Scripture Reading: Luke 23:1-56, Isaiah 53:12, 1 Peter 4:19
I always enjoyed history classes in school. Being able to look back over the stories of history and see the actions and decisions that led to certain events is a good and necessary thing. Those decisions led to the rise and fall of nations. Those actions began and ended wars. Moments that seemed small at the time were the result of preceding years and had repercussions for the following years.
But there’s only one moment in all of history that changed everything. This is that moment. The entirety of the Old Testament points forward to this. All four gospels recount this. The rest of the New Testament points back to this. All of history revolves around a death on a cross.
It’s the definition of injustice. It’s terrible and tragic, which is precisely why we need to linger here. The innocent Son of God was beaten, tortured, and nailed to a cross to die. Each of us stands condemned because of our sin. And yet He took our place, bearing the weight of all of sin for all of time, shedding his blood so that we don’t have to shed ours.
It’s the most undeserved reversal ever. Innocence in place of guilt. Righteousness for sin. Pictures of it are littered throughout the text. Recognizing that He had saved others, the religious leaders taunted Jesus to save Himself, not recognizing that by sacrificing Himself, He was continuing to save others (Luke 23:35). Darkness covered the earth, and yet through the darkness, the way was opened to God as the veil was torn, “split down the middle” from top to bottom (vv.44-45). Our eternal life springs from Jesus’s death.
Luke gives an interesting description of the witnesses to Jesus’s crucifixion. Working backward from the outside in, we see His followers observing at a distance (v.49), and the crowds dispersing and mourning (v.48). But the Roman centurion, the one in closest proximity to the cross? He glorified God by seeing and proclaiming Jesus’s righteousness (v.47).
We can’t see Jesus for who He is without the cross. And we can’t see the cross for all it is without giving glory to God for what He has done. As we’ve seen throughout Luke, this is why Jesus came. This is how He rescues. This is how He reverses the curse of sin and inaugurates His kingdom on earth.
Today, may we be people who draw near to the cross of Christ. Let us dwell on His sacrifice on our behalf. Let us see His righteousness, given to us by His grace. It’s only through Jesus that we can echo His prayer: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit” (v.46). Let us glory in the scandal of the cross.
Written by Cameron Magby
Leave a Reply
59 thoughts on "The Death of Jesus"
It does seem so unfair, the perfect, spotless Son of God, our Lamb, given in our place. Yet it was necessary for our salvation! We can sit at the cross but we cannot stay there…but for now, let us glory in the cross. It was for our sake, hallelujah!!
Here are the lyrics of one of my favorite songs usually played at Easter time, “Sunday Is Coming,” by Phil Wickham.
A great light dawns in Galilee
Some say mad man
Some say King
Wonder working rebel priest
Jesus Christ the Nazarene
He knew well what it would take
To free us all from sin and grave
A perfect man would have to die
And only He could pay that price
Friday’s good ’cause Sunday is coming
Don’t lose hope ’cause Sunday is coming
Devil, you’re done, you better start running
Friday’s good ’cause Sunday is coming
So He let those soldiers take Him in
As His friend betrayed Him with a kiss
There before the mocking crowd
Like a lamb to the slaughter didn’t make a sound
Then He carried that cross to Calvary
And He shed His blood to set us free
As the nails went in and the sky went dark
The redemption of the world was on His heart
Friday’s good ’cause Sunday is coming
Don’t lose hope ’cause Sunday is coming
Devil, you’re done, you better start running
Friday’s good ’cause Sunday is coming
Then He breathed His last
And bowed His head
The Son of God and man was dead
With bloody hands
Tears on their face
They laid Him down
Inside that grave
But that wasn’t the end
That wasn’t the end
That wasn’t the end
Let me tell you what happened next
The women came before the dawn
To find that stone already gone
When they looked inside, the angel said
“Why you looking for the living among the dead?”
