Slices
Prepare
On this Maundy Thursday, we prepare ourselves to reflect again on the moment of crucifixion. Ask the Spirit to give you fresh eyes to see and understand what happened at the cross, and to grasp its implications for your life.
Bible passage
The soldiers mock Jesus
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers round him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. 30 They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’ 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, “I am the Son of God.”’ 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Explore
The Roman soldiers show no pity on Jesus as he is handed over to them (vs 27–31). They dress him up as a king, taunting the humble Galilean for his royal pretensions. He is so weak, the soldiers have to compel Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross (v 32). On arrival at Golgotha, they offer a drink and crucify him, stealing his garments and settling down to watch him die (v 36).
Crucified alongside two rebels, rightly being put to death for their crimes, even as Jesus dies, passers-by hurl insults at him, telling him to come down from the cross if he is the Son of God, and their mockery is added to by the religious leaders (vs 39–44). His physical suffering is immense, crucifixion being one of the cruellest ways to punish the guilty, but Jesus dies as an innocent man, wrongly accused and unjustly sentenced. It is a great miscarriage of justice.
Yet there is more at work here than human cruelty and malevolence. Jesus is dying, the just for the unjust, by his death making atonement for the sins of the world. That is why he cannot come down from the cross.
Respond
Pray: ‘Lord, I thank you for your obedience to the Father in going to the cross, and for your love for me in taking away my sins. Help me to live with the gratitude of one who appreciates the price of their salvation.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 4,5; Romans 10
Pray for Scripture Union
The Bake Off and Create holiday takes place next week. Pray for the team and guests as they come together to create amazing craft and fantastic cakes; pray that they will learn much about Jesus and respond to him.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
