1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Hi, I am Aaron. I'm 16 years old and a apprentice to my dad.Some day I want to be a carpenter.Our family followed Moses's teachings because we knew he had been called by God. I live with my dad, mom, brother and sister just outside of Jerusalem. Our home is small. We raise some sheep and my sister tends to the sheep. I now want to tell you about another carpenter.
My heart is heavy because we just witnessed Jesus being whipped with a long device that was made to inflict maximum pain When our friends yelled to Pilate to crucify Jesus my heart sank. Many of these friends were with us when Jesus spoke to 5000 of us on the mountain. I had heard that Peter denied Jesus 3 times and some said they heard a rooster crow shortly after his denial, but Peter wasn't the only one.
So many of our friends who I thought were going to be followers of Christ suddenly turned their backs on him. It seemed to be the political correct thing to do. The alternative would have been ostracism and refusal to do business with you in the market place. My heart sank as I saw each crushing blow that took off a handful of flesh from Jesus. I saw him grimace with pain. My mom and sister collapsed to the ground in heavy sobs wondering how they could do this to him who was so kind to people. How could they do this to him when he gave sight to a blind man, or healed the chronically sick?
We remember the miracle of the loaves and fishes when Jesus raised what little food that a boy gave him and muliplied enough of it to feed the hungry people who came to hear him. I remember my mouth opening wide as I saw how there was more than enough food to fill people up with left over food to spare. Many of us were hungry after walking many hours just hear this man speak.
Some of our friends were there when Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead after he had been dead 3 days. Some were asking who is this man who brings people back from the dead! Much to my chagrin many of these same friends were shaking their fists demanding his death. How my heart is heavy to watch the people I assembled together with now turning their backs on him. I was a follower of Moses's teaching, but after seeing the miracles with my own eyes I was convinced that Jesus is the Son of God.
My heart sank as they made Jesus pick up a heavy wooden cross and drag it though the street as splinter's of wood dug into his open wounds. I ached as I helplessly watched Jesus carrying the cross with Roman soldiers cursing him because he wasn't moving fast enough. I wanted to come to Jesus's rescue at that moment. I wanted to punch these soldiers in the face if I had the desire, but I didn't have the will to risk it all. I didn't want to risk my apprenticeship or my families reputation.
Just when I think things couldn't get much worst they did. At this place we call Gogotha they laid Jesus on the cross. His feet were nailed with large stakes to the bottom of the cross. His hands were nailed on the cross section of the cross. With each painful blow of the hammer I watched the most excruciating pain on Jesus face while feeling the shock waves throughout my being.
How could they do this to Jesus? He did nothing wrong and he committed no sin worthy of death! I was angry. So angry I wanted to scream at Pilate for allowing this to happened! He could have stopped it, but he didn't. Jesus died because of the inaction of other people! I watched the soldiers lift the cross to an upright position before allowing it to fall into the hole with such a mighty force that I couldn't imagine Jesus not feeling every nerve ending sending shock waves of pain in him.
I watched one of the Roman soldiers lifting up a sponge filled with vinegar to satisfy his thirst. How could these men who just hours earlier curse this man now suddenly show an ounce of mercy to him? Then it happened. I heard Jesus lift his head to the heavens. I thought he said "it is finished". A moment later his head drooped down and I knew he had died. Then I heard and felt the ground shaking. The soldiers heard it too and from the looks on their faces you almost got the sense that they believed that Jesus was God's son.
When things settled down my family and I left Gogoltha back to our home. Jesus was dead and heavy hearts were abundant at this very hour.
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