Good Friday – April 19, 2019

864 Strength + Conditioning – Good Friday

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
-John 15:13

Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.
-Watchman Nee

Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men’s sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ.
(This was written on a note found under his pillow, in prison, at his death.)
-Watchman Nee / In 1952, Watchman Nee was imprisoned by the Chinese government for his faith. He remained in prison until his death twenty years later in 1972.

Today’s WODs START promptly at: 5:15a.m./4:15p.m./5:15p.m./6:15p.m.

Pre WOD – Warm-up/Skill Work/Mobility /Goat Work

864 WOD – Strength + Conditioning – “Good Friday WOD”

Please DO NOT drop the weights. Load a weight that you can complete the full distance without dropping the bar.
1,000 Burpee penalty for dropping the bar. 

How far did Jesus carry the cross to Calvary?
It is 0.3 kilometers (800 meters/half mile) from Pontius Pilate’s court to the traditionally accepted site of the crucifixion at Golgotha, which means “the Place of the Skull.” We really don’t know how far Jesus carried the cross because Simon of Cyrene was pulled from the crowd to carry it for him. Also, the precise path Jesus took through Jerusalem is not recorded in the Bible.
Source: Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
How much did the cross weight that Jesus had to carry?
There are many historians that have researched the answer to this question, and an average cross weighed about 300 pounds, they were massive and made out of extremely heavy wood. The condemned was forced to carry the crossbeam on his shoulders to the place of execution. but the crossbeam would not be quite as burdensome, weighing around 75–125 pounds (35–60 kg). Upright posts would presumably be fixed permanently in place, and the crossbeam, with the condemned person perhaps already nailed to it, would then be attached to the post.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
-Matthew 27:46 (also Mark 15:34)

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
In the midst of his excruciating suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself. Here we see the nature of his love—unconditional and divine.
Jesus knew he was suffering the crucifixion for a purpose. Earlier he had said in John 10:18 of his life, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” These three words were packed with meaning, for what was finished here was not only Christ’s earthly life, not only his suffering and dying, not only the payment for sin and the redemption of the world—but the very reason and purpose he came to earth was finished. His final act of obedience was complete. The Scriptures had been fulfilled. -John 19:30

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Here Jesus closes with the words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see his complete trust in the Father. Jesus entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God’s hands -Luke 23:46

Jesus’ final hours on the cross lasted from approximately 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m., a period of about six hours before he cried out in a loud voice “It is finished!”

For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
-Jesus

You are welcome to join our family at Grace Church – Harrison Bridge Campus (Simpsonville) on Easter Sunday or any other Sunday if you don’t have a regular church that you attend.

God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’
-Billy Graham

Have a great Easter weekend!

BE GRATEFUL!
Jay and Janice