Good Friday Excerpt From The Last Disciple: Gospel of John

Good Friday excerpt from The Last Disciple: Gospel of John. I’m deep in the weeds of research and writing book five in The Last Disciple Series. Today I decided to take a break from my labors by reading a passage on the events of Good Friday from book four in the series. And that inspired me to write this.

Rather than writing a longer post, I decided to just include a short excerpt from my novel The Last Disciple: Gospel of John. I’m doing this because it covers the events of Good Friday, the most privotal moment in the history of humanity. In this passage, John is recounting the events leading up the crucifixion:

Good Friday Excerpt From The Last Disciple: Gospel of John

“The path the Romans led Jesus on went out through the Gennath, or Garden Gate. I don’t know why it was called that. Perhaps because Herod’s palace was nearby, and it had an extensive garden. The place of crucifixion, known as Golgotha, was near an old quarry just outside the walls of the city. Tombs had been cut in the stone, and some areas had been planted with trees and flowering shrubs.

“From Golgotha, you could see across to the western walls of Herod’s Temple, and to the south, the walls of the city and Herod’s palace. The women and I stood as close as we could to Jesus. We could hear his agonized scream as they dropped the cross into the hole in the ground. That sent an unbearable jolt through his arms and legs. With each sound from him, our group cried out as well, for we felt as though we were one with him in his agony.”

John remembered the small group of followers, all women except for him. They kept drawing nearer to the cross, both to hear better, but also to be near Jesus.

“At one point, Jesus stared intently at his mother, and then at me. He seemed to concentrate on us until he could gather enough strength to speak. Amazingly, when he spoke, it was in a clear voice, directed to both of us. He told Mary, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to me, ‘Behold, your mother!’” John recalled that moment with gratitude. It changed the course of his life and gave him a purpose. “It was odd that he chose that moment to speak. He had never once acknowledged me earlier at the Praetorium or at any other time during his arrest and trial.

“After Jesus finished speaking, I looked directly at him and bowed my head in acknowledgement. I then took my mother’s hand in my left and put my right arm around Mary. We all drew strength from each other. Then my mother asked me what Jesus meant when he had spoken to us. I had not had time to consider his words, so I just told her this: ‘Mother, I believe he wants me to watch over and protect Mary, to welcome her into my home here in Jerusalem. “In the midst of unimaginable suffering on the cross, Jesus thought of her and of me, so I am determined to honor his wishes.’”

John wondered why Jesus had picked him to care for his mother. His mother seemed equally surprised at the command Jesus had given. He remembered the faint frown on her face. My own mother seemed a bit put off at the thought of my new role as protector of Mary.

“After Jesus spoke, a gust of wind swept dust and debris in swirls around us. I averted my eyes from it. Mary did the same, and it was then I caught her eye. I knew her well because she was my auntie, so I wasn’t at all awkward with her. When our eyes met at that moment, I thought I saw both acceptance and a tiny spark of interest at this unexpected directive Jesus had given. Perhaps she thought it was ironic that her son had named me, her nephew, as her protector.

“For me, the realization that Jesus had given me a purpose was the only faint form of light and hope I had in those dark days. I resolved to follow his command faithfully by watching over Mary as though she were my own mother.”

John wearily leaned against the table and closed his eyes. He saw it all again clearly. The cross, the earthquake, the darkness falling across the land for hours, the wind that gusted and blew dust everywhere. Earthquakes and darkness and dust had occurred before. However, the Son of God had never died on a cross!”

Excerpt From Chapter Nineteen of:
The Last Disciple: Gospel of John

I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt. Every time I read of the crucifixion in the Biblical accounts, I find new things to ponder and new ways to marvel at God’s plan. I hope you do as well.

Yours in Christ, Kurt