“… and with Your blood, You purchased men for God.” Revelation 5:9

I’ll never forget the first time I read the biological details of what it meant to die by crucifixion. The gruesomeness of it was almost too much to bear—and it forever changed the way I look at Good Friday. In fact, it’s forever changed the way I read the Gospel accounts of what actually happened to Jesus that day.

The words from Mark’s Gospel, chapters 14 and 15, only begin to describe the depth of His suffering. They can’t fully capture the weight of all our Savior endured—but they give us a sobering glimpse.

Today, while many are off from work and school, may we pause and remember what happened on that day so long ago. May we not lose sight of the sacrifice made for us.

Here’s what Scripture tells us:

• • He was falsely accused of many things.
  • He was spat upon.
  • He was blindfolded and struck with fists.
  • He was beaten.

“They spit at him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took Him and beat Him.”

• • He was flogged.
  • A purple robe was placed on Him, and a crown of thorns was twisted together and set on His head.
  • They mocked Him, crying out, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

“Again and again, they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him.”

• • After mocking Him, they stripped off the purple robe, dressed Him in His own clothes again and led Him out to be crucified.
  • He was forced to carry the cross.

“They crucified Him and divided up His clothes, casting lots to see what each would get.”

• • He was crucified between two rebels, one on His right and one on His left.
  • Passersby hurled insults at Him:

“So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!”

• • Even the chief priests and teachers of the law mocked Him:

“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

• • Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.

Then Scripture tells us:

“At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)”
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.”

Then something extraordinary happened:

“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’”

As we remember the events of that dark day, may our hearts not rush past the weight of it. The cross wasn’t just a historical moment—it was a divine rescue. Jesus willingly endured unspeakable suffering so that we could be forgiven, restored, and made whole.

Good Friday is not just good because of what happened to Him, but because of what His sacrifice accomplished for us. May we stand in awe, humbled and grateful, and may the truth of the cross shape the way we live, love, and follow Him every day.