Jesus Crucified!

Luke 23: 33 : When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus was crucified at "the place that is called The Skull". The other Gospels mention that it was called Golgotha, the Greek transliteration of an Aramaic word that means "skull." We get the English word "Calvary" by way of the Latin “calvariae locum”, which also means place of the skull.

Jesus died for my sins. The death of Jesus really happened, in a real place at a real time. There the Lord of Glory suffered and died for the sins of the world - and for my own sins. I yearn to experience the truth of Jesus’ death more profoundly. The images of the Via Dolorosa invite me to follow Jesus to the cross, that I may experience deeper gratitude for the blessings I can so easily take for granted.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, how can I ever thank you for dying on the cross for me? Your death has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to my blessing. Yet I confess that I can sometimes take your death for granted, forgetting what you did for me and neglecting its significance. Forgive me, Lord. And even though I can't go to the actual place of your crucifixion, may the reality of your sacrifice presses itself upon my mind and flood my heart. All praise to you, merciful Lord, for your cross! Amen.

Jesus meets women on his way to Calvary

Luke 23:27- 28 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”

Jesus did not die as a helpless victim of Roman or Jewish injustice. He chose to die on the cross in faithfulness to the Father's will and to bear the sin of the world. If anyone is to blame for the death of Jesus, we are, because we have sinned. Thus in looking upon Jesus' death, we join the women of Jerusalem in weeping, not for Jesus, but for ourselves. In the death of Jesus we see what we deserve, and we rightly feel appalled.

Prayer: May my weeping over the suffering of Jesus be the result of my sorrow over my own sin that caused your pain. Turn it to joy when I recognize the majesty of your mercy. Amen

Simon of Cyrene helped to carry the cross

Luke 23:26: As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Jesus beckons to us, calling us to take up our cross, offering abundant life in return. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24).

Self denial and losing our lives for the sake of the cause of Christ may be the hardest call on our lives. But the truth is, it carries the most awesome promise: that I will see glorious realization with Christ in glory – and my life will be saved for all eternity.

Prayer
Dear Lord, I am also to take up the cross and follow you. I sometimes resist this call, even though I know that in dying to myself, I find true life in you. So help me, Lord, to carry my cross and to give my life away, so that I might receive the abundant life of your kingdom. Amen.

Jesus takes up the cross

For quite some time Jesus had predicted his suffering and death. The first time came right after Peter confessed him to be the Messiah. Jesus responded: "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22).

Even though the Roman soldiers led Jesus out to crucify him, they were only doing what he had said they would do.

So, though "they led him out to crucify him,"(Mark 15:20) Jesus was no passive victim. Jesus took up his cross and walked to Golgotha, because he had chosen the way of suffering. He believed this was the will of God, the way by which he would realize his messianic destiny. Jesus chose to suffer and die so that he might fulfil Isaiah's vision of the Suffering Servant of God, the one who was "despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity." As this Servant, Jesus "has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases."

Be blessed as you accept in faith that Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed". (Isaiah 53:3-5).

Prayer:
Dear Lord, you chose the cross. The Jewish leaders accused you, Pilate sentenced you and Roman soldiers led you to Golgotha. But they were simply working out what God had willed and you, Lord Jesus, had freely and painfully chosen.

How can I thank you for this costly choice? Because you took up the cross, I can take up life in all of its fullness. Because you were led to die, I can be led into the eternal life. Because you carried my sin, I can enjoy forgiveness. How good you are to me, dear Lord, my Saviour!
Amen.

Jesus crowned with thorns!

And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face - John 19:2 & 3

What cruel irony! Jesus finally received the words he deserved: "Hail, King of the Jews!"
What incomprehensible irony! Jesus, the true king of Israel, endured the pain and mockery of the crown of thorns as part of his humiliation for us and our salvation. What was the result of his torture?

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:5-11:
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because Jesus humbled himself, because he endured humiliation, including the crown of thorns, God exalted him to the highest place. For Jesus, the path to glory as King of kings included the path of disgrace. Because he wore the crown of thorns, Jesus received from his Father the crown of universal worship and adoration.

