Today’s Reading: Mark 10:35-45 Today’s Reference: Mark 3:34b-35 “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
“Behold, your mother!”
When Jesus was arrested, the disciples all fled in terror and shame. The only one at the foot of the cross that day was John. Apparently he also had fled. Imagine his guilt as he slunk back to the One he’d promised to serve—the One in whose kingdom he’d hoped to be exalted!
Now imagine his incredulous joy, even at such a painful time, when Jesus entrusted …
Today’s Reading: John 19:23-27 Today’s Reference: Luke 2:34-35a “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also)…’"
“Woman, behold, your son!”
I wonder if Mary thought of Simeon’s words as she stood at the foot of the cross. If she hadn’t understood them before, she did now, all too painfully. And when she heard Jesus tell John to assume His duties as eldest son, the last shred …
Today’s Reading: Luke 23:39-43 Today's Reference: Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Do you realize that both thieves offer up a prayer? The unrepentant thief said, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” That’s a prayer. He wasn’t so concerned about eternity. He said, “Just get me off this cross.” He prayed and yet was lost forever, because he cared only for physical deliverance in the here and now.
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53 Today’s Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:23, 25 “Be we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles…For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
When He said those words, Jesus didn’t look much like He could fulfill them. Isaiah 53 paints a graphic picture: crushed, stricken, with no beauty or majesty in His physical form. We can only imagine the blood matted into His hair, the raw flesh, the struggles …
Today’s reading: Luke 23:39-43 Today’s Reference: 1 Chronicles 29:14b, 16 “For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you…O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.”
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Bible doesn’t elaborate on his crimes. He’s just a common thief, and at first he joined in the mockery against Jesus. Observing Jesus’ behavior as the crowd taunted “The King of the Jews” planted …
Today’s Reading: Acts 3:11-26 Today’s Reference: Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Was this prayer answered? We must realize that this was not a blanket prayer for everyone involved in Christ’s crucifixion; not everyone who participated in this crime was forgiven. But Jesus foreknew that many of those who put Him to death would indeed later repent, and He prayed God would let His blood cover their sin. God forgives those who ask. Yes, the prayer was answered for …
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:39-44 Today’s Reference: Hebrews 2:2-3a “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Have you ever justified yourself, “Well, it’s just a tiny sin, not a bad one?” When we do that, you and I are one with the mockers who treated Jesus’ death with contempt—the people He prayed for on the Cross.
Looked at in one way, we are actually worse. Those who …
Today’s Reading: Luke 23:32-38 Today’s Reference: Luke 17:4 “If he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
How could He even say it? With nails piercing His hands and feet, hanging on the Cross with His lungs straining for air…how could that be the first thing that came to His mind? The Greek text implies He didn’t just say it once, He repeated it over and over. “Father, forgive them, forgive them, for give them.” Right …
Today’s Reading: Acts 2:22-24 Today’s Reference: Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Jesus’ trials were unjust, but they weren’t about to derail God’s plan. In fact, God used injustice to get Jesus crucified. Now, that’s not to say injustice is ever a good thing; indeed if we find it in ourselves, we must repent immediately. Like Judas, woe to those people who were Satan’s tools in the death of Christ!
Today’s Reading: John 18:12 - 19:16 Today’s Reference: 1 Peter 2:23 “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Jesus had six trials before His Crucifixion, and not one of them was fair. Hired witnesses, violence, judges doing double-duty as prosecutors…never has the phrase “travesty of justice” been more true.
How did He respond? He knew He would never have a fair trial; a fair trial would never have condemned Him to death. But He was willing to trust God’s justice in …
