Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Mark 15:27

"And with Him they crucified two
robbers" (Mark 15:27)

Reflection:

Jesus wasn't the first person to be crucified.
Crucifixion was practiced in the ancient Near
East long before. In 519 BC three thousand
political enemies were crucified on one
occasion by Darius 1 in Babylon. In 71 BC
the Roman general Crassus crucified six
thousand slaves who had fought with
Spartacus. So having three criminals crucified
together was not unusual.

We know very little about the two criminals
crucified with Jesus. Mark calls them "robbers".
Jesus used this same word in His parable of
the Good Samaritan to describe the highway
robbers who beat the man, stole his clothes
and left him for dead. Mark also used this word
to describe murderous rebels when he first
introduced Barabbas, "And among the rebels
in prison, who had committed murder in the
insurrection, there was a man named Barabbas.
" (Mark 15:7). Though we don't know their
precise crimes- these were clearly vicious men.

If Jesus was guiltless why would He be crucified
with such vicious criminals? Jesus went to the
cross because He was being punished for all our
sins, not because of anything He had done. He
carried all the atrocities of Hitler, Stalin and Mao
and bore their guilt before God- and our own sin
and guilt too. So it was fitting that He be crucified
along with one robber on His left and another on
His right.

In a few days we will encounter these two robbers-
and an exchange which has brought incredible
comfort to guilt-stricken people ever since.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You were numbered with the criminals
not for anything You had done, but because of our
sins against God's Law. Forgive and restore us.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)

Scripture:

Read John 19:19-22

"The inscription of the charge against Him read,
'The King of the Jews'" (Mark 15:26)

Reflection:

The Romans used crucifixion to control areas
prone to rebellion. But unless the people knew
why the criminals were being executed it could
never be a deterrent. So each cross held an
inscription naming the criminal and the crime
for which he was being crucified. The inscription
was written in the legal language (Rome), the
common language of the Empire (Greek) and
the local language (Aramaic).

Pilate's inscription identified Jesus by His
childhood home Nazareth. The crime for which
He was being executed was being King of the
Jews. The chief priests objected- they never
considered Jesus their King. The inscription
should read "This man said 'I am King of the
Jews'". But Pilate had heard enough. They
had threatened him and forced him to condemn
a man he knew was innocent.

God Himself stood behind Pilate and gave him
strength to stand firm on this. God's own Son
was indeed the King of the Jews. That is how
He had been revealed to the wise men when
the Christmas star guided them to Jerusalem
where they asked where they could find the one
born King of the Jews. They foreshadowed that
Jesus the King of the Jews would extend His
kingship over all nations.

And though it may not look like it, as He hangs
on the bloody cross Jesus is exercising His
Kingship. He is laying down His life to protect
His subjects and to rescue them from deadly
peril. His reign won't end on that cross either.
It continues today and for all eternity.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Jews, thank You
for laying down Your life to save and protect Your
people from sin, death, Satan and hell. Remember
me in Your kingdom.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)

Scripture:

Read Mark 15:25

"It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
" (Mark 15:25)

Reflection:

Life is strange. Events that are so horrible for
some are so positive for others.

For the Jewish priests it has been an amazing
ride. Two days before it looked like the whole
world was going after Jesus. They wanted Him
dead, but the crowds left them powerless. They
could only hope He wouldn't use the Passover
 Festival as the occasion to declare Himself the
Christ, the King of the Jews. But everything
changed when Judas showed up. They were
able to arrest Him away from the crowds,
condemn Him to death, and even force the
reluctant Pilate to order His execution. They
couldn't have planned it any better- before the
crowds could return to Jerusalem, Jesus was
already hanging on the cross.

For Jesus it must have seemed like an eternity:
the sorrow-filled dinner, the agonizing hours of
prayer in the garden, seeing His friend Judas
leading the arresting guards, the hostile and
unjust Jewish trial, looking into Peter's eyes
after his third denial, the trial and condemnation
of Pontius Pilate, the scourging, mocking, crown
of thorns, the grueling road to Golgotha, the nails
piercing His hands and feet.

On the cross God brings together the best and
worst: His boundless love and His fiery judgment,
His wrath and His forgiveness, heaven and hell.
Because of the sins we committed He pours His
furious wrath on His Son. Because of the perfect
obedience of His Son Jesus Christ He pours His
love and forgiveness out for you and all people.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord Jesus, hanging from the tree You poured out
Your life to give us peace, joy, forgiveness and
eternal life. Give me confidence in Your salvation
and transform my darkest days into days of joy,
peace and light.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)