Words from the Heart

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).

Matthew 27:33 NIV

Golgotha

Canada’s Golgotha is a 32-inch-high bronze sculpture by the British sculptor Francis Derwent Wood, produced in 1918. It illustrates the story of the Crucified Soldier from the First World War and depicts a Canadian soldier crucified on a barn door and surrounded by jeering Germans. It is now on show at the Canadian War Museum. The story of the crucified soldier emerged in 1915. The authenticity of the event was never established, though several soldiers claimed to have seen the body of the victim on display.

***

Today is what the Church has traditionally called Maundy Thursday. It is the day before Good Friday – the day when Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, the day of the Last Supper, the betrayal and the arrest. The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” meaning “commandment” or “mandate,” reflecting Jesus’ words to His disciples after He washed their feet in an extraordinary display of humility and service. He said, “‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’” (John 13:34) Jesus would show the extent of His love for His disciples the next day. Forever in charge of His fate, He would put into place all that would happen over the next 24 hours. It would come to its apex when they led Him to be crucified. Matthew 27:33 tells us: “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’).” Good Friday, Golgotha, will take place soon enough. In your heart, take time today to walk with the Lord through all the events of the first Maundy Thursday, until you come with Him to Golgotha.

These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley