As I think of His nail-pierced hands and the scars He stillbears, as I ponder His kindness toward me, I have but one answer: itdoes not matter if the sacrifice is great or small-Jesus is worth it all. - P51
Jesus, You are the Lamb of God who takes away my sin. Thank you for payingthe penalty and justifying me with the blood You shed on the cross. May I livefor Your glory forever! In Your name, amen. - P51
41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of thelaw and the elders mocked him. 42 "He saved others,"
they said, "but he can‘t save himself! He‘s the king ofIsrael! Let him come down now from the cross, andwe will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let Godrescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am theSon of God." - P52
46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loudvoice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "MyGod, my God, why have you forsaken me?"), - P53
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was tornin two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rockssplit 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of manyholy people who had died were raised to life.
53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus‘ resurrec-tion and went into the holy city and appeared to manypeople. - P53
Jesus is crucified and His clothes are divided up by casting lots. People insultand mock Him. - P53
There is darkness from noon until three. Then, Jesus cries outto God and gives up His spirit. The curtain of the temple is torn in two, theearth shakes, and many holy people who died are raised to life. - P53
As He hangs on the cross, Jesus not only suffers physical agony but alsobitter humiliation. - P54
The soldiers gamble His clothes away and hang amocking sign above Him, and the passersby heap insults and tauntsupon Him. - P54
Even the scoundrels who are crucified alongside Him joinin the chorus of hateful jeers. - P54
Ironically, the mocking words directed atJesus are all true: He is the King of the Jews and the Son of God; He cansave Himself and others; and God will rescue Him. - P54
The fulfillment ofall these words will come to pass in their proper time, but, for now,
Jesus‘ task is to endure suffering. - P54
On the cross, He willingly and publiclybears our guilt and shame. - P54
The reality of Jesus bearing God‘s wrath reaches a climax when Herepeats David‘s anguished prayer from Psalm 22. - P54
As Jesus breathes Hislast, the curtain of the temple is torn in two and the earth is literallyshaken. It is a sign that the sacrificial system of the old covenant is nowcompleted, fulfilled, and forever obsolete, for Jesus has paid the once-for-all sacrifice for sins. - P54
The life-giving impact of
Christ‘s atonement isso powerful that it causes lifeless bodies to rise-a small taste of the finalresurrection promised to those who put their trust in Him. - P54
Let us neverlook to any sacrifice or good deed to make us right with God. Jesuscompleted that work for us on the cross-it is finished! - P54
Lord Jesus, thank you enduring the taunts, torture, and shame of the cross.
- P55
Help me to live in constant gratefulness for what You have done for me andempower me to share this good news with those around me. In Your name,amen. - P55
|