Matthew 27:45-56

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I knew before I started to read today that we would be reading of Jesus’ death, so I was determined to be fully focused on what I was reading. I had just finished verse 50, And Jesus…yielded up His Spirit, when the next words in verse 51 struck me unlike anything I had ever read before, sending shivers down my spine: And behold…! Just those two words, And behold…! As I sat here I fully wondered, “What’s next”? And then I read on: …the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (vv. 51-53) And I thought, “What POWER!” I thought to myself that it must be God the Father throwing down His final judgment on sin, proclaiming sin defeated, Satan never to have the power over peoples’ lives that he had had up to this time. Yes, he has influence, but not power!

Reflecting further, I see a three-fold witness of God’s power – the spiritual (…the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom…), the physical (And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.), and the human (And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…). And I am struck further…!

I’m sitting here – thinking, reflecting – and I have this full sense of awe at what I’ve just read. GLORY! Thank you, Lord!

Slava Bohu!

John 19:17-27

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” The readings have been divided up so that we see the crucifixion accounts in each of the four Gospels, one each day. Tomorrow we will begin to see Jesus’ death, again in each of the four Gospels, one each day.

Each of the four Gospels speaks of the soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments, but only Matthew and John cite Psalm 22:18 directly. I took the time to read Psalm 22. It’s striking how it speaks of Jesus’ crucifixion, especially verses 16-18. My Study Bible points out that no Psalm is quoted more in the New Testament than Psalm 22.

It troubles me (and I suspect, many of you) that Jesus’ mother is there standing by at His crucifixion. Small matter, but I’ve wondered how she got there, and I’ve played it out in my mind that John must have followed Jesus’ trail all along, to the point of His taking up His cross, whereupon he went to get Mary and bring her to Golgotha. But what mother would want to be there to see her son crucified? Or what mother would not want to be there? The pain she must have endured…! I’m at a loss for words.

Slava Bohu!

Luke 23:26-43

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. (v. 42) Probably many of you, like me, know this verse as a song – one line, repeated over and over, especially during Holy Week. I find myself wondering if there is any other song that we sing that comes as a quotation from the Gospels, but from someone other than Jesus. Mary comes to mind – the “Magnificat”, but others…?

Clearly this thief is highly exalted in Christian circles. I’ve heard it said on many occasions that this thief is the only person that we know with certainty is in Heaven with Jesus. We can quibble and quarrel about who will be saved, but not about this thief. But it’s not just the outcome that we honor. This thief shows us what it means to repent, to truly express sorrow for our sins, to realize that there is a horrible outcome that we deserve, and to be able to turn to Jesus and the grace that He offers: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise. (v. 43) GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 15:21-32

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.”

And they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. (v. 23) A couple of reflections on this verse, in part because this one verse is translated quite differently in various translations. The NASB has it as They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. And Matthew’s gospel in the NASB has that one phrase as “…wine mixed with gall…”, which is what I remember from my childhood. Gall has a very bitter taste, so wine mixed with gall has always seemed to me to be more of the taunting that Jesus was receiving from the soldiers.

However, what struck me today was the beginning of that NASB translation, They tried to give Him… I wondered why the soldiers were “trying” to give Him this mixture (a stronger emphasis than simply “offering” it to Him). And I wondered if this was more of their taunting or if they were being merciful. My Internet searching led me to an article, “Sour Wine and Gall: Was it a Merciful Gesture or Mockery?” In that article the author goes into great detail about the possible pain-killing effects of a mixture of wine and gall. It made me think even more of whether the soldiers were showing mercy, especially when the next verse says that Jesus did not take their “offer”. That article and others led me to three possible conclusions, that the mixture was (1) a pain-killer (a merciful gesture) or poison typically offered to crucifixion victims; (2) a bitter mixture intended as a continuing taunt; or (3) an intoxicant designed to entertain the soldiers with the victim’s responses to this inebriation. I tend to go with #2 – I don’t see anything else in context that suggests any level of mercy offered by the Roman soldiers. So it remains an interesting study, but not much to go on in the way of reflection!

What is worthy of reflection, however, is Jesus’ response not to accept their offer, especially if #1 is true. I can easily see Jesus rejecting the wine mixture if it was intended for the soldiers’ taunting or entertainment. But if #1, a merciful pain killer, why would Jesus not take it? One explanation in that article suggested that Jesus did not want His senses dulled, that He desired “…to remain conscious throughout His crucifixion without any pain relieving agent.” Another Internet article said it even better, “Jesus did not want to die from poisoning or have His senses numbed while on the cross. He knew that He had to shed His blood in order for Him to become the supreme sacrifice for the sins of all man, and He refused to take the easy way out of it.” That sentiment is, I believe, a good reflection to end with.

