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Jesus at the Cross

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"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" [Matthew 27:22~23]

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Jesus was caught and brought to the chief priests and elders because Judas Iscariot had betrayed him. And he suffered all night long.

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The chief priests and elders who decided to kill Jesus brought him bound in chains at daybreak to convince Pilate, the governor to execute Jesus.

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Pilate asked Jesus, " Are you the king of the Jews?"

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus as a traitor.

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Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."

Jesus is the king of the whole universe and the king of the whole world.

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The Jews accused Jesus by saying a lot of words, but their accusations were not true.

Yet, Jesus did not say a word.

Pilate was curious that Jesus did not make up excuses about himself.

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Pilate knew that Jesus had not done any wrong things.

So he tried to think of a way to let him go.

There was a custom in Judea that set a prisoner free on holidays.

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Pilate shouted before the people. "Here are two men, a very bad criminal and Jesus. Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

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Pilate naturally thought the people would choose Jesus.

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. They all shouted "We want Barabbas." "Set Barabbas free!"

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Pilate was embarrassed so he asked again.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.

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They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.

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But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

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The people shouted to Pilate like they were rioting.

Pilate was afraid to even look at them any longer.

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So, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd and said "I am innocent of this man's blood, it is your responsibility!"

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All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Pilate decided not to stop them any more after their speaking.

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Pilate released Barabbas to them.

And he handed Jesus over to be crucified as they asked.

The governor's soldiers took Jesus, put on a crown of thorns, hit him, spit on him and mocked him.

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They led him away to crucify him in a place called Golgotha.

Jesus was crucified even though he was without sin.

He suffered on the cross because He knew that it was the only way that our sins could be forgiven.

Jesus who loves us so much chose to die on the cross.

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Jesus completed his love for us by dying on the cross.

If we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and follow Jesus in our hearts as our Lord, then we can go to heaven to be with Him forever!!

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This Friday is called Good Friday as a memorial day that Jesus died on the cross.

This week is called The Passion of Christ week to reflect upon how our Lord Jesus suffered. Let us think of Jesus who died for us because of His great love and do good things especially during this passion week.

Let's spend time thinking about Jesus' love and thank Him.