After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. ~ John 19:38-42

Although Jesus had told His disciples over and over again that He would rise after three days, they still didn’t understand it. Now He was dead and buried, and they thought it was the end. Saturday would have been a terribly sad day for those who loved Jesus. Not only were they mourning the loss of a dearly beloved friend, but also their beliefs were shattered. Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah they thought He was. Otherwise He wouldn’t have died such an humiliating and painful death. Unlike us, they didn’t know the ending of the story.

Lord God, thank You that I know the end of the story, but help me to put myself in the place of the disciples who were in despair after Jesus was placed in the tomb. Let me feel the grief and pain of Saturday so I can more fully experience the joy of Sunday. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. ~ John 19: 30

When Jesus gave up His spirit, not only was His physical life finished (at least temporarily), but His mission was finished. He had accomplished His purpose by carrying our sins and dying for them, paying the penalty that we should have paid. Previously, animals had been sacrificed regularly for atonement, but Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself paid the penalty once and for all. It is finished.

Lord God, thank You that my sin is finished. Jesus paid the penalty, and I am no longer guilty in Your eyes. I am truly sorry for all I have done that I shouldn’t and all that I haven’t done that should. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to live the way You want me to live. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. ~ John 19:25-27

Jesus hung on the cross, bleeding, gasping for breath, throbbing with pain, dying, separated from the love of the Father. Yet He looked down from the cross and gave His mother into the keeping of His beloved disciple John. Mary had other sons who would have been expected to care for her, and Jesus could have arranged for His mother’s care long before His Crucifixion. His words, one of only seven times He spoke from the cross, must have meaning for His followers. Earlier Jesus had said that those who follow Him are His family. As He died, He put His mother into the hands of a disciple, making them—and all His followers, the Church—a spiritual family.

Heavenly Father, thank You for both my physical family and my spiritual family—the Church. Help me to live in love and fellowship with my spiritual brothers and sisters. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise. ~ Luke 23:33-43

The crowd mocks Jesus, taunting Him that He can’t save Himself. Yet Jesus doesn’t tell them that He could call in all the angels of Heaven to save Him. He doesn’t tell them He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He doesn’t defend Himself or throw their words back at them. Instead, He prays to the Father to forgive them! He was becoming sin for the very people who were killing Him. And if they, like the criminal, repented, their sins would be washed away in the precious Blood pouring from the cross.

Father, forgive me for I know not what I do. Jesus died for my sins. The crowd at the cross who called for His death are no guiltier than I am, for my sins put Him on the cross. What an amazing love! Give me a grateful heart and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to live for His. In His name. Amen.

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Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. ~ Matthew 27:27-31

The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus with a crown of thorns. If they only knew! He was entitled to a crown of glory as the Ruler of the Universe, King of All Creation, yet they didn’t believe He was King of Jews. Do we recognize Jesus for Who He is? Do we worship Him as Lord of lords and King of kings? Do we put Him first in our lives?

Lord God, I know Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Forgive me for sometimes putting other things first in my life. Turn my heart to love You above all. In His name. Amen.

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But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” ~ John 19:9-11

When we are dissatisfied with our national leaders, which seems to be more often than not, we tend to forget that they would not be in power if God did not allow it. Like He did with Pilate, God may allow evil or spineless men to have power that He uses for His own good purposes. We blame Pilate for being such a weak leader that he yielded to the wishes of the mob even though he found no fault with Jesus. Yet that was all part of God’s plan for the redemption of the world. God is sovereign!

Lord God, thank You that You are in control of the world and that You work all things to good to those who love You. You used Pilate to fulfill Your plan of redemption; Pilate thought he was the one with authority and power, but it all came from You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” ~ John 12:13

Today Jesus was hailed as king. Today He made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the people crying out Hosanna! Today He had a brief moment of honor and glory, but when He comes again He will come in glory and majesty and every knee shall bow!

Lord God, hosanna to the King! May I always honor Jesus and hail Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. In His name. Amen.

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Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. ~ John 18:35-38

Like so many others, Pilate couldn’t imagine a king with a kingdom not of this world. Jesus told Pilate He is the King of a Kingdom “not of this realm,” and Pilate didn’t know how to respond. Jesus’ eternal Kingdom is coming, and we will face judgment. We don’t know when that will happen, but whenever it is, we must be ready. If we are believers, we will rule with Him in His kingdom not of this realm.

Lord God, help me to remember always that Jesus’ Kingdom is coming. Let me be ready for that great day. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. ~ Luke 22:41-44

Even Jesus, who loved us so much He took our sin upon Himself to save us, questioned God, asking if the cup—the suffering He was to undergo—could be taken from Him. But unlike most of us sinful humans, He went on to pray that not His will, but the will of the Father, be done. The Father did not remove the cup from Jesus, but He sent an angel to strengthen Him for the coming ordeal. We may not see angels from heaven when we do God’s will, but He does strengthen us for whatever suffering we have to experience.

Father, forgive me for desiring my will instead of Your will. Strengthen my will to be like Yours, and strengthen my body, soul, and spirit to undergo whatever I have to undergo to fulfill Your will. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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