On behalf of all of us at iNews Cayman we hope all of you have had a very Blessed Easter.

A witness to Jesus’ Crucifixion tells the Easter story. It is just as real today as it was then 2,000 years ago.

I was there….

I watched with horror as our Lord, Jesus, friend to all, was mocked by the Roman soldiers as they took him to the Praetorium. They gathered around Jesus and stripped him of all his clothes. Still jeering they placed a scarlet robe around his shoulders. One of the soldiers was messing around with some thorns. I couldn’t see at first what he was doing until he placed it on his head. It was a crown. A crown of thorns! I saw Jesus wince with pain as the thorns cut into his flesh and rivulets of blood starting to run down his cheeks, even into his eyes. He blinked a few times to clear them. Another soldier put a staff into his hand and some knelt down in front of him with orchestrated gestures of mock servitude.

Laughing and with more jeers they shouted “Hail King of the Jews!” “Hail King of the Jews!” They said this three times. Jesus stood looking almost pityingly at the soldiers, sorrowful would be a better word. But he did not speak. The soldiers who had knelt down then spat upon him. Into his face. The vileness of the act made me angry. I wanted to shout out. “Stop” I wanted to cry but no words came out. I was frightened.

Jesus looked so vulnerable. Naked he stood there again as they took the cloak off him.

Then they beat him with the staff. Blow after blow. I could hear the thud as the wood hit the bare flesh. Huge bruises appeared, bright red at first and then quickly turning black and blue. They continued this brutal attack and again Jesus made no sound. He was knocked to the floor repeatedly and he struggled to arise. No one helped him. I wish he stayed down but he didn’t. This continued for some time until finally the soldiers tired of this game and made him put his clothes back on.

Then they led him away.

My Lord was going to die unless a miracle happened. I prayed for that miracle. Why didn’t He ask for God’s help? As if reading my thoughts I heard someone shout “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

They took off his clothes again just before his crucifixion and they divided them into lots. They even fought over them. Then I heard my Jesus speak. He prayed for them. He actually prayed for these evil people.

“Father,” he said, “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Why would he pray for these people who wished him dead?

Then I remembered his teaching. Love your enemies as you love yourself.

I also remembered how I had been mocked and ridiculed. I had come to the defence of someone who had already been condemned by mouths, by gossip. There had been no proof he had done any of the terrible things he had been accused of. I had asked for the proof. “You don’t need proof they had shouted at me. He is the only one who could have done it. He was there. He had the motive.”

“But did you see him do it?” I had asked.

They looked at me in disgust.

“Are you his friend?” One asked me. “Perhaps you were a party to it, too?”

Now they were asking me to defend myself. Where was I when the terrible deed had been done? They asked me. Did I know the victim? Did I have an alibi?

Whilst I was now the centre of this abuse and suspicion the original accused had crept away. He was gone.

I was alone, vulnerable. My comfort zone had disappeared. I was now being attacked. Stay calm I said to myself. Remember Jesus. What would Jesus do in this situation?

I prayed and I pointed to the leader and with my loudest voice I said to him, “I feel your pain. Let us pray together. For the life of your friend and that justice will be served by God. He alone is the Judge. Not us.”

The look of surprise and then the nods.

The hostility evaporated and we all prayed together. I even led the prayers. Me. I have always been afraid to pray out loud. Self conscious of my stumbling and words not coming out but at that moment Jesus spoke for me. He talked his voice of calm, of peace and of love, using me. I was delivering His message. I was His instrument. Me? What a thought. Me? Jesus actually using me? Can you actually comprehend that?

But it is true. Jesus uses all of us. We just have to learn to trust and obey and believe.

How many situations have you been in where you have been frightened? Just like those disciples when their leader, the man they worshipped was taken from them. But he left a legacy. A message. He said the path would be difficult. How many of His disciples died after Him? How many had been weak before they became strong?

We all have to bear the pain first, to suffer and then learn to rise above it all. Look at His cross.

When we are at our most vulnerable Satan will wage his attack. You will hear his voice. Raising doubts. Before Jesus died Satan tried his luck there. If you give in to Satan you will never be satisfied. His promises amount to just that promises. But Jesus showed us the way and promised us Eternal Life. What path do you want to travel? The one of hate? Or the one of love?

There can be no greater love than giving up your life for your fellow man.

God proved to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, there is power in that Cross. It is our strength and our salvation.

And as for me? My name is Mathias. I was with Christ when he started His ministry. I followed the twelve wherever they went. I didn’t think I had been noticed. I am a quiet person. My family called me timid. And when Judas had betrayed Jesus and had then taken his own life I was there when Peter stood up and said someone must take Judas’ place. The eleven disciples cast lots and to my astonishment I was chosen. Chosen to be one of the 12.

My message to you all is be prepared. You never know when you will be called.