Simply page through the Bible, or newspaper, and you will see that Christians are not being dragged out of their sad circumstances in order to receive salvation. It is in the mud and dirt of our humanity that Christ came. In the mess of a cattle shed Christ was born among labour pains and stresses of life. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death. He was crowned with thorns to represent us before the throne of mercy, as we struggle to be humane, even Christ-like, in a chaotic, cruel world.

When we look at all that Christ has done for us on the Via Dolorosa and the many ways that he has gone against our earthly expectations, we begin to see that honouring, loving and worshipping the thorn-crowned King is appropriate. Christ is King in the manger, when he is mocked and scorned, on the cross, in the grave, and in our messy lives.

He is a King crowned with a thorny bush, to convince us of his strength amidst our own scorn, ridicule and pain.
When we begin to see strength in perceived weakness and calamity, we are able to see our true eternal King: saving, redeeming, delivering his people amidst every perceivable situation.

PrayerGracious, merciful Lord, how hard it is to read of the abuse you suffered even prior to your crucifixion. I can't even begin to imagine what you felt physically, emotionally and especially in your soul. What can I say in response but "Thank You" for walking the path of grief, suffering and shame for my sake. You took the abuse that I deserved, and gave me your glory in return.
Help me, dear Lord, to always honour you as my King in all that I do. May my words and deeds reflect your sovereignty, celebrate your glory and venerate your love.
Amen.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES AT THE CENTURION WEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:Sunday 5 April – Palm Sunday celebrations
Maundy Thursday 9 April – Tenebrae Service at 19:00
Good Friday 10 April – Communion Service, English at 09:30

(186 Aletta Ave, Raslouw, Centurion, South Africa)

Jesus sentenced

Pontius Pilate is a paradigm of the person who fails to take responsibility for his actions. Pilate issued the verdict that sent Jesus to the cross. Yet he did so in a way to appear innocent of the blood of Jesus. He did not take responsibility for what he had done.

Matthew 27:23-24 “What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

How often do we blame our sins on others? How often do we fail to take responsibility, preferring to hold others responsible for whom we are: the way we were raised, society for mistreating us, the weaknesses of church people, our unfair boss, or spouse or even our kids?

When blaming others when I do wrong, I won't confess what I have done as sin. This will keep me from experiencing the grace of God, enjoying the fullness of God's forgiveness.

When tempted to be like Pilate, we will do well to remember these verses from 1 John: 1: 8 - 10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Don't try to wash your hands of what you have done wrong. Be blessed when you tell God the truth about your sins, and experience his forgiveness through Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to acknowledge my sins, both to myself and to you, rather than justifying myself through immature and pointless excuses and defences. By your Spirit, guide me to see clearly where I have missed your mark, that I may confess truly and experience the forgiveness you offer in Christ Jesus. My hands will only be clean, Lord, when I am washed in the blood of the Lamb! Amen.

Only by grace I'm saved

Only by grace I’m saved!

Washed with the blood of Christ,
cleansed with his Spirit’s flame,
only by grace was called to live,
and only by grace, I came!

Only by grace I live,
only by grace restored.
Only by grace my faith is real:
I’m only by grace adored!

Only by grace I love,
only by grace believe,
and by the Spirit’s gracious work,
a trusting heart receive!

Jesus has made me whole,
into God’s heart engraved.
Father who chose me – praise the Lord -
yes, only by grace I’m saved!


Lyrics by Andries - Copy Right Reserved
Sung to “Breathe on me, Breath of God - see Songs of Fellowship 51.

Peter denies Jesus

Luke 22: 56 - 57 Then a servant-girl, seeing Peter in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

Why did Peter deny Jesus? He was one of the first to follow Jesus, leaving so much behind to walk the uncertain road of discipleship. He had seen mighty wonders as his Teacher and Friend healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. Peter had even walked on water for a few brief moments. So why did Peter, of all people, deny Jesus? Because he was afraid.

Fear startles us in the middle of the night and keep us awake for hours. It prevents us from reaching for our dreams or from reaching out to others in love. Fear cripples our souls and binds our hearts. It locks us in prison and throws away the key.

