IN THE WORDS OF JESUS...

It was the time of the passover. I had seen 32 passover feasts, during which my family and I, my disciples and I (When I began my public ministry), would slay the chosen lamb in honor of the father's ordinance.

In those 32 years, everytime we ate the passover lamb, I was reminded that someday I would be the lamb that was slain.

This 33rd year as I walked into Jerusalem on the 10th day of Nissan when the Lamb was to be chosen, I willingly gave myself as the lamb to be slain.


They hailed, called out to me hosanna meaning "Save Us". With every shout and scream, I was reminded of my purpose. The very reason I was born was to die for these and many to be saved.


Every voice, every stare, every palm tree, stirred in me a strong desire to accomplish my purpose. They thought they were asking me for political redemption but I knew they were asking me for total redemption.


That week, I had the most temptations of my life. My mind fought against the enemy as he tried so hard to make me lose focus. I prayed often as I knew, I needed the father more than ever. I had to stay blameless in order to be an acceptable sacrifice. The enemy did a lot to mess up my mind and my heart but the father was my exceeding great help.


When my disciples and I ate the last supper on the 13th day of the month of Nissan (Thursday evening), my heart pounded very fast and  the pain of death overshadowed me. By the way, it was called the last supper because it was the last I would eat with them during the passover.

Artistic representation of the Last supper
By Journal of Art in Society

The lamb for sacrifice was to be killed the next day, at 3PM in Jerusalem. I knew I would have been gone at that point.

While we ate, I tried to express my sorrow. I began to tell them about the plot to kill me. I eventually indirectly revealed it was Judas. Judas was unremorseful. The enemy had total control of his heart. Everyone, wondered what I meant, when I said to Judas, "what you have to do, do quickly?"


Judas was yet to seal the deal with them. They (He, the priest, the scribes and sanhedrins) had earlier negotiated but he hadn't figured out how to deliver me into their hands.

How it all began

After the supper, I went with them all to the garden of Gethsamane. It was an oil press at the foot of the mount of olives where I had taught many.  Indeed, I was about to be pressed till life came out of me. I couldn't think of a better place to agonize or travail in prayer.


The 3 (Peter, James and John) went further into the the garden of Gethsamane with me. I was hoping they would pray for me because they were the closest to me. Sadly, I found them asleep when the pawns of death gripped my heart.


Read: 3 fatal mistakes young people make.


I was alone. I felt so alone. Therefore, I prayed intently until my agony gave way enough for me to feel the father's assured love. The experience was so overwhelming to my flesh that no part of me felt like God. I had surrendered my authority and power back to the father who in turn gave them to the high priest, the scribes, the pharisees and the sadducees. I was at their mercy.  I wept in deep agony, I prayed earnestly, I was so physically, spiritually and emotionally distressed  that I had a medical condition called Hematohidrosis.  I began to sweat blood as a result.

My disciples were shocked and exhausted from crying for me. My anguish hurt them but they still didn't understand it. They had never seen me that distressed.

The father sent an angel to minister strength to me. The angel encouraged me and just then, Judas arrived.

The other disciples hadn't noticed his absence at the garden. They thought he was with us. It was when he returned with a group of people from the high priest to arrest me, that the others knew he wasn't with us at the garden.

He kissed me. His kiss of betrayal brought rushing wind of anguish afresh to my soul. Oh Judas, my son and friend, how did he let the enemy do this to him? If only he knew how damned he would be for giving me away to the enemies of the Lord.


The soldiers arrested me. My disciples resisted. Peter drew his sword in bid to defend me and cut off the ear of Marcus (one of the soldiers). I fixed it back and rebuked Peter. I knew the enemy was looking for an opportunity to get him in trouble with the authorities but I wasn't going to let that happen.

Read: Betrayed

They led me to Caiaphas the high priest and the cabinet of  the Sanhedrins.

Jesus before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrins
By Minneapolis Criminal Lawyer

News spreadt like wild fire that I had been captured. People ran to the courts of the high priest to see for themselves.

Many wept for me. They couldn't understand how Jesus in all his power could be captured by the soldiers but there I was bond like a thief awaiting trial.

I saw many whom I had healed and even raised from the dead. I recognized a lot of people who attended my crusades at the mount of olives and other locations. Many joined Judas to betray me. They were happy to see me in such a pathetic state.

The chief priests and his cohorts had paid many witnesses to give false testimonies about me. There were other unpaid witnesses, who also willingly came forward to lie against me. I was accused of unimaginable things. However, the chief priest wasn't looking for just any false testimony. He was looking for something related to the law of Moses and the Jewish tradition.


Finally, two people came forward stating that I said, I was able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.

Caiaphas was pleased, He and his men finally found a good note on which to kill me; yet it wasn't strong enough. So he asked if I was the Messiah, the son of God. I told him he said so. He became furious, accused me of blasphemy and hinged on that to sentence me to death.

He tore my clothes. They began to hit me with their fists like people pounding hard nuts. They spat on me severally and declared that I was worthy of death.

They didn't have the power to sentence me, so they took me to Pilate. I was at Pilate's about 6 am the next morning.

Jesus before Pilate
By ThinkTheology

My trial before Pilate

Pilate examined me but found not fault in me. He represented the Roman government. He became furious when he realized I was not interested in defending myself.

None of them realised that the words of prophet Isaiah concerning me was being fulfilled.

