So today was Good Friday. Somehow “good” isn’t the word I would have chosen, although I can see the reason for it’s use.
Like yesterday, I spent some time thinking about what the Savior may have went through today. Actually, I’ve thought about it many times. It’s just one of those events that you can’t think too much about. And the more I think about it, the more questions come to my mind, and the greater my awe of Christ grows. But the biggest thing that always comes to me is the incomprehensibility of it all.
I’m no scripture expert, but from what I can discern, the last time Christ would have gotten any sleep would have been Wednesday night. Thursday morning He was on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem fairly early I imagine. Then the last supper with the twelve and after that, the other incomprehensible event in the Garden of Gethsemane. That event right there would have killed a normal person. Christ had to have been exhausted from it. Then there was the night time trial which was illegal under Jewish law. And from there, everything continued on with no stop for rest, until the final rest.
If you google “3d image shroud of Turin”, you will see the full image of whomever was under the shroud. Many believe it was Christ. Whether it is or isn’t, whatever that individual went through, is what Christ went through. Personally, I could only glance at the images.
Back in 2014 there was a movie out about Christ and the crucifixion. It was pretty realistic. I couldn’t watch that either. I know it was a real event and somehow watching it as a movie seemed like I was being a spectator at an event that involved someone for whom I have great admiration and deep feelings towards. For me it would be like watching a video of a family member being beaten and crucified. Couldn’t do it.
Anyways, when I think about what Christ must have went through in Gethsemane, and then the torture and beating He suffered; then the nailing to the cross and the suffering it caused. How did He do it?
I think even Christ didn’t understand the full extent to which He would suffer. The verses, “he was sore amazed”, and “he fell on his face”, and the plea to have “this cup pass from me”, all suggest to me things were beyond His expectations. I mean the necessity of having an angel come to minister to Him suggests that His suffering was way beyond a mortal experience.
Lastly, there is the comment He made to His disciples shortly before their last supper, “yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” This too would be a surprise to Him.
I’ve always considered Gethsemane to be His “spiritual” suffering in the Atonement, and the events of today to be His “physical” suffering.
When I think of all of these things, I’m just speechless and can’t fathom it. It’s way beyond my ability to comprehend. But to me the biggest part, the hardest part, was when the Father withdrew His presence from Christ. Can you imagine that moment? He had been through suffering that, well… let Him tell you:
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink -“.
Christ was able to go through most of the Atonement because the Father was with Him. But then came that moment when the Father withdrew. Elder McConkie said that everything Christ experienced in Gethsemane was repeated while He was on the cross. And I imagine it was at the peak of all this suffering that the Father withdrew. No, I can’t comprehend it at all. But I know it happened. And in that moment, our salvation was guaranteed and our exaltation made possible.
Over the years as I have thought about these things, I truly believe only Jehovah, as Christ, could have endured all of this and stayed true to His mission and purpose. I truly believe any other spirit child of our Father would have failed. Especially Lucifer. Christ was the only One; He was the only choice, and Father knew it.
Anyways, those are my thoughts on this Good Friday.