Redemption Through Death on the Cross

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

April 22, 2011


“It is accomplished”, Jesus said with his outstretched hands nailed to the cross and gave up his spirit. - Walter D’Mellow Parish Priest, Milagres

Good Friday, which falls on April 22 this year, commemorates the painful crucifixion of Jesus Christ. From earliest times it was a day of mourning. The church ceremonies on this day include reading of the Passion of Christ, reciting a string of prayers, unveiling and veneration of the Cross and communion service. The day’s celebrations are held in the afternoon. Since only one service is held on this day, to accommodate the bunched-up congregation, the celebrations are generally held outdoors. In cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, non-Christians also attend the Holy Week ceremonies noted for their piety and somber dignity.
 
The journey of Jesus with the cross is preceded by an action-packed eve when Jesus was  caught as he emerged from a garden where he was praying. It had been arranged with Judas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, that he would kiss his master and, thus, identify him to the crowd that had come with swords and clubs. As pre-arranged, Judas approaches Jesus, greets him “Hail Master”, and kisses him. At this signal, the crowd catches Jesus and leads him to Caiphas, the Jewish High Priest. There they plot to accuse Jesus of claiming to be the king of Jews and, thus, pit him against the Roman Emperor, Caesar, who ruled Israel through his Governor, Pilate.


Milagres Church, where Live Way of the Cross was conducted

Despite many questions to Jesus, Pilate could not find any guilt in him and was keen on releasing him. He had Jesus scourged with the hope that the heavily bleeding man’s sight might cool off the accusers. When this did not work, he presented another option. On the impending Passover feast, it was customary to release a condemned prisoner. So, Pilate gave the choice of releasing Jesus and a notorious criminal called Barabbas. But, the crowd bayed for the blood of Jesus with the refrain, “Let him be crucified”. A frustrated Pilate, to forestall immenent riots, symbolically washed his hands and declared: “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves”. And all the people answered: “His blood be on us and on our children!”. Pilate released Barabbas and delivered Jesus to the mob to be crucified. The journey then onwards, up to the burial of his body, is replicated in The Way of the Cross. 
The Passion of Jesus Christ starts with his betrayal by Judas and seizure by an armed mob led by Jewish high priests and scribes. The teachings and miracles of Jesus and the large following he was gathering day by day threatened the vested interest of the high priests. They brought trumped up charges against him and asked Pilate, the Roman Governor stationed in Jerusalem, to condemn Jesus to death on the cross on the ground that he was claiming to be God and king as also rousing his followers against Caesar. Close questioning of Jesus by Pilate on these charges elicited no direct reply and Pilate was reluctant to condemn an innocent man. But, the high priests and the mob cried out for the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate finally gave in.
 
Once condemned, the high priests and the mob led him away carrying the cross to a hillock called Golgotha. There Jesus was stripped of his clothes, crowned with thorns and crucified, with two other condemned criminals also crucified on his either sides. After an agony of three hours Jesus died on the cross.
 
The suffering and death of Jesus is recalled by Christians through the Way of the Cross which is observed during Lent, specially on Fridays. On Good Friday, it is one of the important ceremonies, the longest version lasting three hours from noon – Three Hours Agony. It involves covering fourteen stations that highlight the Passion of Christ. The Way of the Cross is generally held in the church where pictorial representations of the fourteen stations are hung on the inner walls. In some places, as at Milagres Church in Mangalore, statues representing the stations are installed along the compound wall and the congregation moves from station to station, reciting the relevant prayers. In many places carrying the cross and hanging from it are enacted, with devotees playing the part of Jesus.
 
After the Last Supper, at Mount Olive, Jesus told his disciples that when he would be seized by the high priests, they would abandon him and run, as flock of sheep would scatter when the shepherd is struck. Simon Peter, anointed to lead the flock after the exit of Jesus, protested:  “Though they all fall away, because of you, I will never fall away”. Jesus responded: “Truly, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times”.
 
When Jesus was taken to the high priest by the mob, his disciples ran away from the scene – except Peter. He followed Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. A maid came up to him, and said; “You also were with Jesus the Galilean”. Peter said: “I do not know what you mean”. When he went out to the porch, another maid saw him and said: “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth”. Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man”. Then the bystanders came up to Peter and said: “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you”. Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man”. Immediately the cock crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had prophesied and he went out and wept bitterly.
 
Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins. When he saw Jesus condemned to death, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the high priests and elders saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood”. They said, “What is it to us? See to it yourself”. Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he went and hanged himself.
 
Even unto the last, Jesus had a good thought for his oppressors: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
 
The way of the Cross is conducted on the Church Campus Ground at 7AM, 9.30 AM (in English) and 12 noon.
 

John B Monteiro, author and journalist, is editor of his website
www.welcometoreason.com (Interactive Cerebral Challenger).

 

Also Read:

By John B Monteiro
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Comment on this article

  • archi, giri/bombay

    Sun, Apr 24 2011

    Good photographs of good friday this must be followed in all the chuches' lesson for younger generations ' they should follow this and teach the future generation

  • Ravindra Nayak, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Thank you very much brothers Lawrence D souza, Nakre Karkala Oman, Arnold Lobo, Bangalore,Jude, Mangalore Dubai, Uday Rodrigues, Jeddah/Mangalore for guiding me on good friday. God bless you all.

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Dear Mr.Nayak:Jesus went on doing good everywhere, He made all new again following the Gods ways and laws and set an example with His own life.
    Maundy Thursday:He desired to have last supper with His apostles and during the last supper Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and the ministry of priesthood. After supper then He left to pray to God the Father and in agony. He prayed all along with troubled heart by foreseeing the trap set by the people to kill Him,the suffering and death on cross to face. His sweat become blood s.
    Good Friday:
    Jews made a plan to arrest Jesus with false case against Him inorder condemn to death.They stirred up the crowd against Jesus and so that they can get rid of him by killing a shameful and cruel death on the cross. Those days the crucifixion/death on cross, was considered to be the most cruel and shameful punishment used to give for notorious criminals. Jews arrested Jesus and put Him on trial, torture, scourging, made Him t o carry His own cross to calvary, nailing and hanging on the cross left Him to die as a lonely, dejected one with so much suffering and pain. Even after undergoing such a horrendous pain for not of His fault still He forgave and prayed for the people before dying,who crucified Him. By seeing this and nature’s reaction one of the soldiers said ‘truly He is the Son of God.’So once the cross was used to be the symbol of shame and death has then become the sign of victory,redemption, salvation, life giving source

  • Jude, Mangalore Dubai

    Sat, Apr 23 2011

    Dear Mr. Nayak, I see many different views expressed here towards your question. To simply put it, I can say that Good Friday is the day when christians all over the world commemorate the passion of Christ. The passion of Christ begins from the time he was betrayed by one of his own disciples ( Judas), through his trial before the Jewish High priests and the Roman Governor Pilate on false charges, his torture, carrying of the cross upto the hillock of Golgota, his crucifixion in between two thieves and giving up his spirit on the cross. His last words on the cross before giving up his life were IT IS ACCOMPLISHED, which means his mission on earth, for which purpose he came is accomplished.We believe that he was the son of God and came into this world and lived the life of an ordinary man even though he is the King of the Universe. He led by example, lived amongst us and gave up his life selflessly for the redemption of mankind. There is one cammandment that he gave us which is the most important tenet of christianity. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. I Hope I have sufficiently in simple layman's terms answered your question.

  • Aramus, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    For each sin we commit we condemn god. Lord Jesus gets crucified again and again to save us from wrath of almighty for the stupid sins we commit.we are at the end of the world right now where our brains do not hold much memories of noble deeds of lord jesus the next day we will forget .satan has taken maximum control on this planet right now it is better to be good by forcefully making our minds and heart submitted to god no matter what....may Satan not be thrown into outer universes for 1000 years this time ...let Satan be killed in it own conscious so he never ever get born again

  • Arnold Lobo, Bangalore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Dear Nayak
    Good Friday is the day of fasting and abstinence for we Christians because it was on this day thousands of years back Jesus Christ the son of God gave himself his precious life on the Holy Cross for our sins so that we would not perish but have eternal life. He has taught us what true love is by being submissive, by taking the pain and suffering on himself for our wrong doings. God bless you my friend and also pray for very member of your household to receive the grace, peace, joy, love and all the blessings you need.

  • Shammi, Attavar / U.K

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Fr Walter D Mello has done a great job,its really heart touching WAY OF THE CROSS.Thank You.

