Day Nineteen

Reflect

Today the walk up Calvary begins and it is important to prepare for God's voice. Contemplating the cross can be emotional, spiritual and even physical. Ask God to help you focus, letting other cares dissipate in light of the love you will see. Be quiet in His presence for a few minutes.

Read the following prayer (taken from The Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church), offering each phrase from your own heart to the Lord for this time.

Forbid O God, that we should forget, amid our earthly comforts, the pains and mortal anguish that our Lord Jesus endured for our salvation. Grant us this day a true vision of all that He suffered, in His betrayal, His lonely agony, His false trial, His mocking and scourging, and the torture of death upon the cross. As Thou hast given Thyself utterly for us, may we give ourselves entirely to Thee, O Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior. Amen.

Read

A sudden hush falls over the courtyard as Pilate enters with his entourage. The prisoner, sickly and silent, stares blankly at the ground. Rivulets of blood from the thorny wreath drip down his face and there are new bruises where the soldiers hit him with reeds.

Pilate shakes his head in disgust. The centurion in charge, only slightly embarrassed at his men's crass behavior, strips Jesus of the cloak used to mock him moments ago. Seeing Pilate's anger, he quickly barks orders for his men to bring the other prisoners out and prepare for the crucifixions.

Just then, three soldiers enter the courtyard, each carrying a wooden plank. Weighing almost 100 pounds and measuring six feet long, the beams are an ominous reminder that Rome's most grueling form of execution will soon take place.

Can Jesus even lift his head? The effects of the scourging alone could claim his life here in the courtyard. What strength of will is required for him to fight these throes of death? Given the horror of the price yet to be paid, what keeps him from letting go and embracing the end right now?

The men move to place the heavy beam across Jesus' left shoulder. Bringing his arms up around it, they tie each hand to the wood so it cannot drop it on the road to Golgotha. The massive weight against the open wounds on his back cause him to hunch over in anguish. Each attempt to straighten back up brings even greater pain as the rough wood rubs into his raw flesh. How much more can one body take?

The centurion in charge motions to the soldiers. Jesus, pushed to the front and flanked on all sides by officers of the Roman army, moves through the arches of the palace courtyard and into the street. Several priests and elders wait to accompany the procession. Families line the narrow road that will take the prisoner away from town to the foot of Golgotha.

Jesus’ eyes blink in the glaring sun as he tries to survey the streets of Jerusalem one last time. In the marketplace, men and women conduct the business of life, and boys and girls play merrily as if it were any other day. The journey that began in the heart of his Father before the foundation of the earth, has only 650 yards to go. Yet for this one whose broken body screams in pain with every step, it spans an eternity of torment whose end cannot even be fathomed.

Respond

Sit very still, listening the sounds of Jerusalem -- the busy marketplace, the hustle and bustle of ordinary life. Hear the sounds of your own world today -- phones, traffic, radios, TV's, talking, laughing etc. Now, in your mind, freeze frame these two scenes side by side. In the middle of them, see Jesus, beaten, barely able to move, bent under the weight of the crossbeam. Sense the significance of a world that goes on, oblivious to the reality of a living sacrifice being led to the slaughter on their behalf.

Consider the days of your own life when you are unaware, insensitive to Christ's journey to the Cross, to the extreme price He paid for you . . . for you. Contemplate the kind of love that gives and gives, even in the face of apparent indifference. Respond with worship, tears, repentance, rejoicing -- whatever God places in your heart.

Write a prayer beginning with these words: Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary, while I . . .

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary, while I make beds and drive carpools. You bleed, wounds festering, body failing, while I pay bills and play tennis. You trudge along, one lonely step after another while I make phone calls and go shopping. Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary for me -- grant that this thought will crash through my callous oblivion, piercing my busyness with pangs of broken-hearted love.



