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Easter Reading | Day 3
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.
Bible Reading: John 19:23-24; Hebrews 12:1-13
Read these verses three times slowly.
John 19:23-24
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Reflection & Questions
Having carried the cross out of the city to the place of crucifixions (Golgotha), the soldiers stripped Jesus of his clothes. If the pain of hanging on the cross wasn’t enough, Jesus was naked and defenseless as he hung there. For a few coins, the last little bit of dignity he had left was taken away. It was a moment of unbound shame. The One who created us all, the One who had loved us all, the One whose power is unmatched, surrendered all his dignity and took our shame upon him in the shame of the cross.
Why did he do this? As it says in Hebrews 12, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning it shame.” The “joy set before him” was the joy of reigning in heaven forever with us. The joy was our forgiveness, our faith, our perseverance, and ultimately our presence with Him forever.
As the writer of Hebrews tells us, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
- Think about what you pray for others and even yourself and what Paul prays for. What is similar and what is different?
- Are you growing weary or losing heart? How does meditating on the cross give you encouragement and strength?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading. Thank Jesus for his wholehearted vulnerability and humility. Ask him for the strength to bear shame and scorn and not grow weary and lose heart.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
