The 5th Day (Thursday) of the Final Week From Matt 27:35-36,38-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-37,39-43; and John 19:23-27 This whole crucifixion process had started about 9:00 in the morning and it was exactly 12:00 noon when they finally got him hung in place. At that moment darkness fell across the entire land and it lasted until after his death at 3:00 PM. The soldiers sat down under the cross and divided his clothes among the four of them. His outer robe was an expensive, one-piece garment so they gambled for that rather than cut it up into pieces. This fulfilled the ancient scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes but gambled for my robe.” A huge throng of people stood by and watched. Some of those in the crowd began to shake their heads in ridicule and shouted insults at Jesus by saying things like “You said you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, why don’t you save yourself?” and “If you are the Son of God then come down off that cross!” The Jewish leaders also mocked him among themselves. “He saved others, how come he can’t save himself?” One of them asked scornfully. Another one sneered, “I think this Messiah, the king of Israel, should be able to bring himself down off of that cross.” They all laughed and one of them added, “Then we would all believe in him for sure.” Another one scoffed, “he said he is the Son of God. Why doesn’t God come down now and save him?” One of the criminals joined in. “If you really are the Messiah, Why don’t you prove it by saving yourself and us too?” The other criminal interrupted him, “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We are being punished because of the evil things we have done but this innocent man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” “You will be with me today in paradise,” Jesus assured him. As the afternoon went on the crowd began to thin and his followers who were there began to inch closer to the cross. There was Mary, the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and his mother Mary. They were accompanied by John; the disciple Jesus had such a special relationship with. When they had made their way all the way forward so they were standing right in front of the cross, Jesus looked at his mother and John standing together and said, “Woman, this is your son.” Then he said to John, “This is your mother.” From that day forward John took Mary to live with him in his own home. |
 |
|||||||
 
|
|
 |
|||||
    |
|||||||
