March 26, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 37 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.54 (pages 179-181)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
The Life of Jesus 5.54.
Imagine all the pain before and during crucifixion. Father forgive them.!! Today you will be with me in paradise.!! John behold your mother. !! The excruciating pain I cannot fathom and it’s still about others.
”Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”“
John 19:19-22 NKJV
I remember singing a Taize song “Jesus Remember me” in college at a Lutheran camp retreat.
https://open.spotify.com/track/677AIfCLO5vtQWXfPYJhqS?si=RtY5OU02RM-qf7ULit63BA
Jesus remember me song
Day 37 5:54 Jesus is nailed to the cross, the leaders who had him put there are still throwing insults and laughing. He is placed between two criminals one begins to throw insults while the other says we are guilty we deserve to die but this man has done nothing wrong and he asks Jesus to remember him and Jesus says “I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise “. Jesus was thinking of others after all he had been put through. He sacrificed himself for all of us, there is no greater love!
5.54 Jesus is Nailed to a Cross (Luke 23:26-32, Matt 27:33-34, Luke 23:33-34, John 19:23-24, John 19:19-22, Matt 27:39-43, Luke 23:39-43, John 19:25-27)
Mark, I had the same thoughts…all that Jesus is going through, and yet he is thinking of others…asking that God would forgive those who are torturing Him, joining the disciple He loved, John and his mother Mary together to care for one another, demonstrating the love we Christians should have for one another, as members of God’s family…and even saving the thief beside Him on the cross…the last day of this man’s life…a life lived in service of self that brought him to ruin, and yet…hanging besides the King, this man understands who Jesus is, and when he asks that Jesus would remember Him when He comes into His kingdom, the mercy and forgiveness of God is extended to him in his last moments on earth.
John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Lenten Day 37
The Life of Jesus 5.43-5.54; John 8
Several years ago I was part of a play some of the EMF churches did for a Good Friday service and one of the roles I played was the repentant criminal on the cross. Whenever I read the part about him in scripture I remember the unique experience I got to have seeing the whole thing play out through his eyes when I looked at “Jesus” and all I could ask of him was to remember me in paradise, and beyond my wildest expectations not only would he remember me in paradise but I’d get to join him there.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
And as long as we’re alive on this Earth, it is never to late to turn to Jesus.
Jesus being to weary from all that has happened to Him both by Pilates guards twice and by Herod`s men. For they have mocked Him and put thorns on His head, and punched Him. He is now to weary to carry His own cross. The soldiers forced a man from Cyrene called Simon to carry the cross for Jesus. According to the gospel of Mark ; he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. I am not sure why this is important to Mark to that he says he is father to these two men but perhaps because he knew the two sons. The only other Rufus mentioned is in Romans 16:13. Some think that these two Rufus are the same person. Hard to know. As far as the two thieves on the cross. Both were thieves there to die for their crimes. Both saw Jesus on the cross with them. Both knew they that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, but while one shouted insults at Him; the other believed in Jesus and got saved. This is an good example to show people that no one can be saved by good works. Thank God that we only need to call upon His Name. [ Rom. 10:13] We know that this man knew that he was a sinner and needed Christ. Then when Jesus speaks to His mother and John to take care of each other ; He knows that they will have the love of Christ in their hearts; although that won`t happen until the Holy Spirit comes. He expects them to love each other in the Lord. Remember that Mary has other children. I think there were 4 more sons, and at least two daughters. So what would be the reason that Jesus wanted His mother and John to look out for each other? It is because they were fellow believers. The world`s ways are not His ways. May the Lord bless each one of you.
Some of the most powerful words spoken are spoken by Jesus on the cross. And maybe the most amazing are the words Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing. So He not only asks God to forgive but gives Him a justification to do so. What an example of the kind of forgiveness that God enables and calls us to. And one wonders if Pilate put on Jesus’ cross the sign “King of the Jews”. because he thought He was or he was trying to upset the Jews who had acted unjustly even from Pilate’s point of view. And then Jesus takes what the thief on the cross says generally and makes it specific. It goes from “remember me when you come into your kingdom” to “today you will be with me in paradise”. And lastly, in this section, Jesus as the oldest son takes care of his mother. He trusts her care to one He trusted more than His siblings…and for good reason as they rejected Him and His message at this point. And all of these things reveal a dynamic that Jesus followed throughout His life…and that is thinking of others above Himself. What a Savior!
Jesus forgives the thief on the cross and promises that he will be with him in heaven. We will have eternal life with God even if we confess that Jesus is Lord at the last second of our lives, but after that there is no hope, no changing our minds, and no going back.