The Cross

Read Luke 23:26-49

26As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us! ’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32Two others — criminals  — were also led away to be executed with him. 33When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. 35The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews. 39Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, 45because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” 48All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. 49But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Reflect

Jesus was spit at, ridiculed, beaten, and nailed to a cross. He hung there for 6 hours until He died. Why did He do it? He is the Son of God and could have ended His suffering any time He wanted. But He didn’t. he chose to stay on the cross for all to see His suffering. He chose to take on the weight of all of our sin. He chose to be separated (for a brief time) from God so He could be the atonement for OUR sin. He had no sin. He didn’t have to do it.

Jesus died on that cross for me. Jesus died on that cross for you. Jesus died on that cross for ALL of us! He did it for LOVE. He did not stop it because He loves us. He knows that He is the only way we can be forgiven. Jesus shed His blood to free us from our sins.

Questions

What sins are you still carrying around? Give them to Jesus.

Spend time remembering what Jesus did for you on the cross.

Spend time saying, “Thank you!” to the Savior of the World.