SCRIPTURE: Luke 23 

KEY POINTS TO PONDER: Imagine the author Luke walking around, meeting people in Jerusalem, and collecting their stories and facts. Now think what it must have been like when they began to explain this part of the story, how they were the very ones who put Jesus to death. Maybe some tried to express their great guilt at what happened by saying something like, “I can’t believe I took part in putting that innocent man to death!” Others may have tried to make excuses saying, “Well I was just following the crowd, I didn’t know they wanted to crucify him.” Even some may have approved the decision, “That Jesus guy? Yeah, he deserved it.” Whatever kinds of opinions Luke faced, one thing is for sure. All of us have a response to make to the death of Jesus. It was all of us, not just those who were there at the time, who put Jesus on the cross. He died for our sins. It can be scary to own up to this truth, but if we deny the consequences of our sin, we will lose out on the amazing love Christ has for us! He died because he wanted to save each of us, even as it was our own actions that led him to death. In the face of our great sin there stands an even greater grace, a grace that went to the cross for us. 

CHALLENGING TERMS: The darkness that is explained to have gone over the land in verses 44-45 appeared from around noon till 3pm. Some scholars believe it to have represented lament and divine judgement. The curtain of the temple was an insanely huge and thick curtain (about 4 inches in thickness), and it separated the Most Holy Place (a place where God’s presence dwelt) from the rest of the temple. It’s tearing represented the barrier between God and man (sin) being defeated. 

REFLECTION: How does knowing Jesus was crucified for your sin make you feel? What might change with knowing this was an act of grace and love towards you? 

PRAYER: Father, we have sinned against you and we can never repay our debt. Thank you that, in your amazing love and grace, you sent Jesus to pay our debt so we can be free from sin. Father, I pray you would increase my understanding of my sin as well as your love for me.