Thursday, March 28, 2024

Thursday, March 28, 2024
Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

The book of Isaiah is full of prophecies about the Messiah, and if the Pharisees had swallowed their pride, they might have seen Jesus for who He was. The coming Savior was said to be a king, but also a humble servant. He would establish a new kingdom that would last forever, but He would also be led as a sheep to the slaughter. The book of Psalms speaks of a righteous man surrounded by evil, His hands and feet pierced, as His enemies cast lots and divide His garments. All of these spoken words became true history throughout Jesus’ life, and on the day of His death. It was a death long foretold by the scriptures, and a death that would change the course of the future forever.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024
John 19:1-2
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

The flogging Jesus endured was agonizing and would have left Him bleeding and in immense pain. This wasn’t uncommon treatment for criminals in Rome, but the crown of thorns and purple robe was personal; a mockery designed specifically for the King of the Jews. The very thorns that God cursed the ground with when sin entered the world were wrenched onto Christ’s scalp, and the royal color that a King rightfully deserved was thrown haphazardly around His bleeding, stripped body. But this wasn’t enough to satisfy the crowd, and even Pilate, a Roman leader accustomed to torment, was taken aback by the hatred of the Jews as they shouted, “crucify him!” And yet Christ offered no opposition; it was the Lord’s will to be crushed for the sins of the cruel world, once and for all.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Tuesday, March 26, 2024
John 13:21
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

When it comes to the death of Jesus, it wasn’t just physical pain that He had to endure. His final day was far worse when you read of how He was treated by those who claimed to be His loving friends. Before it even happened, Christ knew that Judas would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver, and that His most devoted disciple would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. The rest of Jesus’ closest friends would scatter in fear at the first sign of danger, and the Messiah would be beaten and spat upon by the very children of Israel that He came to save. The betrayal of Judas, the empty promises of Peter, and the savagery of His own people all weighed heavy on Christ, as if the physical cross He carried wasn’t heavy enough.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Monday, March 25, 2024
Mark 9:31
For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

Sometimes God makes His will so clear, but we still choose to ignore it. Jesus foretold His death and resurrection to His disciples several times throughout the gospels, and yet they were still shocked when He was delivered over to be crucified. They never dreamed it would end this way, and in their hopelessness, they assumed death was the end for Jesus. And yet, three days later, an empty tomb proved them wrong. The Lord’s plan for salvation, and for establishing a new kingdom, was far better and far beyond what anyone could have guessed.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Friday, March 22, 2024
Mark 2:17
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Are you a sinner? Then good news! Jesus came all the way down to earth for people like you, and now He’s preparing a kingdom for you to join Him in. You don’t deserve it, but the point is that no one does. There’s an insurmountable mountain of sins and mistakes that you’d need to overcome before entering, but Jesus has offered to wipe your slate clean. All He asks in return is that you put your faith in Him, trust Him with your life, and follow His example. Live like Christ, for Christ, and one day former slaves to sin like you and I will be with Him in eternity.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Thursday, March 21, 2024
John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus didn’t make excuses for sin. Sin is sin, and in many of Jesus teachings, He raised the standard for “good” and made it clear just how imperfect you are. But His message wasn’t one of condemnation; He didn’t come to earth hurling fire and brimstone to incinerate sinners. Instead, He offered mercy to the woman caught in adultery, forgiveness for tax collectors and cheaters, and paradise to the thief on the cross. The world desperately needed a Savior, a sacrifice to take on the punishment you and I deserved so justly for our mistakes. That sacrifice was Jesus Christ, and as the Son of God hung on that cross, it was His love for you that held Him there, until “it is finished.”