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Easter Reading | Day 4

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. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.

Bible Reading: Luke 23:33-46

Read these verses three times slowly.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Reflection & Questions

This week we are meditating on the moments leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross. We read of when He was condemned, when He took up the cross, and when he was stripped of his clothes. Today, we read of the moment he was nailed to the cross, endured insults and finally after three hours of agony, died.

The nails that pierced Jesus wrists and ankles were designed to produce as much pain as possible. As the person hung on the cross, they would have to push up in order to breathe. This action would cause rubbing on the nails, sending shooting pain from these nerve centers. Jesus endured this pain for three hours before he finally breathed his last, entrusting Himself to God the Father.

Why did Jesus allow himself to be nailed to the cross? To remove our legal condemnation. Colossians 2:14 puts it this way: “having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” In allowing his body to be nailed to the cross, he was nailing our condemnation there, too. As He died, so our death died. It wasn’t nails that kept Jesus on that cross though. He could have easily overcome nails, soldiers and anything else that was thrown His way. It was his love for us that kept Jesus on that cross.

It is that message of love that we are to speak to the world. It is that kind of pain-enduring sacrificial love that we are to show to the world.

1. What words or phrases stick out to you from the verses we read?
2. Who will you invite to one of the Easter services to hear of Jesus’ amazing love?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading. Thank Jesus for His immense love and sacrifice. Pray for people attending services at Crossroads that their ears and hearts would be opened to hear the message of Jesus’ love.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?