Friday, Day 39: JESUS’ DEATH
ON THE CROSS
Jesus was hung on the cross +- 9 a m and died at +-3 p m
Countdown
– 2 days
Reading for today:
Matthew 26:47-27:66
Mark 14:43-15:47
Luke 22:47-23:56
John 18:2-19:42
Acts 1:18
Final seven things Jesus said:
Luke 23:34
Luke 23:43
John 19:26-27
Matthew 27:46 / Psalm 22:1
John 19:28
John 19:30
Luke 23:46
Reading for today:
Matthew 26:47-27:66
Mark 14:43-15:47
Luke 22:47-23:56
John 18:2-19:42
Acts 1:18
Final seven things Jesus said:
Luke 23:34
Luke 23:43
John 19:26-27
Matthew 27:46 / Psalm 22:1
John 19:28
John 19:30
Luke 23:46
My heart is heavy with all Jesus suffered. In revisiting his journey, just as He
was being betrayed last night I was trying to fall asleep. He celebrated his final Passover on
earth with his disciples; at sundown Friday began. He prayed in the Garden while his disciples slept. Judas betrayed him. Guards seized him as if he were a
criminal. He was put through a
mock trial; then thrown into a deep, dark pit beneath Caiaphas’ house awaiting
the next phase. Scourged. Abused and humiliated in a myriad of awful ways. Rejected. Was hung on the cross about 9 a m, and died about 3 p m with
the final sorrow being that because of our sin God turned away from him and he
died alone….
It was a horrible day for Him – and we call it Good Friday.
I wonder who decided that day was good... This morning I thought it should be
Black Friday. It was a day of Sorrow – horrible, terrible, awful sorrow. It was definitely good for us – but
dreadful for Him.
But there was one who hung beside him on another cross who joined Him in Paradise.... In the year of 33 A D, this was April 3 and He died at 3 p m. What a ‘trinity’ pattern – even in his death! Jesus bore it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow.
When I survey the wondrous cross.... How awful those words sound to me in this moment. It was an awful, horrible, cruel cross on which the Prince of Glory died. There is no making it palatable if you look upon Him, wounded, bleeding, chunks of flesh missing from his body, wrenched out by metal pieces in the whip that tore out his flesh during the lashing He endured. His head pierced with the mock crown of thorns that was pressed into His flesh and left to fester. Just one prick of a thorn is enough to elicit pain for me. Ridiculed, mocked, insulted, hit, spat upon – The Lord of Glory – the Creator of the Universe.
Yet in His deepest grief, we see His care for those He loves: telling Peter, ‘When you come back....’ Peter would fall away – Yes, Peter! Peter who walked on water, who saw thousands fed from a few small loaves and fish, whose boat was filled to sinking with fish when he obeyed Jesus’ instruction to cast out his nets. Peter would denounce His friend and Master...but Jesus knew the future, and his words would encourage Peter another day not too far distant to stand faithfully – and he did. Peter would also die on a cross, but refuse to be right side up according to history – because he didn’t consider himself worthy to die in the same manner Jesus did....
Jesus’ thoughts were for others when He was on the cross. He asked forgiveness for the perps, knowing in his darkest hour, that they didn’t have a clue.
He told the thief hanging next to Him, he would be with Jesus that day in Paradise. And He said, “It is finished.” He did what he came to do. He wished for it to be otherwise, but determined to do God’s will....
The truth is – because of what Jesus did by dying in my place, tonight, while I retrace His steps where in 33 A D He is in Paradise, and His lifeless corpse is lying in a cold, dark tomb with guards outside it, I will sleep in His peace. That certainly wasn’t the case for those who loved Him at the time of his death. They were in deep despair and in hiding, fearful for their lives.
But there was one who hung beside him on another cross who joined Him in Paradise.... In the year of 33 A D, this was April 3 and He died at 3 p m. What a ‘trinity’ pattern – even in his death! Jesus bore it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow.
When I survey the wondrous cross.... How awful those words sound to me in this moment. It was an awful, horrible, cruel cross on which the Prince of Glory died. There is no making it palatable if you look upon Him, wounded, bleeding, chunks of flesh missing from his body, wrenched out by metal pieces in the whip that tore out his flesh during the lashing He endured. His head pierced with the mock crown of thorns that was pressed into His flesh and left to fester. Just one prick of a thorn is enough to elicit pain for me. Ridiculed, mocked, insulted, hit, spat upon – The Lord of Glory – the Creator of the Universe.
Yet in His deepest grief, we see His care for those He loves: telling Peter, ‘When you come back....’ Peter would fall away – Yes, Peter! Peter who walked on water, who saw thousands fed from a few small loaves and fish, whose boat was filled to sinking with fish when he obeyed Jesus’ instruction to cast out his nets. Peter would denounce His friend and Master...but Jesus knew the future, and his words would encourage Peter another day not too far distant to stand faithfully – and he did. Peter would also die on a cross, but refuse to be right side up according to history – because he didn’t consider himself worthy to die in the same manner Jesus did....
Jesus’ thoughts were for others when He was on the cross. He asked forgiveness for the perps, knowing in his darkest hour, that they didn’t have a clue.
He told the thief hanging next to Him, he would be with Jesus that day in Paradise. And He said, “It is finished.” He did what he came to do. He wished for it to be otherwise, but determined to do God’s will....
The truth is – because of what Jesus did by dying in my place, tonight, while I retrace His steps where in 33 A D He is in Paradise, and His lifeless corpse is lying in a cold, dark tomb with guards outside it, I will sleep in His peace. That certainly wasn’t the case for those who loved Him at the time of his death. They were in deep despair and in hiding, fearful for their lives.
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