Evading Responsibility

This scene is filled with tension. Jesus has been brought to Pilate for sentencing since the Jewish leaders could not pronounce the death penalty. Pilate is curious because this message from his wife that she has had a dream and urges him to absolve himself from this case because the prisoner is an innocent men (19).Pilate has come to this conclusion himself and has tried to substitute another prisoner Barabbas but the leaders will have none of this.

The Meaning of The Cross

When I see someone wearing a cross, I occasionally ask them what it means. Some respond that it is a nice piece of jewellery while for others it is a good luck charm that will protect them from harm and danger. Others are closer to the truth when they explain that it means Christ died for their sins. In this passage Jesus is nailed to the cross and subjected to humiliation and ridicule.

Read More weakness, the cross, suffering, power

Abandoned

In verse 46, Jesus cries out that he has been abandoned by God. He is giving voice to more than his feelings. He is expressing an actual fact. A child made feel abandoned by his or her parents in a mall when the parent is actually close at hand. The abandonment that Jesus expresses is real because he bears the sins of the world and is forsaken by the Father. He is forsaken so that we never have to be forsaken (Heb 13:5).

An Honourable Burial

The death and burial of Princess Diana caused great controversy among the British people and members of the royal family. Although she was in some disfavour in the royal family she was in the end given a funeral and burial that were worthy of any royalty. Jesus was looked upon by Jewish leaders and Roman officials as a heretic and a common criminal but in the providence of God, he was given a burial that was worthy of his status as the Son of God.

Read More resurrection, support, evidence

The Great Cover-Up

People will go to great lengths to avoid the truth. The truth may be personal, as when someone points out a character flaw in us and we invent a score of reasons as to why the issue we have been confronted with is not valid. Perhaps it is a criticism of one of our children and we are incensed at what has been said even though deep down we know there is some truth in the evaluation.

Forgiveness Is the First Word

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong”, a great man once said. Jesus first word from the cross is recorded in this passage and it is a word of forgiveness (34).Forgiveness must be the first word for us as well in that we need to receive it and we need to extend it. We need to receive it because we cannot begin our spiritual journey without embracing the promise of Christ.

A Memorable Journey

Many of us can think back to a special vacation that involves moving through some spectacular scenery, perhaps accompanied by some good friends. These experiences are planted in our minds for years to come and we continue to go back and cherish these memories. In the passage for today, we find a couple travelling on the road to their home in the tiny village of Emmaus and an unknown traveller comes and walks along with them.

The First Family

Jesus addresses both his mother Mary and the beloved disciple who is most likely John. John may have been a cousin of Jesus but the family pictured here is a new family, brought about through the death and resurrection of Christ. As a member of this new family, Jesus makes provision for the care of Mary. This is not a momentary thing to help Mary through her grief and time of loss with the death of her son.

Evaluating the Evidence

The scene before us pictures three people coming to the empty tomb and seeing the evidence but each one coming to a different conclusion. There is a progression here from an erroneous conclusion in the first case to genuine belief in the third. Mary comes first to the scene and notices that the stone has been rolled away but does not enter the tomb.

Weep No More

Weeping is part of life, common to all of us. We shed tears when a loved one or friend passes away. We may cry when we take our youngest child to kindergarten on the first day of school. We feel sad when we say farewell to a close friend that we will not see again for some time. Weeping is often an appropriate response to the difficulties and separations we experience in life.