He’s alive
He’s alive
Hallelujah, He’s alive
Give Him praise
Lift Him high
Hallelujah, He’s alive
He’s alive
He’s alive
Hallelujah, He’s alive
Give Him praise
Lift Him high
Hallelujah, He’s alive
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Don’t lose hope ’cause Sunday’s coming
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Now Jesus reigns
Upon the throne
All Heaven sings
To Him alone
We watch and wait
Like a bride for a groom
Oh, church arise
He’s coming soon
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jonathan Smith / Steven Furtick / Phil Wickham / Adrian Disch
Sunday Is Coming lyrics © Be Essential Songs
It’s so sad to read about the death of Jesus. My Savior. My Lord. Not just a good man. Not just an innocent man. The perfect Son of God.
One of the most impactful sermons I ever heard was about the crucifixion of Jesus. Our pastor talked in graphic detail about crucifixion in Roman times. It wasn’t just a painful death. It was terrible, humiliating torture. He went step by step, and you could have heard a pin drop in the church. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the sanctuary. He ended his sermon with this question:
If Jesus suffered all of that in order to forgive you of your sins, how can you withhold forgiveness from anyone for anything they have done to you?
That got me right where I lived. Every time I read about Jesus taking my sins to that cross, I think about it.
God, help me forgive others as You have forgiven me.
May I never forget how monumental Jesus’ death on the cross was. I never want to take that for granted.
Amen.
“Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices”. May we also remember that it is not the end of the story, and immediately the next words are, “but your sorrow will be turned into joy”. The cross did not look like victory, it looked like a flat out defeat, in brutal violence and assault to justice and freedom. The cross has never looked like victory. But things are not always what they seem. Sorrow will be turned into joy. Defeat will be turned into victory. We put on Christ. Let His joy be our strength. Happy birthday TAYLOR! Be blessed dear sisters.
These passages make me feel so sad. However, I also rejoice. Know what I mean?
Yes! ❤
Any updates on your healthcare? ❤
Thank You, Jesus, for taking my penalty upon Your body! May I always see You for Who You are!
.
In this beautiful devo, CAMERON said,
“We can’t see Jesus for who He is without the cross. And we can’t see the cross for all it is without giving glory to God for what He has done.
As we’ve seen throughout Luke, this is why Jesus came. This is how He rescues. This is how He reverses the curse of sin and inaugurates His kingdom on earth.”
.
My memory verse from Titus once again comes to mind:
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
4 But—
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
.
SONG SHARES:
1)Chris Tomlin – Jesus Messiah (Lyrics And Chords)
2)He Loves Us
David Crowder Band
.
Love, hugs,and prayers!
.
TAYLOR, may your birthday be blessed! ❤
Yes!! Amen! That is impactful together!! We praise you Lord!! And thank you from my core for your knowledge and saving grace!! Amazing Grace and Mercy for a wretch like me!
❤
Such am emotional study day. I too feel like I need to dwell in these lessons.
Just like Tina and many others here this morning, knowing that we were getting to this reading, was a HARD read. My heart ached! Sometimes I think about if I had been there, I would hope to be amongst the women who were weeping. Especially knowing what I know now. As a mom, I think about Mary and how painful it must’ve been for her to watch this horrific event happen to her sweet boy, OUR Jesus!! For you and me!
I often wonder about how many times through the years that Mary replayed the words she heard from the angel Gabriel:
Luke 1
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
❤
Love this!
Oh that first paragraph, so timely. But more important is the ONE THING that changed ALL of history! Jesus coming to be a sacrifice..for me for you. For all that will say yes, he gives eternal life with Him and God, and the Spirit.
History is defined by BC and AD. Our lives are defined by our Salvation.
