READING: 2 Chronicles 34-36, John 19:1-22
“There they crucified Him and two others with Him.”
John 19:18
Check out an obituary page, and here’s what you’ll often find: details of the lives of the deceased, but few details about their deaths. We often learn birthplace, education, marital status, children, grandchildren, military service, work history, awards, religious affiliation, etc. What we learn about the deceased death’s is usually limited, perhaps to date and location, followed by funeral and burial plans. And, this kind of life/death balance makes sense, as we generally honor one’s life more than we talk about one’s death. Even the funeral becomes a time of remembrance – and for the Christian, a time of celebration of a life lived and a life begun. Thus, the few words dedicated to death seem right.
Today, though, we read these words about the death of Jesus: “Therefore they took Jesus away. Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle” (John 19:16-18). The words aren’t many. The details are more than we get in an obituary, but fewer than we might get in a newspaper report of such an event. The matter-of-fact nature of these words is almost jarring. The leaders killed the Son of God.
Little did they know the impact of their actions, however. Yes, Jesus’ life was significant, from the prophetic pronouncements of His coming centuries before His arrival, to his miraculous birth in Bethlehem, to His powerful teaching that melted sinners and drove away demons, to His sinless life that modeled perfect obedience to the Father. He lived the life that you and I cannot live that He might be the spotless Lamb – that is, He lived in preparation for His death. On a hill outside of Jerusalem, He died in our place so we might be restored to a right relationship with our Creator.
Yes, the obituary may read only, “There they crucified Him,” but eternity rests on those words. Because He died, we live.
ACTION STEPS:
- No matter how long you’ve known the story, meditate on the cross today.
- Rejoice. Praise Him. Sing aloud.
PRAYER: “Jesus, thank You for dying in my place. Thank You. Thank You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Ezra 1-2, John 19:23-42