The Evil Noise Of Hell

The calm, quiet words of Jesus stand out in the chaos.

John 19:16-19 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by Himself, He went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed Him to the cross. Two others were crucified with Him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

John 19:28-30 Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and released His spirit.

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All night long there was noise, last night was a very unsettled night for a lot of people in Jerusalem, and now the chaos of the previous evening has continued into Friday morning without any signs of stopping.

Jesus' passionate cries in the garden were interrupted by the chaotic noise of soldiers that came with Judas to arrest him. I imagine that there wasn't anything quiet about the soldiers bringing Jesus into Jerusalem to be questioned, they must have woke people up as they marched into town and made their way to the house of the High Priest.

It's disturbing to recall the noise as the prisoner was beat on mercilessly and then marched over to Pilate then to Herod and back to Pilate again, half the town was up early that morning as Jesus was moved around the city.

It is morning now and Pilate has heard enough and wants to get rid of this bother. "Not guilty!" was the decision from Pilate that stirred up the crowd, with the help of the religious leaders, the noise would continue to amplify as the "not guilty" prisoner would be beaten and whipped. Not guilty and yet he was treated so harshly.

Again and again the verdict would be told, "Not guilty!" but the Jews wouldn't let it go. Given a choice they cried out for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be executed. Despite all of Pilate's efforts they continued until Pilate gave in, rejected the advice of his wife and let the crowd have their way. (Matthew 27:18-19)

Matthew 27:39-42 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 "Look at You now!" they yelled at Him. 41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 "He saved others," they scoffed, "but He can't save Himself!

The anguish of being pierced with nails so that your body would hang on the cross, the jeers and insults of the Religious leaders and the Romans as he hung there, and then there was the protest over the sign Pilate had posted on the cross. (Mark 15:29-32)

Jesus Words From The Cross
1. “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). 2. “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). 3. “Woman, behold thy son” (John 19:25-27). [Three hours of darkness; Jesus is silent] 4. “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) 5. “I thirst” (John 19:28). 6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30) 7. “Father, into Thy hands” (Luke 23:46).

Calm In The Midst Of The Clamor

There is an extreme contrast between the noise of hell's fury going full force against Jesus and his calm quiet disposition. Jesus said very few words as he spoke to his accusers at his trial and during the beatings in court, and we don't have any evidence that he said anything on the way to Golgotha or while he was being attached to the cross.

Jesus was know for turning a conversation around to get out of situations when the religious leaders were trying to trap him, but this time it was different, he didn't say much but when he did it was never anything that would get him out of this situation and it was never anything hateful to the people that abused him.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

This time they had him but not because Jesus was outmaneuvered, evil men thought that they had finally won in their efforts to get Jesus, they didn't have any idea that none of this was happening because of their efforts. Jesus chose the cup of God's wrath that the Father had prepared and ever since the garden he has not asked for it to be any other way.

Jesus first words from the cross were out of concern for others, he asked God to forgive the people that had abused him, he offered salvation to a dying criminal and he made provision for the care of his mother. (Luke 23:34, 42-43, John 19:25-26)

A mere human would never respond to all of this evil in such a calm and loving manner. In the middle of all of the noise and chaos of Hell, Jesus is at peace, he is calm in the midst of the persecution and suffering because he is in the center of God's will and he is accomplishing what he came here to do. (Philippians 2:8)

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.

-Missionary C. T. Studd

The noise around me can be very great and it can be a huge distraction, I need to remember that Satan can make a lot of noise and he can make it seem like he is in control or he may get me to think that he the greatest but I know the truth that love has won the war!

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