Good Friday...doesn't seem too good on the surface

The Easter season is my favorite "holiday" because of the magnitude of significance to not simply my faith, but my very existence - past, present, and future.  But I have one huge benefit over those who stood and witnessed the even over 2000 years ago. I have the knowledge of Sunday.

As I reflect about that Friday, I thought about the time line of the day and with some research, it may have gone a bit like this (Only certain times are noted in scripture, so the times between the "third, sixth, and ninth hours" are estimates of what may have happened.)

THE TRIAL

4 a.m. (as early as 4 since it's "dawn" before "sunrise" which typically happens at 6 a.m.)

• Jesus taken to Annas (Ex-High Priest) first (John 18:12-23)
• Jesus questioned before Caiaphas  (Ruling High Priest) (Matthew 26:57, Mark 14:53, Luke 22:54, John 18:24)
• Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate (Highest Roman authority) first time (Matthew 27:2, Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37) 
• Pilate asks Jesus if He is the Christ - each time, Jesus answers Yes. (Matthew 27:11, Mark 15:2, Luke 23:3, John 18:37) 
• Pilate's wife warns him to have nothing to do with Jesus (Matthew 27:19)
• Jesus Sent to Herod (Ruler of Galilee)  (Luke 23:6-12)

7 a.m.

• Jesus Returned to Pilate  (Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:11, John 18:39-19:16)
• Barabbas chosen over Jesus (Matthew 27:21, Mark 15:11, Luke 23:18, John 18:40)
• Jesus is Sentenced to Death  (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:25; John 19:16)
• Jesus Flogged (John 19:1)
• Jesus mocked and beaten (Matthew 27:27-28, Mark 15:17-20, John 19:2-3)

8 a.m.

• Jesus is Led Away to Golgotha / Calvary  (Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 15:20-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

THE CRUCIFIXION

9 a.m. - "The Third Hour"

• Jesus offered wine and gall (Matthew 27:34, Mark 15:23)
• Jesus is Crucified on the Cross  (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 26:32, John 19:23a)
• The Soldiers Cast Lots for Jesus' Clothing  (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24b, Luke 23:34b, John 19:23b-24)

10 a.m.

• "Father forgive them" (Luke 26:34a)
• Jesus is Insulted and Mocked  (Matthew 27:39-44, Mark 15:29-32, Luke 23:35)

11 a.m.

• Jesus Speaks to Mary and John (John 19:26-27)

Noon - "The Sixth Hour"

• Darkness Covers the Land til ninth hour (Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44)

1 p.m.

• People continue to mock Him "Aren't you the Christ?"(Luke 23:39)

2 p.m.

• Jesus and the Criminal, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
  

3 p.m. - "The Ninth Hour" 

• "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
• Jesus is Thirsty, He's given wine vinegar (Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36, John 19:28-29)
• Jesus cries out again "It is Finished," "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46, John 19:30)

Events Following Jesus' Death

• The curtain in the temple torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45)
• The Earthquake (Matthew 27:51)
• The dead raised (Matthew 27:52-53)
• The Centurion - "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47)
• The Soldier Pierces Jesus Side  (John 19:34)
• Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

After reading through the Gospels to put this time line in place, the thing I continued to ask myself is who would I be in the happenings of the day?

• Would I have been Judas? One of Jesus's inner circle who sold him out for pocket change?
• Peter who denied Jesus...just as Jesus told him he would?
• Maybe Barabbas who was given freedom as Jesus took my payment.
• I can identify with Pilate on days. Knowing the right thing to do, but being more concerned with my life and position and therefore caving on my integrity. I'll have to give him credit...he did take a stand for the sign that hung above Jesus. The religious leaders wanted him to change the sign to say "CLAIMED to be the King of the Jews" and Pilate said..."What I have written, I have written." (John 19:22)
• Would I have been the thief who mocked and never believed who Jesus really was, dying blind to THE TRUTH?
• I hope I would have not been that stubborn and prideful, but would have been the other theif who heard his Lord say, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43) 
• How about the Centurion. After all the pain and even perhaps being one who held the hammer and drove the nails in Jesus' hand or feet...would I have then had my eyes opened to claim, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47) At least my eyes would have been open to the truth.
• And then there were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus - both were religious leaders who secretly followed Jesus, believed He was Son of God, the Christ, and yet didn't let anyone know of their belief until they took a stand and asked for his dead body to prepare and bury. 

I suspect if I were being honest with myself, I carry some of all these people with me many days. At this Easter season, I pray I would be like John who was bold enough to stand at the foot of the cross knowing without doubt who Jesus was and is and go on to leave a legacy for Him and His Kingdom.