Friday Reading: Matthew 27:54
Key Verse: Matthew 27:54
54 But the centurion and those guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake, and the things that took place, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this One was Son of God.
Devotion:
What have they done?
Last night Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples. The local guard came out to take Him away and then all His disciples scattered, nowhere to be found. Jesus was taken away in custody to Caiaphas the high priest where a whole string of people came to testify against Jesus. None of those that came forward were accepted as witnesses because they were all telling lies but two fellows were able to convince the assembly that Jesus was trouble; then Caiaphas accused Jesus of Blasphemy, but I have my doubts because of the words Jesus used.
Jesus was then taken before the governor Pontius Pilate where the chief priests and elders accused Him of many things. Jesus just stood there and refused to be taken up by what these people held against Him. Pilate then gave the people a choice, Jesus or Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas, a known criminal! Pilate said that he could not find any fault in Jesus and yet the crowd was egged on by the priests and elders to choose Barabbas and to let Jesus be hanged instead! Then the call came forward for Jesus to be crucified! At this stage Pilate washed his hands publically and the crowd took on the blame – I somehow don’t believe they knew what they were doing.
From there Jesus was taken away and the guards started to mock Him. The mocking grew until they crowned Him with a crown of thorns, dressed Him in a robe and gave Him a reed to look like a pantomime king. And yet this man Jesus took it all without saying anything. The mocking continued in a far worse manner as people started to spit on Him and even hit Him. The guards were told to beat Him and they seemed to go overboard with that drawing blood from the severe beating He took. All this time Jesus did not say a word against the people that did this to Him! The crowd seemed to join in on the mocking until it seemed like everyone was against Him... and yet He continued on in silence.
Jesus was taken to Golgotha and crucified; but this was no ordinary crucifixion because they actually nailed Him to the cross! With Jesus silently hanging on the cross some stayed to watch Him; I too was transfixed but knew in my heart that He had done nothing wrong. He was hung between two thieves one of which actually tried to defend Jesus with his own words. At about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?” with many thinking that He was instead crying out to Elijah. Jesus then cried again and died there before us; it was as though He gave His own life. There was quite an earthquake at that time and some pretty strange things going on. The centurion that was there turned to me and said “Truly this was the Son of God”. That sentence made me stop and think, putting everything together that had happened and realising that this man was exactly who He claimed to be, the very Son of God. What had we done?
Even at this late stage the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate to make sure that guards were posted in front of the tomb where Jesus was laid. What did they think was going to happen!
I still cannot believe all that I have witnessed this day, so much of which is so terrible I cannot bring myself to write it down. How could these people not see the truth? How could these people not see that this was our Messiah? And now they have killed Him. What is going to happen to us now?
I have done so many things wrong in my life that I probably deserve to be hung in His place; and yet Jesus went forward and allowed this all to happen without blaming anyone else. What a man. What a demonstration. What an ending...
Points to Ponder:
Have you been witness to any of this?
Were you looking forward to seeing our Messiah?
Key Verse: Matthew 27:54
54 But the centurion and those guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake, and the things that took place, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this One was Son of God.
Devotion:
What have they done?
Last night Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples. The local guard came out to take Him away and then all His disciples scattered, nowhere to be found. Jesus was taken away in custody to Caiaphas the high priest where a whole string of people came to testify against Jesus. None of those that came forward were accepted as witnesses because they were all telling lies but two fellows were able to convince the assembly that Jesus was trouble; then Caiaphas accused Jesus of Blasphemy, but I have my doubts because of the words Jesus used.
Jesus was then taken before the governor Pontius Pilate where the chief priests and elders accused Him of many things. Jesus just stood there and refused to be taken up by what these people held against Him. Pilate then gave the people a choice, Jesus or Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas, a known criminal! Pilate said that he could not find any fault in Jesus and yet the crowd was egged on by the priests and elders to choose Barabbas and to let Jesus be hanged instead! Then the call came forward for Jesus to be crucified! At this stage Pilate washed his hands publically and the crowd took on the blame – I somehow don’t believe they knew what they were doing.
From there Jesus was taken away and the guards started to mock Him. The mocking grew until they crowned Him with a crown of thorns, dressed Him in a robe and gave Him a reed to look like a pantomime king. And yet this man Jesus took it all without saying anything. The mocking continued in a far worse manner as people started to spit on Him and even hit Him. The guards were told to beat Him and they seemed to go overboard with that drawing blood from the severe beating He took. All this time Jesus did not say a word against the people that did this to Him! The crowd seemed to join in on the mocking until it seemed like everyone was against Him... and yet He continued on in silence.
Jesus was taken to Golgotha and crucified; but this was no ordinary crucifixion because they actually nailed Him to the cross! With Jesus silently hanging on the cross some stayed to watch Him; I too was transfixed but knew in my heart that He had done nothing wrong. He was hung between two thieves one of which actually tried to defend Jesus with his own words. At about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?” with many thinking that He was instead crying out to Elijah. Jesus then cried again and died there before us; it was as though He gave His own life. There was quite an earthquake at that time and some pretty strange things going on. The centurion that was there turned to me and said “Truly this was the Son of God”. That sentence made me stop and think, putting everything together that had happened and realising that this man was exactly who He claimed to be, the very Son of God. What had we done?
Even at this late stage the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate to make sure that guards were posted in front of the tomb where Jesus was laid. What did they think was going to happen!
I still cannot believe all that I have witnessed this day, so much of which is so terrible I cannot bring myself to write it down. How could these people not see the truth? How could these people not see that this was our Messiah? And now they have killed Him. What is going to happen to us now?
I have done so many things wrong in my life that I probably deserve to be hung in His place; and yet Jesus went forward and allowed this all to happen without blaming anyone else. What a man. What a demonstration. What an ending...
Points to Ponder:
Have you been witness to any of this?
Were you looking forward to seeing our Messiah?