Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Matthew 27:32-56
Set – 2 Samuel 18; Matthew 27
Go! – 2 Samuel 18; Psalms 56; Matthew 27
Matthew 27:32-56
32 As they were walking, they found a man called Simon of Cyrene and forced him to carry the cross. 33 Eventually they came to a place called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.” 34 There they gave Him a drink—wine mixed with bitter herbs. He tasted it but refused to drink it.35 And so they had Him crucified. They divided the clothes off His back by drawing lots, 36 and they sat on the ground and watched Him hang. 37 They placed a sign over His head: “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” 38 And then they crucified two thieves next to Him, one at His right hand and one at His left hand.
39 Passersby shouted curses and blasphemies at Jesus. They wagged their heads at Him and hissed.
Passersby: 40 You’re going to destroy the temple and then rebuild it in three days? Why don’t You start with saving Yourself? Come down from the cross if You can, if You’re God’s Son.
Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders (mocking Him): 41-42 He saved others, but He can’t save Himself. If He’s really the King of Israel, then let Him climb down from the cross—then we’ll believe Him. 43 He claimed communion with God—well, let God save Him, if He’s God’s beloved Son.
44 Even the thieves hanging to His right and left poured insults upon Him. 45 And then, starting at noon, the entire land became dark. It was dark for three hours. 46 In the middle of the dark afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice.
Jesus: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani—My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Bystanders: 47 He’s calling on Elijah.
48 One bystander grabbed a sponge, steeped it in vinegar, stuck it on a reed, and gave Jesus the vinegar to drink.
Others: 49 We’ll see—we’ll see if Elijah is going to come and rescue Him.
50 And then Jesus cried out once more, loudly, and then He breathed His last breath. 51 At that instant, the temple curtain was torn in half, from top to bottom. The earth shook; rocks split in two; 52 tombs burst open, and bodies of many sleeping holy women and men were raised up. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and showed themselves to people.
54 When the Centurion and soldiers who had been charged with guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw the rocks splitting and the tombs opening, they were, of course, terrified.
Soldiers: He really was God’s Son.
55 A number of women, who had been devoted to Jesus and followed Him from Galilee, were present, too, watching from a distance. 56 Mary Magdalene was there, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
“Good Friday.” Good for all humankind. But what a horrible day for Me. I gave up all the glory of heaven and walked with you for 33 years. I tried to teach you My ways. I tried to show you My love and guide you to a life based on a right relationship with Me. But I was misunderstood by so many, even those who were suppose to teach you about My love.
All around Me rules and regulations became substitutes for love. You had to follow this law or that rule. You couldn’t do this activity on the Sabbath or perform that act for your fellowman because he was from another country. My love for all of humankind got lost somewhere and when I tried to show you what it was like, I was rejected by those who should know best.
After thirty years in the flesh, when My formal teaching ministry began, I knew what the end result would be. I knew the only way to bring salvation to humankind was to become the sacrifice for you. I understood My mission, but I didn’t want to go through it. The human part of Me didn’t want the suffering. Not so much the pain of the cross, though, that was torturous. That pain lasted only a short time.
The most dreadful suffering came from knowing I would bear the sins of the world on My shoulders. Knowing I must become the sacrifice to atone for all the evil ever committed by all humankind throughout history, past and future. I knew the load. I saw the evil. I felt the crush of the burden. I understood the isolation from the Father, separating Myself from Myself.
You cannot understand the agony of God sacrificing God for humankind. Touching evil with an absolutely holy and pure being. You cannot understand it because all of you are born with the sinful nature passed through the seed of Adam. I did not inherit his seed. I was born pure and righteous, born of God. I am God from the beginning of time. And to touch the evil of men and women on the cross was pure agony.
I could not allow My Father to rescue Me, though. I had to remain. I had to die. I had to become the perfect, unblemished sacrifice so you could be justified. It was the only way. It fulfilled the plan put in place so many centuries before. I wanted you to learn love, but you could only learn it through My demonstrated love despite your hate. I paid your price. I was your sacrifice. All you need to do is believe. Accept My gift to you. Follow Me. Don’t let My sacrifice be in vain.
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