It was the night before Easter Sunday six years ago. Amy went out to get me medicine to calm my flu. As she left for the store, I held Asa (just a few months old) in my arms. I arched my Body away from his face as far as possible and kept my head turned away, standing in a dark, silent room. Though Amy was gone for minutes, it felt like countless hours. My side began to ache, and that ache turned into a sharp, piercing pain. And then something happened...I felt the Spirit of Christ come over me in waves and I realized that He gave me the precious gift -- that pain in my side -- and I had the honor of feeling a modicum of His experience on the Cross.

Yet so often I forget and Calvary fades.

Lord, let me be like Simon of Cyrene, willing to carry your cross...seize me if need be. Lord, give me the humble heart of the criminal on the cross as I earnestly say, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom”. Lord, like the centurion, let me praise God and let me meditate and celebrate your perfect innocence and endurance in running the race to save my soul. Let me be like Joseph, Lord, in understanding how sacred your body was by protecting the bodies of others by feeding them and working to give them bread on earth, and from Heaven (and in doing so honoring your work). And, Lord, like the women who prepared your body, let me work with reverence and then encourage me to rest, reflect, and be refreshed anew to do your will every day.

Lord, as I read this passage, spark in me the deep desire to remember you this coming Sunday, and to offer my hands and my feet in the coming weeks and months.

What a beautiful account we read this morning. Praise our King.

[Luke 23.26-56]

The Crucifixion

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ In vv. 39-42, both of these men believed in Christ to some degree. What strikes you about their response. Do you see yourself at times in either or both of them?

+ In v. 47, the centurion praised God and it seems to be connected to Jesus’ “innocence”. Why do you think the centurion’s declaration/realization of innocence was connected to his praise?

+ Place yourself in v. 49. Close your eyes. What feelings would you be feeling if you were among these people?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ What does it mean to carry Jesus’ cross? Are you willing?

+ When you read v. 49 and closed your eyes, understand you can do that today. You can go to areas of Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Baltimore -- all over -- and see oppression and suffering vested upon people of many shapes, sizes, and colors. When we feed, rescue, and protect them, we feed Christ (Matthew 25.45) and honor the Cross of our own rescue and salvation.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ In vv. 27-31, Jesus laments the coming fall of Jerusalem. If the Romans would do this to a man young, vibrant and blameless (greenwood), how much more would spiritually dry Jerusalem (old wood) be led to the slaughter? We love to see Jesus’ love for His people and His concern for their suffering despite the suffering He was enduring. Christ our model.