Heavenly Father, my heart grieves within me when I think of Jesus being mocked, spat upon, and tortured before His death on the Cross. To imagine my precious Saviour in this state, willingly allowing them to treat Him this way, gives me a glimpse of His unfathomable love for me. Thank You, Father, that You gave Your only begotten Son to take the punishment that I deserve, dying on the Cross to pay the price for my sin, and thank You that He rose the third day so that by faith in Him I may be made the righteousness of God. May I never become so familiar with the horror of Christ’s suffering and death that I forget that it was the terrible consequences of my sin that caused Jesus to stretch out His arms of love for me on Calvary's Cross. Lord, I thank You, and I love You, AMEN.
Heavenly Father, what a dark side of human nature is shown by this description of people casting lots for Jesus' clothes. Thank You that even here, prophecy is being fulfilled as the words of Psalm 22 echo in my mind. Thank You for Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross so that all who believe on Him, including those at the Cross casting lots for His clothes, might be saved. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.
Father God, forgive me for my lack of understanding of all that it meant for Christ to suffer on the Cross for me. Thank You that He chose to remain nailed to the Cross and to pay the price for my sin so that I might live eternally. Praise His holy name, AMEN.
Heavenly Father, when I consider the enormity of what Christ did for me at Calvary, I cannot begin to comprehend what it meant for Him to be separated from You as He took the full force of Your justified wrath upon Himself, on account of my sin, and bore the full weight of my transgressions and guilt upon His sinless shoulders. My heart is unfeignedly thankful and I pray that I show forth my thanks and love, not only with my lips but in my life, by presenting my body as a living sacrifice unto You and giving myself up to Your service. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Loving Father, as I reflect on the awesome scene that took place when the Lord Jesus suffered and died for me, I bless Your name for revealing to me the gospel of grace and for drawing me into Your family as Your child. May I never become so 'familiar' with this scene that I forget its true significance. I worship before Your throne and praise Your holy name, for You truly are my most wonderful Saviour and I love You. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the encouragement we receive from the courageous actions of Joseph of Arimathea and his friend Nicodemus, who were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but fulfilled Your plans and purposes by boldly asking to take Christ's lifeless body for burial in a prepared tomb. Thank You that there is no-one excluded from Your gift of salvation - from the thief on the cross to these two members of the immoral Sanhedrin who believed God's Word and fulfilled Scriptures by their actions. I pray that I may live the rest of my life to Your praise and glory and that I finish the work You have prepared for me to do. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.