Christian Reflection and Prayer

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)

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)