the threat of sin. David
is an image of Jesus, who stood up to conquer
death once and for all. There were plenty of times
when Jesus could have backed out and run away. He
could have stayed away from Jerusalem. He could have stopped Judas.

(40:19):
He could have renounced the words of Caiaphas, and, now
standing face to face with punches Pilate, who wants an
excuse to set him free, Jesus still refuses to back down.
The cross is before him and any thoughts of comfort
are behind him. To a worldly man like Pilate, it
can be confusing, but to a follower of Jesus it
makes perfect sense. Jesus has always embodied the idea of

(40:42):
sacrificing service to those he loves. He was not going
to let the fear of death stop him from carrying
out the will of God. After several attempts at helping Jesus,
Pilot puts the decision in the hands of the crowd.
He presents them with a choice. They can free Jesus,
or they can free the terrorists. Starred by the Pharisees
and seduced by the enemy, the crowd chance for Rabbits.

(41:06):
This is profound imagery that shouldn't be missed. For Rabbits
represents you and I. For Rabbis, who was actually guilty,
was replaced by Jesus, who was actually innocent. You and I,
although guilty because of our sins, have been pardoned. Jesus,
who lived a perfect life, died the death we deserved.
The most compelling scene, in my opinion, was the scourging

(41:27):
of Jesus. After being condemned to die, he was given
over to the Romans, masters of torture. He was beaten
to an unrecognizable degree. The moment they gave me chills
was when Jesus lifted his gaze toward the hill. Let's
listen to that scene again together. He rose his head
toward the hills in the distance. He knew that his

(41:48):
present pain was not comparable to the glory awaiting him.
Death had beckoned him for a fight it would not win.
He thought of his disciples, the sick he had healed,
and the poor he had preached to. They were his sheep,
the people he was called to redeem. The words of
Isaiah echoed from ancient days. They prophesied of this very moment, saying,

(42:08):
surely is borne our grief and carried our sorrow. We
considered him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Yet even
so he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed
for our iniquities. Upon him was the punishment that brought
us peace. And by his wounds we are healed. Jesus's
suffering and death was not by random chance. It was

(42:32):
prophesied from the very beginning. When mankind fell from grace.
In the garden, God prophesied over Adam and Eve, promising
a son who would spring forth to defeat the serpent.
He would crush his head, but the serpent would bruise
his heel. This was the bruising God spoke of. Jesus,
is the ancient and foreshadowed son of Man, destined to

(42:53):
defeat the serpent and restore life to mankind. We see
an extraordinary dichotomy. In the Gospels, Jesus is a meek, humble,
and joyful servant, but he's also a strong and conquering
warrior who stares death in the face without flinching. This
dichotomy was explored in our series through David, who was
both a warrior and poet, king and shepherd. If you

(43:15):
haven't yet listened to our series through David, I highly
recommend it to you. His life provides a beautiful perspective
for the life of Christ. Jesus marched up to the
place of the skull, where death was awaiting its challenger.
A few things happened before Jesus was risen up to die. First,
he needed to march up the hill with the cross

(43:36):
on his back. The weight was heavy for his tired
and tattered legs, so a man named Simon was asked
to carry the cross for him. This was a profound
image that harkened back to the words of Jesus when
he said, if anyone would come after me, let him
deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. We
all must bear our own crosses. We must all take

(43:58):
up suffering in some way the Kingdom of God as
we embrace hardship and struggle. We come out the other
side stronger, and the people around us are blessed. Carved
into the cross was the title King of the Jews.
In scripture, we are told that it was written in Aramaic, Latin,
and Greek, the major languages of the ruling powers and

(44:19):
nations at that time. This was a beautiful image of
what would come afterward, with every tribe, whether Jew, Greek,
or Roman, would come to recognize Jesus as king and Lord.
And isn't it beautiful that Jesus's coronation as king was
not with trumpets surrounded by nobility, but with the crown
of thorns upon his head and mockery at his feet.

(44:42):
Paul talked about this in Philippians three, saying, have this
mind among yourselves, which is yours. In Christ, Jesus, who
though he was in the form of God, did not
count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. Being
born in the likeness of men and being found in
human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the

(45:05):
point of death, even death on a cross. The nature
of true royalty is not having a golden crown, but
knowing when to lay it down. Jesus laid it all
down for our sake on the cross. But before he
gave up his spirit, he had a few compelling interactions
with those around him. Even at the doorstep of death,

(45:25):
Jesus noticed the individual. First, he attended to the thief
on the cross, who desperately wanted forgiveness for his sins.
Jesus forgave him and granted him everlasting life. Second, he
attended to his mother. Even as he is perishing under
existential separation from God, he still sees fit to make
sure his mom is taken care of. There's no cause

(45:47):
for the collective that requires you to abandon the relationships
that matter most. When you look at the grand picture
of our lives, it can be easy for us to
be self focused because we are all about the mission. Jesus, however,
was able to pause and consider the thief and his mother.
The work was almost finished and God was pouring out

(46:09):
his wrath on Jesus. In a moment of pain, he
shouted Eli eli lama sabac deni, which means, my God,
my God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus, who had
been connected with the Father and Spirit since before time
was created, was now separated from them. Jesus endured separation
from God so that no person would ever have to again.

(46:31):
After he said this, he asked for a drink. Instead
of a refreshing drink of water, he was given sorrow
wine from a sponge. The sorow drink was an image
of the cup Jesus said he had to drink. Do
you remember his reference to the cup? He mentioned it
when James and John asked to sit at his right
and left hand in episode fourteen. You have no idea

(46:52):
what you're asking, do you? Are you able to drink
the cup that I'm about to drink in Jerusalem, Jesus asked,
unsure of the question, but brimming with confidence. James and
John nodded, Yes, Lord, we are. We would not be
following you if we were not sure. Jesus nodded in agreement.
He looked into their eyes. For a moment. They were
unable to see their future, but Jesus was. He alone

(47:14):
was able to peer into the future of James and John.
The cup Jesus would drink at Jerusalem was a cup
of suffering. He would endure it, and although they were
filled with pride, he knew James and John would endure
it as well. He also prayed that the cup would
pass from him. When praying to God in the garden
in episode seventeen, Jesus's shivering body walked into the opening

(47:36):
between the trees. He looked up to see the moon
peeking out from the clouds. His jaw quivered. He closed
his eyes and fell to the ground. Jesus's face was
on the floor. He clinched fistfolds of dirt and grass
as he prayed vigorously to the Lord. Tears streamed down
his wincing face. My father, he cried, if it be possible,

(47:56):
let this cup pass from me. Back then, when kings
were crowned, they would take a sip from a royal chalice.
When Jesus spoke about this cup, the disciples always took
it to mean something good. But this was the cup
he was talking about, the cup of wrath. So when
he said it is finished, he met the power of
sending death and decay was taken. The episode ends with

(48:19):
the Son of God lying in a tomb. You and
I know that this is not where the story ends. However,
the beloved Disciples didn't know what you and I know.
In our next episode, we will follow them in their grief,
feel the pain of loss, and then experience the awe
of resurrection. Join us for episode nineteen. He has risen.
Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers

(48:42):
and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.
And to expand your heroes in the Bible journey, download
the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tony Evans dot org.
Forward slash Heroes. Share this podcast with the family member
or friend so they can know Jesus Christ in a
personal way. You never know how great of an impact
the Bible and this podcast can have on someone's life.

(49:06):
God bless
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Dr. Tony Evans

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