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth" Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

Pilate thought he could save me. I knew that could only happen if father changed his mind about my death. That wasn't about to happen, so I made pilate know he couldn't help me.

Pilate sent me to Herod, who found no fault in me but mocked and sent me back to Pilate.

I had to be tried by the high priest, Herod and Pilate because it was important that no guile be found in me. I must be approved by the mosaic law and the government of the time. As father would have it, I was blameless just as the passover lamb was expected to be blameless.


By the time I returned to Pilate, it was 7 Am. Everyone could see my shame clearly in the bright of day.

They brought Barabbas, who had led a rebel group and I before the people. As the custom demanded, one would be set free and the other would be condemned to die by crucifixion. The people chose Barabbas in exchange for me.


Read: The exchange

Headed for Calvary

Crucifixion was the worst way to die in my time. It was for thieves, the condemned and anyone whom the society looked upon as a curse.  It was a big deal.

I who taught in public places, I who was bowed to in honor, I who many longed to call their friend was suddenly condemned as a curse, to hang in public like a thief. The shame was heavy on my heart, the pain ruined my body and the grief dampened my soul as the soldiers beat the daylight out of me and paraded me as an object of reproach around Jerusalem.

Jesus being whipped
 pinterest

At 8am, they led me to Golgotha for the crucifixion.

At 9am, I was crucified. Soldiers drove huge nails through my wrists and ankles to affix me to the cross. They placed a crown of thorn on my already aching head. An inscription which read  "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" was placed at the top of my cross. I hung there for about 6 hours before I finally gave up the ghost.

While up there,  at 12 noon, death and his demons, hades and darkness taunted and hunted me. They where in haste to taste my blood. I was their enemy and they rejoiced over me.

All of hell and demons accused me. They all raced towards me to devour me. I was condemned on earth, in heaven and in hell. They ripped me as the weight of sin rested heavily upon me.

Jesus' thorn pierced head
Google

The terror of death gripped me and I could no longer find, see or feel the father. Alas, I was alone, helpless as a mere man at the mercy of merciless demons and the crushing weight of the sin of the world. From Adam's disobedience to Adamu's murder years into the future before he was born.

It was during this time, that gross darkness filled the earth. I, the light of the world, was for a moment missing in creation because I took the place of man and no one to take my place as the light of the world.

How it went down

At 1PM, the terror had heightened and the weight of the sin of all of mankind, choked me severely. In extreme terror, I called out to my father,

"ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Mathew 27:46 (NKJV)

I, who is the river of life, became thirsty. So thirsty as I drew close to hell. The soldiers gave me vinegar/sour wine to drink. It hurt my belly and burnt my chest. It didn't quench my thirst.

This went on till about 2PM. When I knew my hour had come. I committed my spirit to the father in faith.

At 3PM when the high priest was to sacrifice the passover lamb, I died as the true passover lamb for the sin of the world and their redemption.

As soon as I died, the veil in the temple tore in two. The priest was startled and couldn't perform his sacrifice at that hour. Why could he, I was the sacrifice that year, once and forever. I had already been offered.

As I descended into hell, all of hell shook and so did the earth. Men interpreted it as earthquake, but it was the power of my righteousness displacing the power of hell and liberating men. The demons who had earlier taunted me couldn't withstand me.

They were shocked as I didn't arrive like everyone else-scared and bowed. Instead I came as the king I am, as foretold in Psalm 24.

Voice of righteousness: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Hades, Hell and demons: Who is this King of glory? 

Voice of righteousness: The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Hades, Hell and demons: Who is this King of glory?

Voice of righteousness: The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. 

Colossians 2:14 and15 gives a brief summary of what happened as I got in.

...having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NASB)

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (NKJV)

The demons tried to resist but I am greater than all of them combined. I gave them the beating of their lives using sleek "Karate" moves. I delivered all that were in hell and delivered you while were still unborn.

I willingly gave my life. Father didn't compel me. My love for you drove me to the cross to die for you. I took your place so that you wouldn't have to die such death of eternal seperation from me.

The words of John stands true.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

Believe in me, Put your trust in me. I am your saviour. I died for your sins. I paid your death and if you believe in me, you shall be free forever!

How to demonstrate that you believe in Jesus

Step 1: Acknowledge Him as the Son of God

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9 (NLT)

Step 2: Confess aloud that Jesus is Lord and saviour of your heart

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9 (NLT)

Step 3: Believe that He died and was resurrected from the dead for you to be saved (delivered from darkness)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9 (NLT)

Step 4: Confess and Forsake your sins

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Say this prayer below

Lord Jesus, i admit that I was born in darkness.

I acknowledge you as the Light by whom I was originally created. I

 believe that you died to pay for my sins and you rose from the dead giving me victory over sin and death.

I confess and forsake my sins. I ask  for your forgiveness and I receive your forgiveness.

Wash and sanctify me by your blood. 

Give me your Spirit that I may live for you as yours.
I confess you as Lord over my life and I surrender to your lordship in Jesus name, Amen!

Congratulations

If you said the above prayer, please send me an email at birthplaceconferences at gmail dot com.  I have a free gift to help you grow in your love relationship with God.

Committed to your fulfilment
Anne Emeka-Obiajunwa

Join me later today at 3PM for Crux of the Cross. You will learn about the goodies that Jesus' death got for us. No more would you afraid of agents of darkness and satanic operations. Click to join me on facebook