One of the most impressive things about Jesus Christ's behavior on the last day of His mortal life is how much compassion for and how much assistance He rendered to those who were in the process of bringing about His destruction. I can imagine that during those last few hours of the last supper when Judas was wavering on the precipice of betraying his Master and one of his closest friends, he must have been experiencing a truly hellish agony as he tried again and again to justify himself that betraying someone so good and someone who loved Him so much would be worth it in the end. When Jesus told Judas, “that thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27), He didn't do so because Judas was somehow bringing down the vibe or making everyone miserable. Jesus could feel the pain that Judas was suffering and He wanted to help him do what he had to do, even if that meant betraying Him. Later in the garden, when Judas brought an army of soldiers to arrest Him, Jesus still insisted on calling Judas a friend. Judas may have forsaken Jesus, but even in this moment of ultimate betrayal, Jesus had not stopped being his friend. Jesus would continue to show unimaginable kindness to all of those who would contribute to His death. When Peter, James, and John kept falling asleep instead of watching and praying as Jesus performed the Atonement because their flesh was weak, Jesus tenderly told them to sleep on, because He knew their spirits were willing. Later, when Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, Jesus looked at Peter just as the cock crowed. We don't know if that was a look of recrimination or not but I suspect that it was a look of silent support and belief that this too would Peter overcome, even if he wept bitter tears in the process of becoming converted. When the court of the Sanhedrin had summoned witnesses that contradicted each other and were perjuring themselves and their case against Jesus was unraveling before their eyes, once again Jesus rolled up His and proved His own guilt before their eyes. When Jesus was dragged before Pilate and the Roman consul was looking for anything that could get Him out of the position of having to approve the execution of the Son of God, Jesus knew what Pilate had to do and that the best way to ensure that he did his part was for Jesus to remain silent. He pleaded with His Father to forgive the soldiers who carried out the crucifixion. Even as He was nailed to the cross, Jesus spent His last few moments looking after the welfare of His mother and His beloved disciple John and even the criminals hanging from crosses on either side of Him. I'm sure there are other small acts of kindness and mercy that didn't make it into the scriptures. Maybe He healed the pierced thumb of the man who pressed the crown of thorns onto His head, just as He had healed the ear of the soldier who had come to arrest Him. Maybe He comforted Simon when he stumbled as he helped to carry Christ's cross up the Hill. Maybe Jesus, the carpenter, gave some guidance to the soldier who was pounding the nails into His hands and feet. There is no question that when we are in pain it is so much harder to exercise love and compassion and forgiveness, especially towards those who are actively making our lives more miserable. But when Jesus suffered so much that He bled from every pore and felt such a weight of depression and exhaustion and agony in every particle in His body and soul, He never stopped for a moment to love and do good even to those who hated and cursed Him. I hope that we can all strive a little more to follow His example and love everyone even when it sometimes feels impossible to do so.
