recognise Jesus as their saviour. Effectively, Jesus was saying: ‘You see me in my suffering, but you don’t know me in my suffering.’ QUESTION O How do we create a rhythm in life where we stop to say to Jesus: ‘I want to know you in your suffering and I want to know you in my suffering’? In many ways, Simon and the women were innocent bystanders who got dragged or drawn into being part of Jesus’ walk of suffering through the streets of Jerusalem. By contrast, the criminals who were crucified next to him, were guilty participants in Jesus’ suffering and death. Two criminals were led out with Jesus to die. Their reactions of being with him in death typify people’s responses to him. One hurls insults and mocks his miraculous powers; the other asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his Kingdom. We are told nothing about what Jesus says to the one who hurls the insults. However, to the one who shows remorse and repentance, Jesus assures him: ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). QUESTION When we find ourselves standing
O
between sin and sorrow, what can we learn from Jesus about how to respond? We also see that others contribute to or get involved in Jesus’ suffering. Some people stood watching, while the rulers sneered at him saying: ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One’ (v35). Soldiers also join in. They challenge him, saying that as the King of the Jews he should have the authority and power to save himself. The cruelty of obvious and blatant suffering is going on here. The very nature and purpose of God in Jesus is being attacked and accused on all levels – physically, emotionally and spiritually. QUESTION O When the authority Jesus has placed within us is under attack, how do we react? Eventually, we come to the place where Jesus’ suffering comes to an abrupt end. Darkness falls over the whole land. To the black skies Jesus calls out: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (v46). When he had said this, he breathed his last. Jesus’ suffering and death cause different reactions in those standing nearby. Luke tells us that a centurion – one of his military guards –
experiences something deeply significant and sacred, and, seeing what had happened, praises God and says: ‘Surely this was a righteous man’ (v47). For others, Jesus’ suffering and death are traumas that cause great sorrow as ‘they beat their breasts and went away’ (v48). For those who knew him, Jesus’ suffering and death were deeply sobering as they ‘stood at a distance, watching these things’ (v49). QUESTION What do Jesus’ words ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ mean to us?
O
As we begin our journey into Holy Week, may our prayer be: Lord, make Calvary real to me.
MAJOR BATT IS DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, NORTH-WEST ENGLAND AND NORTH WALES
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
O dearly, dearly, has he loved/ And we must love him too,/ And trust in his redeeming blood/ And try his works to do. (SASB 203)
Then he [one of the criminals] 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.’
He died that we might be forgiven,/ He died to make us good,/ That we might go at last to Heaven,/ Saved by his precious blood. (SASB 203)
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.
(Luke 23:42 and 43)
‘
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing
’
(Luke 23:44–46)
Salvationist 13 April 2019
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