MAKING THE PASSION PERSONAL A Journey with Jesus to the Cross and Beyond by Tricia McCary Rhodes DAY NINETEEN -- Led Away *At the head of the procession of life, then, is a thorn-crowned Man, his pains healing our pains, his wounds answering our wounds, his love taking our sin.* Earl Stanley Jones Reflect Today the walk up Calvary begins and it is important to prepare for God's voice. Contemplating the cross can be emotional, spiritual and even physical. Ask God to help you focus, letting other cares dissipate in light of the love you will see. Be quiet in His presence for a few minutes. Read the following prayer (taken from The Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church), offering each phrase from your own heart to the Lord for this time. Forbid O God, that we should forget, amid our earthly comforts, the pains and mortal anguish that our Lord Jesus endured for our salvation. Grant us this day a true vision of all that He suffered, in His betrayal, His lonely agony, His false trial, His mocking and scourging, and the torture of death upon the cross. As Thou hast given Thyself utterly for us, may we give ourselves entirely to Thee, O Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior. Amen. Read And they led Him out to crucify Him. Mark 15:20 A sudden hush falls over the courtyard as Pilate enters with his entourage. The prisoner, sickly and silent, stares blankly at the ground. Rivulets of blood from the thorny wreath drip down his face and there are new bruises where the soldiers hit him with reeds. Pilate shakes his head in disgust. The centurion in charge, only slightly embarrassed at his men's crass behavior, strips Jesus of the cloak used to mock him moments ago. Seeing Pilate's anger, he quickly barks orders for his men to bring the other prisoners out and prepare for the crucifixions. Just then, three soldiers enter the courtyard, each carrying a wooden plank. Weighing almost 100 pounds and measuring six feet long, the beams are an ominous reminder that Rome's most grueling form of execution will soon take place. Can Jesus even lift his head? The effects of the scourging alone could claim his life here in the courtyard. What strength of will is required for him to fight these throes of death? Given the horror of the price yet to be paid, what keeps him from letting go and embracing the end right now? The men move to place the heavy beam across Jesus' left shoulder. Bringing his arms up around it, they tie each hand to the wood so it cannot drop it on the road to Golgotha. The massive weight against the open wounds on his back cause him to hunch over in anguish. Each attempt to straighten back up brings even greater pain as the rough wood rubs into his raw flesh. How much more can one body take? The centurion in charge motions to the soldiers. Jesus, pushed to the front and flanked on all sides by officers of the Roman army, moves through the arches of the palace courtyard and into the street. Several priests and elders wait to accompany the procession. Families line the narrow road that will take the prisoner away from town to the foot of Golgotha. Jesus’ eyes blink in the glaring sun as he tries to survey the streets of Jerusalem one last time. In the marketplace, men and women conduct the business of life, and boys and girls play merrily as if it were any other day. The journey that began in the heart of his Father before the foundation of the earth, has only 650 yards to go. Yet for this one whose broken body screams in pain with every step, it spans an eternity of torment whose end cannot even be fathomed. Respond Sit very still, listening the sounds of Jerusalem -- the busy marketplace, the hustle and bustle of ordinary life. Hear the sounds of your own world today -- phones, traffic, radios, TV's, talking, laughing etc. Now, in your mind, freeze frame these two scenes side by side. In the middle of them, see Jesus, beaten, barely able to move, bent under the weight of the crossbeam. Sense the significance of a world that goes on, oblivious to the reality of a living sacrifice being led to the slaughter on their behalf. Consider the days of your own life when you are unaware, insensitive to Christ's journey to the Cross, to the extreme price He paid for you . . . for you. Contemplate the kind of love that gives and gives, even in the face of apparent indifference. Respond with worship, tears, repentance, rejoicing -- whatever God places in your heart. Write a prayer beginning with these words: Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary, while I . . . A Prayer Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary, while I make beds and drive carpools. You bleed, wounds festering, body failing, while I pay bills and play tennis. You trudge along, one lonely step after another while I make phone calls and go shopping. Lord Jesus, you walk today and everyday to Calvary for me -- grant that this thought will crash through my callous oblivion, piercing my busyness with pangs of broken-hearted love. << Back to the Daily Devotionals, Home or Unsubscribe Copyright © 2004 Tricia McCary Rhodes