Over 2000 years ago, Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest friends. He turned Him over to men who had nothing but evil planned for Him. Jesus cried out to father God asking that if this cup could be taken from Him please do. But if not, then His Fathers will be done and not his own.  He was taken captive and and called horrible names, spit upon, and beaten while being mocked. He knew His beloved friends were denying knowing Him, and He knew the fate that lay ahead of Him. He was forced to take up His cross and carry on His back, which was shredded and sliced what an extremely painful process.  He was paraded down the same streets where only days earlier He had been greeted with shouts of "Hosanna!" "Messiah!". Now he was met with shouts of mockery, and shouting "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!!" These people knew what crucifixion was. See they had witnessed these brutal killings for years now. Seen the prolonged suffering, the corpses that rotted in the streets while vultures defiled them! Still they cried out. Crucify him! He was forced to walk through this crowd spit upon, having things thrown at Him and knowing that though he had done nothing wrong He would die a most violent death. And all the while he walked on. He had never sinned, but carried the sin of every man and woman up to this day as well as the sins of all to come. My beloved friends that's a heavy burden to carry when you already carry the weight of your certain death! Yet he walked on. His wrist were nailed to the cross in a way to hold his suffering body to the board for the longest time. His ankles were nailed in the same way with legs bent. And then that cross was raised and His entire body weight pulled at these nails and the wounds surrounding them. One of the only ways these crucified men could relieve some of the pain on their upper body and an opportunity to expand their lungs and receive a deep breath was to push up on their legs and this also caused extreme pain to their lower extremities. When the soldiers were ready to get it over with and done they would break the mans legs so that He would be unable to take another deep breath and ultimately His lungs would collapse and he would die. Jesus legs were never broken and he continued to suffer. Still Jesus cried out Father forgive them! Though the Son of God was broken and suffering they continued to mock Him. The whole Earth became dark and the veil was torn. And Jesus gave himself over to death saying it is finished. His disciples mourned and cried in the streets. They felt broken and overwhelmed. This is not how they had hoped things would go to say the least. Jesus was taken down from the cross and his body wrapped cloth and placed in a tomb of a member of the council. All those who remained with Him were there and saw the body lain in the tomb. The women went home to prepare spices and perfumes. And then they rested partly because it was sabbath and they wanted to obey the command, but I have to believe they were also emotionally and physically exhausted. This is not the end of the story. Only a chapter. But, imagine yourself there thousands of years ago. Imagine that you do not know what happens next. what overwhelming anguish they must have experienced.
   Now I don't like to waist words so....Jesus gave up Divinity in His heavenly realm to come to Earth and know all the hardships of humanity. He came and loved the unlovable as an example of what a true Rabbi is. He was betrayed and beaten and ultimately killed along with our sins. And he did all of these things so that you would not know death and suffer the same crucifixion never ending. And he died sinless and carried our sins to the grave. And he would have done all of this if I had been the only one. That's how He loves me!
   And He would have done all of this if you were the only one!! That's how much He loves you!

God Bless and keep you Ms. Jill