Were You There When They Nailed Him to the Cross?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, You hung on the cross in agony—for me—for my family, my friends…and for all of mankind. I humbly offer You, thank you. You were the sacrificial lamb for us all. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Your sacrifice is the only way for us to ever be able to stand before our holy God. I humbly offer You, thank you.  Your obedience to the plan that God the Father had is amazing. I humbly offer You, thank you.

Modern-day - Place of the Skull - Golgotha
Jerusalem, Israel
🕇🕇🕇
Imagine the crosses at the top of the hill.

Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, [Golgotha]). There they nailed Him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." … Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. ... Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus' body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:17-19, 28-30, 38-42

 

Meditate. Consider the cross. What was its significance for Jesus? What does it represent to you?

 

If you had lived at the time of Jesus, would you have believed in Him as your Messiah? Would you have gone to Golgotha to see Him nailed to the cross, then hanging there and dying on the cross? It is finished. Would you have helped wrap Him in linen cloth and carry Him to the tomb? Even now…were you there? Did a part of you die with Jesus on the cross?

 

Verses of Salvation ~ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

We can’t live on bread alone. Jesus declared that He was the Bread of Life.

Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Humble yourself. How can you even consider eating at a time like this? Jesus, the Savior of the World, has just been crucified. Crucified for your sins. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) but Jesus Christ in His obedient mercy allowed Himself to be sacrificed for our sins. He loved us enough to go to the cross—to die—so that our sins could be eternally forgiven. Because of Him, we will one day be able to stand before the holy God, spotless and pure—just as Jesus Himself. So, for today—eat only of the spiritual bread that Jesus provides—for He is the Bread of Life. He is the Word of God. Feast on the Bread of Life—and share the magnificent Word of God with others.

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories