24 April 2020
Luke 23:26-43.
In this passage Jesus has been sentenced to death and is being led
away.
He has already endured arrest, false imprisonment, and show trials in front of Annas, Caiaphas
& Pilate. He has endured a severe whipping, as well as having a crown of
thorns placed on his head, and additional beatings by the soldiers.
Jesus knows He is about to die an excruciatingly painful death.
So what is His state of mind? We have a few clues about Jesus
mind-set from this passage. In verse 27 a number of women were mourning and
wailing for what was about to befall Him.
However Jesus tells them not to weep for Him, but for themselves. Then
there is His famous prayer on the Cross; “Father, forgive them for they do not
know what they are doing.” Finally in the last verse, He tells one of the
nearby crucified thieves; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise.”
Amazingly, despite the incredible suffering that He was enduring and
about to endure, He was not self-pitying. He remained sensitive to others’
needs around Him. He also brought salvation to the repentant thief.
This testing time shows the patient endurance of Jesus in the face
of suffering. He was still ministering
to others through this period. He was very focused on the will of the Father.
He was not self-pitying. He did not curse anyone. As stated in Isaiah 53:7b “and as a sheep
before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth”.
He did not use His authority as the Son of God. He submitted Himself
to the Cross, as is said in the letter to the Hebrews 12;2 “despising its shame.”
What is the point of considering these things?
In Hebrews 12:2-3, the author instructs us:
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured
such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart.”
Suggested prayer:
Father God, help me to fix my eyes upon Jesus, to consider the
suffering of His soul and how well He dealt with it. May Your encouragement help me overcome the difficulties and
temptations I face in my life this day. May I be strengthened in my faith. Make
me thankful for what You went through to redeem our lives. I give you thanks
for the precious redeeming blood of Jesus. Amen.