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:32-44

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” December! So much in today’s reading… Let’s begin here: So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying… (v. 41a) I was initially intrigued by how many were mocking Jesus. Matthew reports the passersby, the Jewish leaders, and the thieves (although Luke disputes the latter). But among those mocking Him, what struck me the most was the chief priests, with the scribes and elders. Evidently they were not content with the arrest, the trial(s), the torture, and the taunting – they had to come out and see for themselves Jesus’ unseemly death. But these are the JEWISH LEADERS!! Aren’t leaders supposed to set an example for followers? What sort of example is this mockery and taunting? What a sad lot they are!

Here is part of the Jewish leaders’ mockery: He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ (v. 43) What struck me here was the phrase, “…if he desires Him.” The NKJV had that phrase as “…if He will have Him”, which, to me, was even stronger. That phrase struck me in two ways. First, obviously, yes, the Father desires the Son – He “will have Him”! From the beginning of creation they have been One. The Father loves the Son and clearly desires Him. HOWEVER, this is the one point in all of history when the Father was rejecting the Son, when the Father was pouring out His wrath against sin onto His Son. At that one point in history, the Father did not desire the Son. I have in my mind this picture of Darth Vader going with “lightning bolts” against his own son. But the Father’s wrath against sin was GOD’s wrath – much greater, much more powerful. The Father did not desire the Son. Not this time. How horrible!

Slava Bohu!

John 19:1-16

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Jesus speaking: Therefore he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin. (v. 11b) This verse always confused me. My first confusion (common for me in John’s gospel) is about how Jesus was responding to Pilate’s question: Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? (v. 10b) I still don’t have an answer for that item. But the second confusion was clarified a bit by my Study Bible. I had always imagined that Jesus was speaking about Judas as the one who had delivered Him over. But my Study Bible suggested that Jesus was probably referring to Caiaphas as the one who delivered Him over and that Judas was just “the means”. That makes more sense to me – the greater sin belonged to Caiaphas, a lesser sin to Pilate.

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (v. 15b) The irony of this statement…! The Jews hated being under Roman rule. Although the Romans accommodated them to a great extent, they still hated being under their bondage. So now they make this claim of allegiance to Rome, all for the sake of having Jesus put to death. What irony…??!! The extent to which they would go to have their way with Him… But then again, every time that I find fault with the Jews, I know that I am equally guilty of my many sins for which Jesus suffered and died. And I’m sure I’ve made my own “accommodation” in the past to justify myself. Forgive me, Lord…!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 15:16-20

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I am amazed at Jesus’ strength – both His body and His character. First, bodily… As with yesterday, today we again have Him in the Praetorium being tortured and taunted by the Roman soldiers. He has already suffered a scourging, in which some die before it’s over. Now He gets a crown of thorns put on His head, with soldiers beating the crown into His head with a reed. (Ask me sometime about my crown of thorns.) Then He will still carry his cross to Golgotha and hang on that cross for six hours before He dies. He must have been extremely fit to go through all that.

And His character… To go through all that verbal and physical abuse and not respond. He knew that He had legions of angels at His disposal, but he suffered quietly. It was as Isaiah prophesied, He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

I’m amazed…!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 27:27-31

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Previously in Matthew 27:26 we saw that Pilate had had Jesus scourged. Now on Thanksgiving Day we read this horrible account of Pilate’s soldiers torturing and taunting Him further. It’s a horrible reflection for such a special holiday – as we celebrate and recall all that for which we are so very thankful. But, we also realize that the most thankful we can ever be is to Jesus for His horrible suffering and death – and His glorious RESURRECTION!! All this suffering that He went through was for our benefit, as He went through it all out of His love for us. It truly is… GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

John 18:28-40

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” (v. 31) It must have been frustrating to the Jewish leaders – they wanted Jesus dead and they could do it by their own Law (and their evaluation of blasphemy by Jesus­­), but they could not do it under Roman law. Only the Romans could put someone to death. So the Jewish leaders had to go to the Romans, to Pilate, to have Jesus killed. But even then, so difficult for them…! They could take Jesus to the Praetorium to be judged by Pilate, but they could not enter themselves (or they would be defiled). They had to wait for Pilate to go back and forth, in and out to Jesus and to them, in order to get judgment pronounced. But with so many difficulties it’s what they wanted – Jesus dead – and they were willing to suffer these “small inconveniences” in order to get it done. Again, so sad…!

About this interchange between Jesus and Pilate in verses 35 and 36:  Pilate answered, “…What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world…” At first I did not understand Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question. Then I surmised that John had left out a transition sentence, that the Jews had brought Jesus to Pilate with the charge that Jesus was declaring Himself to be a King. So if prior to verse 33 we put in that accusation, then Jesus’ reply to Pilate makes more sense.

Slava Bohu!