Wednesday: THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

Apr 5, 2023
2 min read

John 19:16-18,28-30

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus didn’t die alone. He was crucified between two common thieves. Each had an equal opportunity at the end of his life to confess Jesus as his Savior. One accepted Jesus, and the other rejected Him. I’m fairly certain I know where each ended up.

Jesus declared “It is finished.” Translated from the original language, this also indicated, “the debt is paid.” Jesus was sent to earth for this purpose—God in the flesh came to earth to reconcile man to Himself.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: In the midst of their personal crises, the two thieves had an equal chance to accept Him, yet only one did so. One saw Jesus as a defeated man and insulted Him; the other saw Jesus as an eternal King and praised Him.

The thieves were sinners, yet Jesus never sinned. Am I different than the thieves? I also am a sinner. Just like the thieves, I need a Savior. Only the Messiah can save me from my sin.

Today, through all my worrying and suffering, I need hope. That hope is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who died for me, so I could have eternal life with Him. Praise God—Jesus paid the debt for my sin!

Lord, throughout my crisis, I accept You as my Eternal King. I don’t want to insult You by choosing to worry. By worrying, doubt reigns in my heart. By my accepting You, I choose to rejoice! Amen!

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman