A Travesty of Justice

It had been a blur.

They had walked up on the Mount of Olives where He always went to pray but couldn't stay awake. Too much food and wine left them groggy.

Then the crowd. Judas. How could He go so peacefully with them? We would have fought! Instead we ran and hid like cowards.

"Weren't you with Him?"
"Oh, no! I don't know Him!"
"Surely you were with Him!"
"I was not!"
"You're a Galilean just like Him!"
"I don't know what you are talking about!"

Now the darkness enveloped; hiding the tears; the agony.

The council of elders tried Him. It was a travesty. They broke their own laws.

They took Him before Pilate and then Herod for only death would quench the flame of their hatred. They both thought, "a little punishment, a little ridicule for this rabble rouser to satisfy the mob and then we'll wash our hands of this affair."

The lash fell. The flesh tore. The blood flowed. The thorns pierced. Again and again and again and still the mob cried, "Crucify Him!"

"Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

So they hung Him with criminals on a cross at the Place of the Skull.

And in love He responded, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."