I know the moment it hit me, that I was lost and helpless, and He was the Savior that could rescue me. Not just for after my death to come, but the way my life could be here and now. To be a disciple, because he is worthy of everything. To shine the light, be hands and feet, and go to the lost. He is worth it. He is my everything. (song Jesus over Everything). My life should reflect this. Not because of works…because of love. My heart aches for not just the lost, but to be a represenitve because He is Worthy of it All! All Glory is His! May He BE Magnified!! Every miracle, every burden, every trial and endurance, every joy. The peace of Jesus in me, I can walk every day in his strength of whatever shall come. Persecussion is near. But for Him, we shall keep ready and waiting to go him swiftly in a blink of an eye. Praise God!
In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today.
In Your church, Lord, be glorified…
.
❤❤❤
Amen and Amen! Jesus, thank you for the cross!
One of my favorite worship groups is SEU Worship. I have been enamored with one of their new songs titled “Bless The Blood”. One of my favorite lines is “what I’ve sown in scarlet, the Lamb reaps in white.” Something about that just makes me so emotional!
I hadn’t heard of the group or song. But the song is a perfect, thought-provoking follow-up to today’s reading. Thank you for sharing!
Oh my so beautiful…
I will be checking out that song; thank you,Susan! ❤
Oh. I have to find that song. What an impactful statement.
This is always such a hard passage to read, and it should be. As I was reading this morning, I was telling myself to slow down and not rush through the words in scripture so it could all sink in and I don’t gloss over the depth of such suffering done for me and then our writer for today reminds us to linger here as well…..
“Its terrible and tragic, which is precisely why we need to linger here. The innocent Son of God was beaten, tortured, and nailed to a cross to die. Each of us stands condemned because of our sin. And yet He took our place, bearing the weight of all of sin for all of time, shedding his blood so that we don’t have to shed ours.”
I’m feeling like I must really do just that this morning – linger, reflect, contemplate and really take in the weight of all Jesus has done for me and be so very, very grateful. A gratitude and praise that is beyond what I can put into words from a humble heart.❤️
Thank you for your prayers sisters. ❤️
Me too!!!!
Today feels like a bit of a Lenten day.
Wendy, I agree. It’s a gloomy, damo, and humid morning. Fitting.
.
Continued prayers! Hope you are feeling a bit better today! ❤❤❤
“linger, reflect, contemplate” amen Wendy!
Amen
“It’s the definition of injustice. It’s terrible and tragic, which is precisely why we need to linger here.”
.
We do need to linger here. If you are like me, to often we forget to remember the cross, the excruciating pain and suffering that Jesus took upon Himself – so that I (we) might be made righteous by his shed blood.
He who knew no sin, we stood condemned, He took our place. He willingly and obediently went to the cross.
.
Enduring Word commentary gives a very detailed description of what it is like to die by crucifixion. It’s horrible, unthinkable, unimaginable – Yet Jesus chose to go to the cross, that’s how much He loves us.
Let us always be reminded.
– – –
Be blessed today my dear sisters. ❤️
Sharon I just listened to the commentary. This is all very emotional reading today.
Let us always be reminded – indeed! ❤❤❤
Yes.
I feel like this is so timely as I think about the elections and have seen on Facebook and Instagram the dissension with one another. But then we read of how this was the most important moment in history, the moment that everything changes. That because of his sacrifice peace and hope, joy and mercy can come from Jesus alone and that because God is unchanging we can trust he is our secure anchor! May we all living and graciously share with others the work of the cross, our hope that comes because of the one who took it all! May the eyes of our heart be direct to the only one who truly saves and has the power to rescue and change lives!
In any election I remind myself that Jesus is on the throne. My future is secure because of that.
❤️
Reading about Pilate’s questioning of Jesus, the rejection of His release by the people, Pilate’s repeated attempts to release Jesus – I’m reminded there was no stopping what had to be, which was God’s plan for our eternity with Him if we will only believe (brings to mind the song, Only Believe, Paul Rader, 1921).
Last lines of last verse:
He never forsakes; He never is gone,
So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.
Hallelujah.
.
Praying for the lost, may today be the day they turn to Jesus.
.
