Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:35-39

"Those who were crucified with Him also
reviled Him." (Mark 15:32)

Reflection:

The physical pain of being beaten, flogged
and nailed to a Roman cross is bad enough.
But Jesus also experiences the bitter pain
of emotional abuse. He watches the people
pass by on the road turn and fling their
ridicule at Him. He hears the mockery and
laughter of the chief priests and scribes.
Beneath Him the Roman soldiers cruelly
taunt His thirst by holding up wine vinegar
just outside of reach (Luke 23:36-37).

Perhaps two people can actually sympathize
with Him. After all, the criminals hanging on
His left and right are condemned criminals too.
They are going through much the same
excruciating physical pain He is suffering. But
their great pain and suffering drive them to lash
out against Him too. The Greek word we
translate "revile" means to insult or belittle
someone- like a couple of schoolyard bullies.
Wherever Jesus turns He is under attack.

Jesus is literally suffering what all of us deserve
for our sins- everlasting punishment in hell.
Throughout the Bible hell is described as a place
where people are bound hand and foot and cast
into utter darkness (Matthew 22:13) where they
suffer great pain from the inside and the outside
(Isaiah 66:24). That is exactly what Jesus is
suffering with His hands and feet "bound" to the
cross by the nails, the great pain racking His
body- and as we will see tomorrow, thick
darkness which will leave Him alone in His great
suffering.

He did it all for you and me- so we can live with
Him in the perfect peace, joy and light of heaven
forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You were surrounded by countless
enemies who mocked and laughed at Your distress.
Thank You for taking my place in hell and giving me
Your place in heaven. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)

Scripture:

Read Mark 15:31-32a

"Also the chief priests with the scribes mocked
Him, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself.'"
(Mark 15:31)

Reflection:

The Jewish religious leaders were not satisfied
with beating up Jesus after their illegal night trial.
And it wasn't enough for them to see Jesus bleeding,
beaten, humiliated and nailed to a cross. They want
to add to His disgrace and distress by mocking Him.

Mockery is one of the most vicious ways to lash out
at someone. They turn Jesus' own words against Him
to point out His powerlessness and to prove they were
right to reject Him. And striking deepest they make
fun of His name. The name Jesus means "the Lord
saves". They find it funny that Jesus is famous for
saving others from demons, disease and death itself-
but He's powerless to save Himself.

From the time Jesus was conceived and born in that
little town of Bethlehem, He had held back His power
as God's Son. He had displayed a little of that power
performing miracles to verify His message about God's
Kingdom, but He never used it for His own benefit. Had
He chosen to, Jesus could have floated down from the
cross and destroyed His enemies with a breath.

But Jesus was being Jesus on the cross- He was
saving us by sacrificing Himself. He was dying even for
those who made themselves His enemies- these Jewish
leaders gathered around Him to gloat and celebrate their
apparent victory. He would leave it to God His Father to
prove Him right. And He wouldn't have to wait long- just
three days. All who trust in Him will enjoy His salvation
forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You remained silent through the gloating
mockery of those religious leaders who opposed You.
Thank You for dying to offer them and all of us salvation.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)

Scripture:

Read Psalm 22:1-11

"Those who passed by derided Him"
(Mark 15:29)

Reflection:

To make their executions effective deterrents,
Romans crucified criminals on major roads
leading into cities. The road that led past
Jesus' cross into Jerusalem was filled with
people on their way into town for the Passover.
Many of them had been in town since Sunday
when Jesus Himself had entered Jerusalem.
Sleeping in tent cities in the surrounding area,
they walked into town along these roads each
morning, and walked back out to their
temporary housing at night.

Their first word "Aha!" says it all. It expresses
the wonder and astonishment that fill their minds.
They had been caught up in the excitement of
Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Sunday.
They had been astonished by His teachings, His
answers to the challenges of the Jewish authorities,
and His words of rebuke. They expected something
really significant was about to happen at the
Passover- but not to see Jesus hanging on a cross.

The problem was they had been judging by
appearances. Early in the week, when everything
was going Jesus' way, they were quick to sing His
praises. But as soon as they saw Jesus suffering in
His mission as Christ and King, they changed their
mind. They thought God was clearly revealing Jesus
as a fraud and an imposter- like every other false
Christ they had seen before.

As they pass by along the road they deride Jesus
and insult him. They shake their heads and turn His
words against Him. Rejecting the One they had
praised a few days before, they turn their backs and
leave Him behind as they continue along the way
into town and up towards the temple.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, forgive the times I have turned my back
to You and went my own way.
Turn me back to stand before You always.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)