Slices
Prepare
On this Good Friday ask God to speak to you in a fresh way as you read the familiar story of Jesus on the cross.
Bible passage
The crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!” 30 Then
‘“they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’”
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’
42 Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
43 Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
Explore
We’re taught from early childhood that our words matter. But what comes out of our mouths has its origin elsewhere. Earlier in his Gospel, Luke shows Jesus teaching about the link between our mouth and our heart: ‘For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Luke 6:45). Here, the cruelty of the previous hours continues as Jesus is mocked and insulted. Until now Jesus has offered few words, often remaining silent to the frustration of those trying to send him to his death. Now, though, as we arrive at the most painful moment of Jesus’ life on earth, Jesus does speak – and his heart is revealed.
He first summons energy to speak to the women mourning for him (vs 28–30). It is men who have dominated this story, and yet it is women that Jesus first addresses on his way to the cross. He then speaks to God the Father, asking him to forgive his persecutors (v 34), before granting the gift of eternal life to the repentant criminal (v 43).
Giving dignity to women, asking forgiveness of his killers and promising eternal life to a convicted criminal: these are the priorities of Jesus’ heart, which are spoken by his mouth at his greatest time of trial.
Respond
Take time today to reflect on the state of your own heart. Do your words reveal a heart in need of God’s care and correction?
Deeper Bible study
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’1
Crucifixion was a very barbaric form of death, used by the Romans for slaves and those who rebelled against the Roman authorities. Thousands of criminals were put to death on the cross, and this sight would have been familiar to many in the first century. When Jesus invited his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him,2 the idea must have been shocking to them. Apart from the gruesome imagery, many Jews would have been offended. It would have been an abhorrent sight to see someone die hanging naked on the cross.
It was therefore unsurprising that many mocked Jesus when he was dying on the cross. The religious leaders, the soldiers and one of the criminals next to Jesus threw sarcastic comments at him (vs 32–39). Who would have believed that this was God’s only Son, so helpless and powerless on the cross, dying for the sins of the world? Yet, two unlikely individuals who witnessed all the mocking and suffering of Jesus recognised the significance of the crucifixion of Jesus. One of the criminals believed Jesus to be innocent (v 41). Another person, a Gentile centurion, saw the death of Jesus and uttered, ‘Surely this was a righteous man’ (v 47).
The cross remains repulsive today. In many parts of Asia where Christians are a minority, believers are persecuted and churches are attacked. Some churches cannot even erect a cross on their buildings. What about us? What do we see when we look at the cross? Do we see the death of Jesus for our sins? May we be like the thief and the Gentile centurion, who saw Jesus, the Son of God, and believed in him.
Almighty God, grant that in following the example of humility and obedience of Jesus, we may deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him daily.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 16–19; Romans 14
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Local Mission Partner FACCTS in Fleet as they plan to run a Youth Alpha Course through the summer term. Pray that many children from the CUs that they have been running will come with their friends to meet Jesus and to join a church youth group.
