Study with our Daily Devotions Early in the Morning

FRIDAY, 14 APRIL 2023

TEXT: Mark 15:16-32

16: The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.

17: They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

18: And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

19: Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

20: And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21: A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

22: They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).

23: Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

24: And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25: It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

26: The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.

27: They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.

28: KJV: And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

29: Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30: come down from the cross and save yourself!”

31: In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!

32: Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: FOR ME, HE SUFFERED

These verses clearly refer back to Isaiah 53. Jesus is presented as a man of sorrow Who was despised and rejected. Willingly but silently, He accepted the pain inflicted upon Him by the soldiers.

This is best presented in the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’. Human culture and tradition reject that any man should pay the price for someone else’s sins, no matter what the relationship, because human nature teaches that everyone must bear his/her cross alone.

But Jesus overturned all these when, in our place, He stood condemned. And while we were yet sinners, He died for us so that the punishment that brought us salvation was placed on Him.

The soldiers mocked Him, just like those who passed by the cross and even the thief who was crucified by His side! If Jesus were an ordinary human being, perhaps He would have demonstrated His power to all of these people, at least for once. But He is not. That is why “For me He suffered” in order that I should receive eternal life.

QUESTION: What have you done for Jesus Christ who suffered for you?

PRAYER: I thank You, Lord Jesus, for accepting to suffer for me. I promise to serve You to the end, through the power of Your grace. Amen.