LYNNE FROM AL ❤️
ADRIENNE ❤️
B ❤️
WENDY B ❤️ praying especially for your husband
CEE GEE ❤️ such good connections yesterday!
GWINETH52 ❤️
SHARON JERSEY GIRL ❤️ The grace of Jesus ❤️
❤️ thank you
Thanks so much for your prayers.
Amen- “no stopping what had to be”!
.
Than you for that encouragement and for the song reminder. I
haven’t heard that song in ages!
❤❤❤
“Let us glory in the scandal of the cross.”
.
How scandalous indeed is the death of the perfect, Holy One, to pay the debt I owe.
.
Lord help me to sit in this today and not rush past it to get to the “happier” news.
.
WENDY B – praying for strength for you and your husband.
.
CEE GEE – no movement in the job hunt. Came across 2 postings yesterday that I need to investigate further.
❤️ thank you
Kelly, praying for discernment as you ‘investigate’ job opportunities! ❤❤❤
Wow “the scandal of the cross” ❤️
It is truly scandalous.
Kelly, praying for your job search and your discernment.
Like Tina this morning, this account of all Jesus suffered for my sin is always hard to read. It seems especially so as we head swiftly into the Advent season. But I do love this reminder from our devotion: “We can’t see Jesus for who He is without the cross, and we can’t see the cross for all it is without giving glory to God for what He has done.”
Thank You, Father for Your amazing grace and Jesus for Your incredible sacrifice on our behalf!
AMAN! ❤️
That quote stood out to me, too, Sally. ❤
❤️
Yes every good reading as we draw near to Advent!
Even knowing we would have to touch on this subject as we dove into Lukes gospel, my heart hurt as I read of Jesus’s suffering… because of me.. because of us!
This is a story that breaks my heart, on every level.
.
Back in the day, when i was being praised or encouraged I would ask.. “what are you after”
I guess nice words never fell on my doorstep that often.. anyways my point here is that Jesus’s dying on the cross was not for anything I had done, oh, far from it, or anything I had earned, oh good Lord, if only..
Jesus’s going to the cross was for LOVE.. Love of me, you, those we love, ALL.
.
BUT GOD..
He knew what our sin and shame looked like and He still, STILL. still, in the GREATEST EVER ACT OF LOVE, stood in my/our place, took the beating, the crown of thorns, piercing in the side, carried that heavy cross loaded with my/our sins, the nails in His hands and feet..
I weep now as I imagine this gift so pure and true for no reward, other than love for mankind.. love for me!
.
Yes indeed.. ‘Let us glory in the scandal of the cross..’
Thank you Jesus, every day, thank you for your sacrifice on my/our behalf, and thank you for loving us, without boundary, more than we could ever imagine.. thank you for the cross. Thank you from a grateful heart, in your most precious name, Lord Jesus.
.
AMEN.
.
Humming thank you for the cross as i finish..
Here are the words..
.
.
Thank You for the cross, Lord;
Thank You for the price You paid;
Bearing all my sin and shame,
In love You came,
And gave amazing grace.
Thank You for this love, Lord;
Thank You for the nail-pierced hands;
Washed me in Your cleansing flow,
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace.
Worthy is the Lamb, seated on the throne;
Crown You now with many crowns,
You reign victorious.
High and lifted up, Jesus Son of God,
The Darling of Heaven crucified;
Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb.
.
Happy Thursday ya’ll..
Much love, covered in prayers and hugs..❤️❤️❤️
Amen and amen, a teary morning for sure. Thankful beyond words for the sacrifice Jesus made for me and and for you and for each of us.
That is the song I thought of two and was humming. So beautiful and poignant.
Amen, Tina!
Thank you for the song! I am a Tauren Wells fan but somehow have never heard that song! Perfect! ❤
I think this is “Worthy is the Lamb!”
But I love the Tauren Wells song too!! Thank you for the Cross!
❤️
❤️ beautiful and precious reflection
❤️