Friday, April 06, 2012
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Dear Friends,
Please read the passage below from the Gospel of St. John (19:16-30):
Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the Cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the Cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the people read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written. When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic, now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another. “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it. This was to fulfill what the Scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile standing near the Cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, in order to fulfill the Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:)
“Come, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters, near My Cross as I die for your salvation. My Mother is also near My Cross with My beloved Apostle and My last words spoken directly to a person were addressed to My Mother and to St. John. I gave Her to St. John and to all believers to be their Mother for She suffered much together with Me for your salvation. You know that I was nailed to the Cross and the pain was excruciating. I offered My sacrifice to My Heavenly Father to atone for your sins so that you could be saved and one day be with Me in heaven. My death on the Cross was an act of love for each one of you. Contemplate Me on the cross today, Good Friday, and offer yourselves totally to Me to do the will of the Father. Reject Satan and all his lies and temptations and remain close to Me, your Savior. Repent of all your sins. I love you and I will never abandon you. Come and be part of My Church and you will be blessed. I gave My life out of love for you.”
Father Melvin