April 14-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:32-38, As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Observe what it is saying.
Jesus was so weakened by the torturous beatings that he needed assistance carrying his own cross beam called the patibulum. Simon from Cyrene was forced into action. Cyrene was a town in North Africa that had a large Jewish population. Simon is likely a Jew who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. Mark says that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Many suggest that Rufus is the one named in Romans 16:13. Simon served the Savior as Jesus served the world. His name was recorded for all of history to know the great act he did for our Lord. A rabbinic tradition indicates that when a prisoner was led out to execution, he was given wine containing frankincense to numb his senses. This was done out of sympathy. However, this wine was mixed with “gall,” a bitter herb that could even be poisonous. When Jesus tasted it, He quickly knew it was another way they chose to torture him. To add shame to his pain, they took his clothes and divided them up. Every step of the way, Jesus was treated harshly, with shame-filled contempt.
Relate it to your life
We discover the deep depravity of mankind in Jesus’ march to crucifixion.
Do something.
Jesus, I cannot fathom the pain You endured on my behalf. I am humbled beyond words. Amen.
April 15-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:39-44, Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Observe what it is saying.
It is absolutely stunning that everyone Jesus encountered in these last hours of his life played a role in His suffering. His disciples betrayed, fled, and denied Him. The religious officials had him arrested, beaten, falsely charged, and continued their abuse by mocking Him on the cross. Pilate and the Roman soldiers beat him, flogged him, and mocked him. Even those who passed by, whoever they were, joined in on insulting the Son of God. After all they had already perpetrated on our Lord, the religious leaders could not get enough and relentlessly mocked Him on the cross. The criminals who had reason to be crucified next to him joined the mocking as well. As we will find out later, there was only one group who did not participate in Jesus’ long ordeal of suffering, torture, and abuse.
Relate it to your life.
As I walk slowly through Jesus’ horrific suffering, I become more aware of how great the sacrifice was.
Do something.
Jesus, please forgive me for taking Your sacrifice too lightly. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Amen.
April 16-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:45-50, From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Observe what it is saying.
It was appropriate that darkness was cast upon the land during three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion for it was the bleakest moment in earth’s history. Jesus cried out with the very words David wrote in Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As the Father’s cup of wrath was poured out on Jesus in divine judgment of sin, He bore the divine retribution for humanity’s sin. In the apostle Paul’s words, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ʻCursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” Jesus’ death took care of the Father’s righteous nature and need to deal appropriately with sin. Being absolutely holy, God could not simply look away as though sin did not exist. Being totally loving, He did not want to inflict such punishment upon us. God’s answer was to have His Son endure what was legitimately ours. We are the reason for this horrific moment of agony where He was forsaken by His Father.
Relate it to your life.
I must accept that I am as responsible as those who actually nailed Jesus to the cross.
Do something.
“Jesus, I confess that I put You on the cross. Thank You for loving me so. Amen.”
April 17-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:51-56, At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Observe what it is saying.
Many miraculous events took place the moment Jesus breathed his last earthly breath. The curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place was torn from top to bottom indicating Jesus’ death opened the way for us to have full access to God. This one act reveals the tremendous theological implications of what Christ’s redemption accomplished for all who will repent and believe in His grace-filled act. We, also, discover bodies were resuscitated and made cameo appearances in Jerusalem. Those guarding Jesus had a change of heart and declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Many women were present who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for Him. These women were the only group who did not betray, deny, or mock Jesus. They remained faithful when everyone else failed Him.
Relate it to your life.
Jesus’ death forever changed the way we relate to God.
Do something.
Jesus, may I found to be faithful like the women who followed and cared for Your needs. Amen.
April 18-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:57-61, As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Observe what it is saying.
We discover that a rich man had become a disciple of Jesus. Jesus said it was difficult, but not impossible, for the rich to become His followers. In fact, the rich are a tremendous asset for God’s kingdom if they understand they are God’s wealth managers and put His assets to work for His purposes. In an act of holy love, Joseph took Jesus’ badly beaten and crucified body, and wrapped it a clean cloth. His wealth had allowed him to have a new tomb carved for his own burial at some point. There were many tombs available that were re-used throughout the centuries, but for Jesus, the Son of God, Joseph gave up his brand-new tomb in honor of the Lord. In preparation for what was yet to come, he rolled a large stone in front of the entrance while the two Mary’s watched all of this unfold. Again, the women are present, quietly watching in the background, faithfully waiting for their opportunity to serve their Lord.
Relate it to your life.
Whether rich or poor, I have something to offer to my Lord Jesus.
Do something.
Jesus, You have a place for me in Your kingdom where I can humbly serve You. Whatever the role, please use me to care for You and Your body, the church. Amen.
April 19-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:62-66, The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Observe what it is saying.
“Preparation Day” was a common expression for the day preceding the Sabbath, when provisions were made. It is interesting that Matthew did not say this happened on the Sabbath for that is the day after Preparation. The Jewish leaders, who constantly criticized Jesus for working on the Sabbath, had the appearance of doing so by going to Pilate but, evidently, they didn’t walk far enough or enter his palace which would’ve made them guilty. After a family placed the body of one of its members in a tomb, a stone was placed over the entrance, and it was often sealed with clay. The “seal” here seems to be more of an official security device with wax imprinted with the Roman seal so that any tampering could be detected. The military guard also acted as a security seal. Even after Jesus died, fear ran rampant among the religious leaders. They did everything humanly possible to keep His dead body in the grave.
Relate it to your life.
I proudly think I have what it takes to accomplish my will, but there is a greater power lurking.
Do something.
Jesus, please forgive me when I so foolishly think that my plans can outwit Your plans. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:32-38, As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Observe what it is saying.
