Daily Devotional Tuesday 28th January 2020
by William Moody
Luke 23:26–43
The Crucifixion
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”1 And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,2 “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,3 saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Footnotes
[1] 23:34
Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus . . . what they do
[2] 23:38Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew
[3] 23:39Or blasphemed him (ESV)
As Jesus heads to Calvary, Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross (v26). What impact did this have on Simon? It appears a big one, as it is likely Simon became a believer as also his sons were part of the early church (see Mark 15 v21; Romans 16 v13).
Take time to consider the suffering of the cross. Does what Jesus suffered impact your life as it should? Pray about this.
Jesus, even as He goes towards the cross, never stops reaching out to the needy (v27-31). He was full of love for others.
Jesus’ love at the cross is amazing. He pleads for forgiveness to those who crucify Him (v34). Then He speaks to one of the crucified thieves to bring eternal hope (v39-43).
Have you and I such a heart for reaching others with the Gospel? As Jesus goes to the cross He evangelises, as He first hangs on the cross He prays for others to be forgiven, after hanging for a while He helps a man come to saving faith. Let us pray for such a loving Gospel heart!
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