Peter was afraid and understandably so. All that he had hoped seemed to be crumbling before Him. The One he believed to be the Messiah, the Saviour of Israel, was now arrested. Jesus’ death seemed certain. Moreover, seeing his powerful Master so helpless must have confused Peter. Why did the One with the power to still the storm not use that power now? And if Jesus was helpless to defend himself, what did that mean for Peter? How could he escape a fate like that of Jesus: arrest, abuse, and perhaps execution?

I can understand what this might have been like for Peter, because I also have experienced the blinding blast of fear. If Peter felt anything like what I felt some gloomy days in my life, then I can understand why he denied Jesus. In saying this, I am not defending his behaviour. Not at all. What Peter did was wrong. But I can understand what he might have been feeling, and why he did something that he later found so horrifying and inexcusable. Fear has the power to make us do or say what we later regret.

Though you and I might not deny Jesus in such a blatant way as Peter did, I do suggest that we indeed deny him in less obvious ways, because of fear. Have you ever sensed that the Lord was urging you to do something for his sake, but you did not, because you were afraid? You must know what it's like to downplay the significance of your faith in a conversation, because you were afraid of what people might think of you? Have you ever let fear keep you from experiencing the fullness of life in Christ? Being filled with the Spirit may sound frightfully strange: can I really trust God so much that I fully surrender to his will and plan for me, his work and my calling?

What is the remedy for such fear?
It is in trusting God, believing the Word of Christ. It is in knowing what divine love is, because of what Jesus did for me on the Via Dolorosa, the way of grief. 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We don't conquer fear through rationalization or mind-control. We overcome fear by leaning more fully into the loving care of God, knowing that he will never let us go.

Prayer: Forgive me, dear Lord, when I let fear get in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for all the times I have fallen short in my discipleship, because I've been afraid. Forgive me for failing to trust you when you've proven yourself to be completely worthy of my trust. Amen.


O sacred head with grief weighed down,
with thorny bush your only crown!
How pale you are, abused and scorned,
your countenance, now blood adorned!

What shall I say, dear heavenly Friend?
Your shame and suffering, I cannot mend!
But let me never faithless be,
your dying love – it was for me!

O sacred Christ, so cruelly crowned –
no greater love nor mercy found.
O Jesus let me worship thee,
so scorned, so mocked on Calvary!

Jesus condemned by the Jewish Council

Luke 22: 66-69: When day came, the assembly of the elders (the Jewish Sanhedrin), both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought Jesus to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin, because he claimed to be the Messiah who would share in the glory and the power of God!

Only days earlier Jesus had made a mess of the temple, interrupting its sacrifices and labelling it as a "den of robbers." So, Jesus was seen by the Jewish officials to be speaking negatively about God himself. The temple was after all the place where God had chosen to dwell. How could he be the promised “Son of Man”?

In his trial, Jesus claimed that he would be "seated at the right hand of the power of God". This was perceived by the council, beginning with the high priest, as clear evidence of Jesus’ blasphemy. This activist, temple-destroyer, and troublemaker was as far as the Sanhedrin was concerned, an obvious liar and blasphemer.

We, like the Sanhedrin, also get things confused.
We tend to limit the saving work of God’s Messiah to our personal salvation only, rather than the transformation of the whole universe and all of life by Jesus to whom was given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Yet, we are blessed, when we as followers of Jesus who acknowledge him as personal Saviour, seek to do the works of his kingdom, expecting the reign of God to occupy all of our world, looking forward to the day when it will be completed. In the words of Revelation 11:15, put to music in Handel's Messiah, we should celebrate the fact that:
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ,And he shall reign for ever and ever and ever. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to understand what it means when I confess you as the Christ, the Anointed of God and glorious King of everything. May this confession lead me to a life of complete faithful discipleship in everything I do. Let your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. And let this happen in my life today! Amen

Is it with a kiss that we are betraying Jesus?

Luke 22:47-48: While Jesus was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"

From where we are in the history of the church, it's easy to condemn Judas. Few people in history have been loathed more, and certainly Christians in New Testament times - and now, have good reason for doing so. After all, using a sign of respect for your teacher to betray him, is the utmost deed of malicious treachery. It was the custom that a student would greet his teacher with a kiss in Biblical times – to show respect and to show submission. It would be similar to the kiss of a son given to a father today!

Yet, by heaping still more shame on Judas than the church did over centuries, may con us into overlooking the chance to confront the Judas that remains in us as well.
What about our own mixed messages to Jesus?

How many times do we Christian people, who respectfully confess Jesus as Saviour and Lord, betray him? No, not visibly and literally - but in our hearts and in the intentions of our actions?

How many times did we reverently confess Jesus as Lord, yet we are continuously reinforcing ourselves as the real lord of our lives?

How many times have we worshiped Jesus, saying and singing that we are in awe of his sacrifice - with our mouths - not with a kiss but with words, only to again abandon him in our souls and in our works?

Do we not also betray the Saviour with a kiss? Outwardly respectful, reverent, pious and in awe - yet in reality crucifying him with our selfishness and our deceit, because inwardly we are more often renegades rather than champions of his Kingdom.

Yes, I know we all want to be devoted to Jesus. But as we reflect on the kiss of Judas – do we not detect a prowling Judas in our hearts, tempting us to stab Jesus and his cause in the back when it serves our personal agendas?

A spirit of dissention, a word of doubt, a slackness when passion is required and a silly excuse when we should be broken up by remorse - yes – I have to admit, I too can betray my Saviour, my Lord – with a kiss!

“O Lord, as much as I hate to confess it, there is a bit of Judas in me. Forgive me for the times when I pledged allegiance to you, made promises to you, (even in church with the congregation as witnesses) only to discard you in the way that I live.
Help me to see where my message to you is a mixed one, where worship and praise and betrayal and deceit live in the very same heart. Deliver me oh Lord, for what I do, is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing!
What a wretched person I am! Rescue me from this body of death, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen."

Jesus on the Mount of Olives!

"Father ... take this cup from me," prayed Jesus in Gethsemane.

We see Jesus struggling with the will of God, because Jesus feared the wrath of God as a result of the sin of mankind. He wished to avoid the path of suffering, to escape the cup of wrath. Scripture tells us about the anguish and pain of the struggle: "his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." It's only human to fear God’s anger and judgment. Who among us, if healthy, welcomes suffering? Don't forget, Jesus was (and is) human just like you and me. And, in every healthy person exists the urge to continue life and to avoid death. Jesus also wanted to live, he didn’t want to suffer, he feared the terror of an Almighty God’s wrath and punishment for our sins.

What did Jesus do as he struggled with the will of God? Jesus prayed alone and he prayed on his knees - with humility and obedience: (Lk 22:42) "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus prayed that God's will be changed and he prayed that God's will be done.
But after struggling with God in prayer, he was ready to enter upon the road to the cross and to follow it to the bitter end. After fighting fear and anguish in prayer, he actively accepted the will of God and decided to willingly drink the cup of God's wrath. Why? Why? Why would he have done this? Why would this have been God's will for him?

It's for us! Jesus willingly drank the cup of God’s wrath for us. He drank it in our place. It should have been us drinking from God's awful cup. Instead, it was Jesus who drained it to the dregs.

Oh what a blessing – never to fear the anger and judgement of a holy God again!

“Lord Jesus, we can face a new week knowing that on our knees, when we humbly seek your will, your strength will be our strength, because you drank the cup of judgement to make us righteous in your Father’s sight. Your loving, merciful will be done, your glorious kingdom come – also in my life!”

Song: Only Jesus can...

ONLY JESUS CAN!
I cannot save myself o God,
- no one can, my Lord!
There is no one, to take away
all my guilt, unrighteousness!
Just Jesus can,
can achieve God’s gospel plan.
Yes, Jesus can,
o holy God,
only Jesus can!

A Saviour pure, I need, o God,
- sinless man and God,
to carry all my punishment,
satisfy your will, your wrath!
Pure Jesus can,
sinless Christ, the Son of man.
Lord Jesus can,
the Son of God,
only Jesus can!


Lyrics by Andries - Copy Right, publication; Sung to the music of I WORSHIP YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD. Songs of Fellowship 282
Based on these Scriptures:
Ex 20: 5 and 23: 7 I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 23: 7 I will not acquit the guilty.

Rom: 3 – 4 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

1 Cor 15: 21 – 22 and 25 – 26 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

2 Cor 5: 21 God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.