Jesus was so weakened by the torturous beatings that he needed assistance carrying his own cross beam called the patibulum. Simon from Cyrene was forced into action. Cyrene was a town in North Africa that had a large Jewish population. Simon is likely a Jew who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. Mark says that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Many suggest that Rufus is the one named in Romans 16:13. Simon served the Savior as Jesus served the world. His name was recorded for all of history to know the great act he did for our Lord. A rabbinic tradition indicates that when a prisoner was led out to execution, he was given wine containing frankincense to numb his senses. This was done out of sympathy. However, this wine was mixed with “gall,” a bitter herb that could even be poisonous. When Jesus tasted it, He quickly knew it was another way they chose to torture him. To add shame to his pain, they took his clothes and divided them up. Every step of the way, Jesus was treated harshly, with shame-filled contempt.
Relate it to your life
We discover the deep depravity of mankind in Jesus’ march to crucifixion.
Do something.
Jesus, I cannot fathom the pain You endured on my behalf. I am humbled beyond words. Amen.
April 15-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:39-44, Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Observe what it is saying.
It is absolutely stunning that everyone Jesus encountered in these last hours of his life played a role in His suffering. His disciples betrayed, fled, and denied Him. The religious officials had him arrested, beaten, falsely charged, and continued their abuse by mocking Him on the cross. Pilate and the Roman soldiers beat him, flogged him, and mocked him. Even those who passed by, whoever they were, joined in on insulting the Son of God. After all they had already perpetrated on our Lord, the religious leaders could not get enough and relentlessly mocked Him on the cross. The criminals who had reason to be crucified next to him joined the mocking as well. As we will find out later, there was only one group who did not participate in Jesus’ long ordeal of suffering, torture, and abuse.
Relate it to your life.
As I walk slowly through Jesus’ horrific suffering, I become more aware of how great the sacrifice was.
Do something.
Jesus, please forgive me for taking Your sacrifice too lightly. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Amen.
April 16-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:45-50, From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Observe what it is saying.
It was appropriate that darkness was cast upon the land during three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion for it was the bleakest moment in earth’s history. Jesus cried out with the very words David wrote in Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As the Father’s cup of wrath was poured out on Jesus in divine judgment of sin, He bore the divine retribution for humanity’s sin. In the apostle Paul’s words, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ʻCursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” Jesus’ death took care of the Father’s righteous nature and need to deal appropriately with sin. Being absolutely holy, God could not simply look away as though sin did not exist. Being totally loving, He did not want to inflict such punishment upon us. God’s answer was to have His Son endure what was legitimately ours. We are the reason for this horrific moment of agony where He was forsaken by His Father.
Relate it to your life.
I must accept that I am as responsible as those who actually nailed Jesus to the cross.
Do something.
“Jesus, I confess that I put You on the cross. Thank You for loving me so. Amen.”
April 17-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:51-56, At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Observe what it is saying.
Many miraculous events took place the moment Jesus breathed his last earthly breath. The curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place was torn from top to bottom indicating Jesus’ death opened the way for us to have full access to God. This one act reveals the tremendous theological implications of what Christ’s redemption accomplished for all who will repent and believe in His grace-filled act. We, also, discover bodies were resuscitated and made cameo appearances in Jerusalem. Those guarding Jesus had a change of heart and declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Many women were present who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for Him. These women were the only group who did not betray, deny, or mock Jesus. They remained faithful when everyone else failed Him.
Relate it to your life.
Jesus’ death forever changed the way we relate to God.
Do something.
Jesus, may I found to be faithful like the women who followed and cared for Your needs. Amen.
April 18-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:57-61, As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Observe what it is saying.
We discover that a rich man had become a disciple of Jesus. Jesus said it was difficult, but not impossible, for the rich to become His followers. In fact, the rich are a tremendous asset for God’s kingdom if they understand they are God’s wealth managers and put His assets to work for His purposes. In an act of holy love, Joseph took Jesus’ badly beaten and crucified body, and wrapped it a clean cloth. His wealth had allowed him to have a new tomb carved for his own burial at some point. There were many tombs available that were re-used throughout the centuries, but for Jesus, the Son of God, Joseph gave up his brand-new tomb in honor of the Lord. In preparation for what was yet to come, he rolled a large stone in front of the entrance while the two Mary’s watched all of this unfold. Again, the women are present, quietly watching in the background, faithfully waiting for their opportunity to serve their Lord.
Relate it to your life.
Whether rich or poor, I have something to offer to my Lord Jesus.
Do something.
Jesus, You have a place for me in Your kingdom where I can humbly serve You. Whatever the role, please use me to care for You and Your body, the church. Amen.
April 19-The Final Week
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 27:62-66, The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Observe what it is saying.
“Preparation Day” was a common expression for the day preceding the Sabbath, when provisions were made. It is interesting that Matthew did not say this happened on the Sabbath for that is the day after Preparation. The Jewish leaders, who constantly criticized Jesus for working on the Sabbath, had the appearance of doing so by going to Pilate but, evidently, they didn’t walk far enough or enter his palace which would’ve made them guilty. After a family placed the body of one of its members in a tomb, a stone was placed over the entrance, and it was often sealed with clay. The “seal” here seems to be more of an official security device with wax imprinted with the Roman seal so that any tampering could be detected. The military guard also acted as a security seal. Even after Jesus died, fear ran rampant among the religious leaders. They did everything humanly possible to keep His dead body in the grave.
Relate it to your life.
I proudly think I have what it takes to accomplish my will, but there is a greater power lurking.
Do something.
Jesus, please forgive me when I so foolishly think that my plans can outwit Your plans. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals