Watch Focus: Good Friday April 18th, 2025 The Crucifixion of Jesus Selah!

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call King of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

“Crucify him!” they shouted.

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again, they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.   They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” The Gospel of Mark chapter 15.

Tonight, we focus on the final act of Christ in His incarnation—the purpose for which He came—to recover the human race. An obscure word in scripture puzzles reader and scholar. Selah. It occurs 71 times in 39 Psalms, and three times in Habakkuk 3. It is interpreted to indicate a pause. Tonight, we pause in our regular prayer and gather at the foot of the cross. Selah is a Hebrew synonym meaning “forever.” Tonight, we turn our gaze upon Jesus’ suffering once for all to change the eternal destiny of the world. Selah is a Hebrew derivative meaning “raise voices in praise” or “make the instruments louder.” Tonight, we elevate our praise and turn up the music for what He has done in giving Himself as our Passover Lamb. Selah is a Hebrew acronym for Numbers 14:19, “In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” Tonight, we enter in again to the moment Christ liberated us from our sin, paid the penalty of God’s judgment against us, and delivered to us so great a salvation! Selah!

Psalm 3, “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah! But You, O Lord, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah! I laid down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek bone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord: Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah!”

Habakkuk 3, “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth. O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise. Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers. You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah.”