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Easter Reading | Day 2

Prayer

Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.

Bible Reading: John 19:16-17; Isaiah 53:4-5

Read these verses three times slowly.

John 19:16-17
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Reflection & Questions

This week in our readings, we are meditating on different moments in the lead up to Jesus’ death. Today, we think about the moment he accepts the cross.

The cross was designed not only as a painful, but also as a humiliating way to die. Lifted up before everyone to die a long, painful death. In John 19, we read the moment of Jesus accepting this cross. In fact, He carried it to the place of His death. Why did he do this? As Isaiah says, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering… he was pierced for our transgressions… by his wounds we are healed.” As He took up the cross, he was thinking of mankind. Every step he took carrying that cross was a step closer to his death but also a step closer to our healing. Jesus bore that pain for us.

But that doesn’t mean we won’t have trials and pain to face in our own journey with Jesus. In Luke 14:27, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Just like our Savior went before us and carried his cross, so he calls us to carry our own crosses, to be willing to face losses in our own lives for the sake of His name.

1. Picture the moment of Jesus accepting the cross to carry it. What thoughts come to mind about Jesus? About yourself?
2. Are you willing to give up your hopes, dreams, possessions, and even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ? How do you know?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading. Thank him for being willing to accept the heavy burden of the cross. Ask for strength and grace to accept the cross that you have to carry.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?