Month: May 2013

Morning Reading : Luke 23: 50-56 NLT – buried

Reading: Luke 23:50-56 NLT

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

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The Entombment of Christ by Carravagio, 1602-1603

Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

Creed: I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

Spiritual Song: “Creed” – Third Day

Morning Reading: Luke 23. 44-49 NLT – last breathe

Reading: Luke 23:44-49 NLT

By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.

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Crucifixion, seen from the Cross by James Tissot, c. 1890

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent. ” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 

But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – It’s never too late to confess you as the Messiah, the Son of the living God… not for the thief, not for the soldier, and not for us. You alone are our Savior and Lord. You alone hold the keys to eternal life. Fill me with a deep sorrow that leads to worship… not from a distance, but at the foot of the Cross. Amen!

Hymn: “Beneath the cross of Jesus” – Elizabeth C. Clephane (1868)

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand. The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land. A home within the wilderness,a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus, mine eye at times can see the very dying form of One who suffered there for me. And from my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess: the wonders of His glorious love, and my unworthiness.

I take, O Cross, thy shadow for my abiding place. I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss. My sinful self– my only shame, my glory– all the cross.

Morning Reading: Luke 23.26-43 NLT – remember me

Reading: Luke 23:26-43 NLT

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’  People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’  For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? ”

St Dismas, the penitent thief
St Dismas – the penitent thief
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Prayer: Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom

Morning Reading: Luke 23.13-25 NLT – mob rule

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ijNGxMWUI&feature=youtube_gdata_playerReading: Luke 23:13-16, 18-25 NLT

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict.

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“You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)

Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

Prayer: Lord God – It’s all so wrong… an unprincipled politician, self-serving religious leaders, and a rent-a-mob! Innocence declared but justice denied. Forbid it Lord that I should follow in these wretched footsteps. Help me to do the right thing – and take full responsibility for my decisions – regardless of the consequences. For Jesus’ sake! Amen.

Hymn: “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” – Charles Wesley, 1740