April 17, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus is Crucified
Scripture: Matthew 27:32-44(NIV)
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Devotional
Here is a compilation of the crucifixion from the four gospels (Matthew 26, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). Reflect on what Jesus did for you.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out. They met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. They divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Poem
Fear, Trust, Praise
Psalm 56
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56: 3-4
Change fear to trust, then trust to praise
Despite all that surrounds me
You lift my head, my eyes do raise
For You are there above me
Despite the twists and tears of grief
Despite how all assail me
Turn fear to trust, trust to belief
For You are there beside me
And when sin crouches at my door
Its lion’s jaws devouring
My fear must trust, my lips must praise
Instead of hidden cowering
Collect my tears, record my cries
Receive this humble measure
Of fear, then trust; of trust, then praise
For You alone, my Treasure
