Day 315 – Jesus’ Suffering

Readings

  • Mark 15:20-36
  • John 19:23-37
  • Psalm 22

Prayer

Pray… that today’s stories of prophecy coming true will give you encouragement and renewed trust in the words we’re reading together.

Day 315 – Jesus’ Suffering

Various prophecies of the cross (My God, I thirst, Garments divided, Pierced)”

I’d highly encourage you to read Isaiah 53 again too, as part of today’s readings. Because it’s awesome (and also because we’ll reference it!)

 

  • It’s been some time since we went to Mark to take up the narrative of the crucifixion, so we’re making that right today. Much of what we read in his account recaps that which we’ve read before, but reading it again helps to give this event the focus it deserves.
  • Crucifixion was a Roman execution method. It was so cruel that it was reserved only for slaves and the worst criminals, and was rarely administered on Roman citizens. Large nails were driven through the hands and heel. Generally death came through asphyxiation (you become so tired from keeping yourself up that you slumped down and couldn’t pull yourself up to breathe). If a man took too long to die, the legs would usually be broken to speed up death. It would have been agony.
  • Today’s focal point is the many prophecies that came true as Jesus died. The readings focus on specific events, words and actions, and we’ll look at these together, but don’t forget, of course, that this event was planned by God from the beginning. Jesus’ death was no “plan B”. There’s a good reason the bible has such clear prophecy about Jesus!
  • People who were crucified would have their “charge” written on a board above their heads. What was Jesus’ “charge”?
  • Psalm 22 was written by David, and points to Jesus in ways, such as the fact that the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing. Jesus quotes the psalm himself in Mark 15:34 when he says “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). It reveals the deep feeling of abandonment by His Father as He bore the sins of mankind. Why do you think Jesus said these words?
  • What other references to Jesus can you see in Psalm 22? Good examples are verses 7-8, 12-13, 15, 16 and 24. Work through these one by one.
  • Isaiah 53 isn’t part of today’s reading plan, but it, too, prophecied the events of Jesus’  death. The entire chapter screams His name. Read it thoughtfully before you go to bed tonight, and think on it for a while.

 

In today’s subheading, we read about four prophecies – “my God”, “I thirst”, “garments divided” and “pierced”. Could you now explain all these different references, where they came from in the Old Testament and how they relate to Jesus on the cross? If the notes you have made in your journal don’t help you to understand them, make sure you spend a moment to be clear.

 

I hope that, despite the agony of what Jesus must have been feeling, you can gain much encouragement as a Christian from these verses of biblical unity. Can you think of any other instances in the Old Testament which have pointed to, or been fulfilled in, Jesus? We’ve talked about many this year!

 

As you finish your readings, don’t be ambivalent about the events you’re reading about, despite how familiar they are. Remember why Jesus suffered for you. What actions in your life have sent Jesus to the cross for you? What, in His pain on the cross (and even more in His death to come), was Jesus suffering in your place for? Those are not nice questions to ask yourself, but do think about them. It’s important to help set your relationship with Jesus to understand what He has done for you.


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