Hold the Light: Wisdom from Myth, Legend & Fairy-tale for Times of Uncertainty & Transformation:22: Easter Meditations: The Day of Agony

The Crucifixtion of Christ by Giotto di Bondone in the Scrovegni Chapel, c. 1305
(La Crocifissione di Cristo)

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John.19 King James Version

After his arrest Jesus had been brought before Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest and late into the night - against all legal protocol – he had been tried, found guilty and sent onward to Pontius Pilate for sentencing. Deep down Pilot knew Jesus was innocent. This we can deduce from the gospels. He understood he was deemed a threat to the priest-hood and this is why they had orchestrated the case against him.
 
Jesus had told them openly when asked,

“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the living God?”
“You have said so, he replies.
 But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”
Matthew 26:64

Giotto: Scrovegni Chapel, Padua: Christ before Caiaphas
  (Cristo davanti a Caifa 1304)

And the high priest had torn his robes then and on charges of blasphemy sent Jesus to Pilate for sentencing. And when Pilate asked again the same question.

Are you the King of the Jews? he replied,
“You say that I am a king.”  

Pilate pressed him to say more and asked Jesus if he was aware he had power to either free or condemn him. And Jesus knew yet remained silent and Pilate greatly marvelled at his composure.
 
Now, as well you know, there was a tradition at the time of Passover for certain criminals to be released. A mocking crowd had followed Jesus from the house of Caiaphas - a crowd stirred by the priesthood in their disdain. This crowd now waited and watched beyond the walls of Herod’s House where Pilate resided over the festival. And they were a crowd totally unlike that which had welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem just a few days before - and they were baying for his conviction - and secretly amongst had been Peter – whose story we shall take up briefly here – for as they had waited for news near the house of Caiaphas, a girl had recognised him and come forth and said.

"This man also was with him."
But he denied it, saying,
“Woman, I do not know him.”
Then another recognised him & called her friends and said aloud –
  "This is one of them.
He was with Jesus...,"
Matthew 26:69-75 NEW King James Version

 and again he denied it was so. And they insisted and he swore he did not know him and invoked God to be his judge. And the cock crowed and each time he remembered Jesus saying he would deny him  – and he wept – knowing his life was saved but his soul was lost, and he went away then but the crowd, now baying for blood went on.
 
Now, there was a criminal named Barabbas who was then brought forward and Pilate, having found no fault with Jesus cried out,

Who shall I give you today?,
 “Whom do you want me to release to you?
Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
 Mathew 27: 17 King James Version

And the crowd cried,
Barabbas! Barabbas! 
  “What then shall I do with Jesus?” asked Pilate,
What evil hath he done?
 Crucify him! Crucify him!
Matthew 27:23 King James Version

They called back as one voice.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
 Mathew 27: 24 King James Version

 He released Barabbas then and delivered Jesus to the crowd.
And so it was. And Jesus was given over to be scourged & stripped of his clothes & driven onward to Calvary bearing his cross. A crown of twisted thorns was thrust upon his head, and all along the way he was mocked and jeered and spat at as a common criminal might be.
 
 And the heavy cross was placed upon his shoulder and a mock purple cloak. And the people - fickle as they were - and so permeable to corruption cried out and laughed and spat as he staggered on.

GIOTTO: ROAD TO CALVARY. /nFresco detail from Scrovegni Chapel, 1304-06
(Andata al Calvario)

And when at last while the day was still young he came to the place where the story was to end, and he was mounted and nailed upon his cross - and it was lifted up midst two common robbers. And soldiers kept guard throughout - for he was to be an example - and they threw lots for his clothing.
 Then at noontide - a great shadow fell suddenly over the earth and the Veil of the Temple was torn in two. And one of the centurions there beside him cried,
 Truly this is the son of god!

 And Jesus called out for the last time - in the words of the psalms.
 
My god! My god! Why hast thou forsaken me?
 
And calling so, he drew his last breath and died.
 
Joseph of Arimathea then went to Pilate to ask if he might take the body for burial and he agreed, and then Jesus was lifted down from his cross and placed into the arms of Mary the Mother and Mary Magdalene.
 
And all wept in their sorrow - even the angels in the skies above.     

Lamentation by Giotto di Bondone in the Scrovegni Chapel, c. 1305c.1306
Lamento (Il Compianto di Cristo)

Much Love
Anne Maria
x x x

Hold the Light/blog published regularly during the Crisis @
www.annemariaclarke.net/blog

These meditations for Easter Week are based on the exquisite 14th century fresco cycle by Giotto di Bondone, from The Scrovegni Chapel, Padua (Italy), that so beautifully elucidate the story as it unfolds.