SHOW ME THE WAY
Opening Prayer
Open my eyes to see the wonders in Your Word today, my Lord.
Read Mark 15:21–32
The Crucifixion of Jesus
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Footnotes
a Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
Reflect
Why do you believe in Jesus?‘Seeing is believing’ goes the old saying. The reality is that it’s not always so. Over and over we are tricked by the lens of a camera or the illusionist who appears to do one thing while doing something else. Truth is not just what we can see.
Here Jesus had pre-empted the mockers (29–32; John 2:19). In Capernaum He said: ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders … you will never believe’ (John 4:48). To the crowd who asked, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?’ (John 6:30), Jesus replied, ‘You have seen me and still you do not believe’ (John 6:36). Yet still, like those earlier doubters, the mockers at the cross demand actual proof. Jesus died to the sound of their insults.
Two thousand years later, however, we have not seen Jesus but still believe and are blessed (John 20:29). More than that, we love Him (1 Peter 1:8)! Have we been tricked? No, we see beyond the insults to the crucified Jesus who was raised to life. His silence challenges us: can our faith ride over the mockery of doubters?
Apply
Do you struggle with doubts about Jesus? His existence, His goodness, His care for you? Lean into Him today and test His loving-kindness. Ask Him to show you how strong His love is for you.
Closing prayer
Lord, in my blindness, help me to see Your truth and Your glory in the inglorious and scathing insults which You bore on the cross, for the sake of Your own name.
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