The significance of these moments in our text today have been universally affirmed by the Christian church through the ages as generations have confessed that Christ “...suffered under Pontius Pilate...” on His way to “...crucifixion, death, and burial...” (Apostle's Creed). As we behold the record of these events, it is stunning to view the sovereign hand of God accomplishing redemption by such apparently unruly means. A certain madness has possessed Christ's accusers with a rabid blood-thirst for His execution. They cry for the mode of death most horrific of all. In crucifixion, the wrists and feet are punctured and fixed to a crude instrument of shocking public exhibition set vertically. For days exposed almost-corpses would involuntarily and excruciatingly push against the nails in their feet just to gasp a breath into lungs suffocating from the hanging posture of hands pinned aloft. Screams of anguish from such torture seemed the only thing capable of satiating the blood lust of this mob. Amid these ghastly proceedings, morbid perversions, social chaos, and utter bedlam... still Christ Jesus – even in His graphic humiliation – perfectly obeys the Father, drinking down the cup of judgement for His people's sins. Nevertheless, looking closely at these events, we see hints of resurrection glory yet to come, even in Calvary's darkest hour...