By a Pharisee... (a religious leader who opposed Jesus)

SO MUCH for your proud boasting, Jesus! Where are your "Father's" legions of angels now then? Just a common criminal, that's what you are, stuck there between two of your sort for all to see.

Ha! The people preferred a mass murderer to you. Given the choice by Pilate, they'd rather have Barabbas set free than you, the so-called miracle worker and self-styled "Son of God". So what if you "saved" others - healed the sick, delivered the demonised, or raised the dead? You cannot save yourself. So it must have been by demons that you did your charlatan acts. We knew it all along. And this is the "King of Israel"? Stuck there like a pig?

What are you waiting for? Come down from the cross, and even now we will believe in you. You trust in God; let Him rescue you now then. "Son of God"? An illegitimate abomination, more like!

By Jesus' mother...

IT'S A LONG and lonely road we've trod that's brought us here to this blood-soaked hill. A road of tears. A road of separation. A road of suffering. My son, I see your body on this cross - weak, defenceless, exposed, vulnerable - just like the baby I nursed so long ago, there in the muck and the hay.

You were mine, but not mine. Didn't you say a long time ago that you "must be about your Father's business"? There I was, and Joseph too, frantic with worry, searching Jerusalem for you. And where were you? Sitting amongst the teachers in the temple, calmly debating with them! No, you were not as other boys. You never were.

Now your eye, bloodshot, bleeding, a river of blood streaming, it turns to me and John, the disciple whom you loved. Your mouth, cracked and broken, speaks: 'Woman, behold your son.' John, my son? Are you not my son? But it's as you said "My family are those who do my Father's business?" Harsh, it seemed, yet not harsh as once I understood. So still I follow, as I've always followed, and I will do your business - to the bitter end.

By the devil...

FINALLY I'M almost there. Just a few more minutes, that's all it will take, and then I've won. From the moment way back at the beginning when I wormed my way into human consciousness and sowed the seeds of doubt about God's intentions, I've worked and waited for this day. "Did God say?" I said.

That's all it took to sow confusion and set mankind on the downward path to destruction. Sheer brilliance, that's what it was.

As for you, Jesus, you may have escaped death as a baby. Somehow Joseph got wind of Herod's plans and took you away. Or again when the people wanted to stone you, but you walked through the crowd and vanished. But death's caught up with you now.

It could have been so different. Bread you refused. Power you refused. Wordly acclaim you refused. And for what? Where has it got you? A common criminal's death, that's what. And if you'd agreed to work with me, you could have had it all.

By the centurion responsible for the crucifixion...

IT STARTED as just another day. Just another execution. Two common criminals, and then this rabble-rouser rabbi they called Jesus. We've done it so often now it's routine. We have to find new ways to add a bit of interest. So we took his clothing and made four piles, one for each one of us.

But the tunic was woven in one piece. "Why not make it a game then, cast lots for it" we said. And it fell to me, as it happens.

Still, it was a long day. Noon came, and darkness fell over the whole land until three o'clock. The sun was obscured. It was weirdly still. I found myself holding my breath and didn't know why.

"It's getting late." We have to finish it before the day ends. Take a hammer, break the legs. That way they'll no longer be able to push up on their legs to breathe: it finishes them off pretty effectively.

But for this one there was no need. He didn't struggle to stay alive. Why? He's slumped forward. A spear pierces his heart, blood and water pour out. That means he's dead. No room for mistakes.

The dark, the weird calm, the dead teacher. Then the earth shakes. Rocks split. Then there's this eruption inside me. I find myself shouting out: "Certainly this man was innocent".

We've killed an innocent man. I've killed an innocent man. "This was the Son of God."

By God the Father...

HOLD ON, my Son, hold on. It is almost finished. My final plan to reverse the Satan's plot and the disaster of human evil. They were made for relationship with me. I could never bear to leave them outside forever.

And you, the sinless Man, are the only one who can set this sinful human race free.

You groan and twist, tormented on the cross. Your suffering is my suffering and all the world's: all condensed into this one moment of unadulterated evil. And then I turn my face away. No evil can dwell in my presence. "Why have you forsaken me?" you cry.

But only for a moment, my son. Hold on. Hold on. Soon you will be with me in glory forever. And because you poured out your life even to death, because you counted yourself with the sinners, death will lose its sting.

Soon you will be with me, seated at my right hand, radiant in light. And those who believe in you will join us here; even though they must cross this world's way.

"It is finished" you cry.

No more sin, sickness, no more suffering, no more death. Only joy - forever.

You...

What is your perspective on the Cross of Jesus? Put your faith in Him and experience forgiveness and new life. He's done your dying; join Him in His living. Pray like this:

Jesus, thank You for dying for me. Please come into my life with Your love and forgiveness. Please save me. I freely choose to follow You for the rest of my life.

If you prayed like this, get in touch with some local Christians who can help you on the next step or email: .

Photo of God the Father by Ryan Kunkleman

---

What's being said