12. JESUS' CRUCIFIXION - FRIDAY
Read Matthew 27:27-32; Mark 15:16-21 Luke 23:26-32
"Barabbas was released and set free, whilst Jesus was handed over to be crucified. The innocent one faced the punishment of death, so that we, the guilty could go FREE. We may not be murderers like Barabbas, but we all need to be rescued by OUR SAVIOUR." Nicky Gumble
Jesus went to the cross willingly. He was required to carry His cross to the "Place of the Skull", where he was crucified with two other prisoners. Why did he do this?
* Because HE LOVED US!
* Because HE WAS OUR SAVIOUR!
"This is HOW MUCH GOD LOVED THE WORLD: HE GAVE HIS SON, HIS ONE AND ONLY SON. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all that trouble of SENDING HIS SON MERELY TO APPOINT THE ACCUSING FINGER, telling the world how bad it was. HE CAME TO HELP, to put to world right again, TO SAVE THE CWORLD THROUGH HIM." John 3:16&17 (MSG/NLT)
"Lord, you were willing to suffer pain, ridicule and even death for us. How can we THANK YOU? All we can do is OFFER OUR HEARTS AND LIVES. Help us to live in OBEDIENCE AND SERVICE to You; until we meet you again. While we wait, help us to LOVE OTHERS, bringing them to a relationship with you." Max Lucado
"A passer by named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming from the countryside just then and the soldiers forced Him to carry Jesus' cross. They made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd trailed behind Him, including many grief stricken women." Mark 15:21/Luke 23:26b&27 (NLT)
We don't know much about Simon the Cyrene, but we do know that he was willing to help Jesus CARRY HIS CROSS. Why? Well, maybe because he was truly a BELIEVER AND FOLLOWER; or maybe he just wanted to be a SERVANT, and still had a lot to learn about this Saviour and King.
We do know, that we too have a CROSS TO CARRY each day, as we seek to serve our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We want to reach out in the world as His believers and followers, so we can tell others our story of how Jesus carried His cross and died for us.
13. JESUS ON THE CROSS - Our King and Saviour
Read Matthew 27:33-44; Mark 15:22-32;
Luke 23:33-43; John 19:16-27
Jesus accepted the title, "THE KING OF THE JEWS". The soldiers used it as a term of abuse and the name written on the cross was a charge against Him. Yet, when Jesus was handed over to Pilate it was out of envy by the Religious Leaders, not the promise of King David.
"Beesus is our Messiah, our anointed King and Saviour. When on the cross the reliigious leaders mocked him: "Come down from the Cross and save yourself". "He saved others, but he cannot save Himself.
The soldiers made fun of Him - throwing lots for His clothes.
"He was oppressed, treated harshly. He was led like a LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER. ....unjustly condemned, He was led away......I will give Him honours because He exposed Himself TO DEATH....He bore the sins of many." Isaiah 53:7a, 8, 12a (NLT)
" The Bible is not just a storybook with many heroes. There is only ONE HERO: THE SON, THE LAMB, THE SAVIOUR, THE KING, OUR REDEEMER - JESUS CHRIST. Jesus is the hero of our pilgrim story we will dwell in His presemce amd sing His praises....Because Jesus is the KING OF KINGS He rules over every circumstance we face in our life." Ruth Chou Simons/Paul David Tripp
One of the criminals on the cross began to shout insults at Him:
"Aren't you the Christ. Then save yourself and us."
The second criminal rebuked him: "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, getting what we have deserved, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus: "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom."
Jesus answered Him: "Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23: 39-43 (NIV)
Jesus FORGAVE all those all the soldiers, reliigious leaders and prisoners who had had yelled "Crucify Him" or "abused Him".
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 (NCV)
"
Jesus was thinking of others when He was on the CROSS. He was always seen as a HUMBLE SERVANT, "finding Himself in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to DEATH ON THE CROSS". (Philippians 2:8) (NIV)
In John we read how his mother Mary and other women, were standing near the cross, with John, the "disciple whom he loved".
"Jesus said to her: "Woman, here is your son".
Then to the disciple, "Here is your mother". From that moment John accepted her as his own mother." John 19:26&27 (MSG)
Jesus wants us to reach out to people in need, especially the elderly who are grieving over family they have lost; for this is a very difficult time, especially a time of LONELINESS. This is a time I have experienced, and I know my mother and father have in the past. But I also know that JESUS was always there for us in our time of LOSS, and gave us special friends to be with us and to comfort us.
"Even though we walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and your staff THEY COMFORT ME." Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
14. JESUS DIES.
Read Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41;
Luke 23:44-39; John 19:28-37
"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquinted with grief, as one whom men hide their faces. He was despised and we esteemed Him not....But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, and by His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone to his own way, and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5&6 (NKJV)
"Only Mark's Gospel gives an exact record of the actual times when Jesus was on the cross: the "3rd hor", the "6th hour" and the "9th hour". Darkness came over the whole land. In the other Gospels we hear what Jesus cried out." Hugh Claycombe
* "Jesus cried out: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 26:46 (NASB)
* "I am thirsty". John 19:28 (NASB)
* "It is finished" John 19:30 (NASB)
* "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Luke 23:46 (NASB)
When Jesus said He was thirsty they didn't give Him water, it was "wine vinegar soaked with a sponge", which did not really quench his thirst. John tells us that Jesus chose the time for his death - the 9th hour - and he gave up His life as a sacrifice.
These were the other events that followed Jesus's death:
* The earthquake that tore the Temple curtain (veil) in two - "the earth was shook and the the rocks were split". Matthew 27:51 (NASB)
* Tombs that were broken open: and "bodies of the saints who were fallen asleep were raised." Matthew 27:52 (NASB)
* The Centurian exclaimed: "Truly, this was the Son of God." "Certainly this man was innocent". Matthew 27:54/Luke 23:37 (NASB)
* The thieves legs were broken, but Jesus' legs didn't need to be. "they saw He was already dead, they did not break his legs". John 19:33 (NASB)
* "The soldier pierced Jesus' side, and immediately blood and water came out". John 19:34 (NASB)
These were all prophecies from the Scriptures: "Not a bone of His will be broken", "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." John 19:36&37 (NASB)
"The centre of the GOSPEL is JESUS' DEATH and RESURRECTION. The King who offers us SALVATION AND FORGIVENESS. Jesus knew that this was GOD'S PLAN. JESUS DIED FOR US!" Tony Payne
"The cross is the turning point for all human history. It was the FINISHED WORK of Christ, offered up once and for all - a sacrifice that made our redemption possible. Without the cross, we would not be pilgrims deserved for Heaven. IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO COMPLETE OUR JOURNEY!" Ruth Chou Simon
Jesus didn't deserve punishment or DEATH, but he DIED:
* So that we could be RECONCILED AND REDEEMED.
* So we can be declared RIGHTEOUS AND JUST.
* He was our SUBSTITUTE - taking our place on the CROSS.
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only OURS, but also the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2 (NKJV)
"For God demonstrates His love for us, in this: while we were still still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US." Romans 5:8 (NLT)
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