  • Max & Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore/Houston/Dallas

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Dear Fr.Walter D'mello,

    Thank you for your wonderful leadership thru which the Milagres Parish has flourished and will continue to flourish. Thank you, Mr. John Monteiro for your tasteful article with fine pictures. Milagres and Mangalore is so far away from Texas, yet thru the medium of professional websites so much of daily s are relayed to us so swiftly. Thank you Walter and the Team.

    Holy Week is truly a week of recollections and reconciliations. Amidst so much of turmoil in so many parts of the world including the tragic Tsunami in Japan and the wild Tornadoes and fires in America, our beloved community in Texas has been blessed with so much of daily peace and tranquility. There are so many unrests and uncertainties in the Middle East, the Land where history of Judea-Christian and Islamic faith was born, yet there is so much of hatred, vengeance and disturbance prevailing every day for some reason or another.

    Holy Week is therefore a time to thank God for all the blessings Mangalore and India is bestowed upon. Our families, our neighbourhood and our community is so fortunate in enjoying the daily "Shanti" that money cannot buy in many parts of the world.

    We distinctly remember our visit to Bethlehem and Jerusalem by road from Amman via the River Jordan before the 1967 War. Life was simple and more peaceful then. This is a prayerful week so that we gain our daily bread with peace and harmony with equality and justice for all mankind.

  • christina, mangalore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Beautiful article on Good Friday.I suppose theres no further explanation needed.
    We adore you O christ and we bless you .You were condemned for our sake .You bore the punishment for our sin.You made us clean and blameless by your blood.You rose again on the third day.You are the way the truth and our life.
    Even today you nourish us each day with your body and blood at the holy mass.We owe you our lives.

  • Lancelot N. Tauro, Manglore - Doha Qatar

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    By deing on the cross you showed a love peace to the universe. NO REVENGE. thats what Jesus christ taught us PEACE BE WITH YOU. AMEN

  • Uday Rodrigues, Jeddah/Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    @Ravindra Nayak, Mangalore

    If you wish to know more about GOOD FRIDAY, Please google search.

  • Frederick Pinto, Shirva

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    During the Easter seasons especially on Good Friday all christians focus on the passion of Lord Jesus Christ his suffering and death on the cross. Watching these pictures reminds me of the tremendous sacrifice he did for each & everyone for us. Lets show him that we haven't forgotten about him. God will never sacrifice his son again that to clean our sins. We need to pray, share peace and love.

  • Norbert Sequeira, Mumbai

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Photography at it's best. Simply awesome. Daijiworld deserves all praise for exibiting these real touching pictures. The back of the Church, 'kya seen hai'.
    So clear, the peoples devotion, the scenerio touches me.
    My prayers to you all the organizers. Thank you.

  • Lawrence D Souza, Nakre Karkala Oman

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Dear Mr.Ravindra Nayak
    Really I appreciated your question. Off course I may not able to cover all the massage that you need. But if I start brief you shortly that the almighty God came through in the name of Jesus to save every individuals from the sinner…….unfortunately our ancestors’ without knowing him or following him…… they were crucified him on the cross….. Still we are [I am] keep continuing sins….. By attempting of physical needs……..consequently we must thing about individual’s spiritual needs also…… to achieve our [my] soul rest in peace …….

  • Clara Lewis, Kemmannu/Dubai

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Our sins had nailed our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.

    Jesus said,"I tell you that one of you will betray me -one who is eating with me."(Mark 14.18)

    The Son of Man will die as the Scriptures say he will but how terrible for that man who betrays the Son of Man!(Mark 14.21)

    At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?" (Mark 15.33-34)

    With a loud cry Jesus died.(Mark 15.37)

    The army officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw how Jesus had died. "This man was really the Son of God!" (Mark 15.39).

    JESUS I ADORE YOU
    JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

    "The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners.(ST.Faustina's Diary (1397), in her Diary, she record promises connected with the Devotion to the Divine Mercy.

  • Lawrence D souza, Nakre Karkala Oman

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Really good…. Subsequently……On this every year session what is my roll and understating….? Still I am just crossing this session without catch-up my spiritual needs…...... every individual need to be think about it……

  • Julius, Bejai/Doha qatar

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    We Adore you o Christ and we Bless you..Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

  • Ravindra Nayak, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Dear commentators i would like to know more about Good Friday. So can anyone guide me on that. thank you in advance.

  • rupert, mlore

    Fri, Apr 22 2011

    Fr Walter D Mello has done a great job,its really heart touching WAY OF THE CROSS.
    PRAISE THE LORD


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