Day 3

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Day 3

Judgment

Psalm 103:8–10, Lamentations 3:31–33, Micah 7:18–19, Titus 3:3–7

“Why have you forsaken me?”

The Father’s abandonment of his Son reveals the horror of sin, the necessity of judgment, and the mercy of God.

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” — Mark 15:34

Martin Luther once spent hours motionless and immersed in deep contemplation over this text. Observers thought he was in a trance, neither eating nor drinking. He finally emerged, saying, “God forsaking God! No man can understand that.”

We cannot comprehend Christ’s agonizing cry on the cross. In that hour, the sinless One suffered the horror of sin. His bitter lament betrayed the torment of hell. It was the sound of sin’s price paid in full. Eternity will not exhaust the story of what Jesus endured in those dark hours on Calvary’s cross.

The cross reveals the most violent and mysterious outpouring of God’s wrath in all the Scriptures. God abandoned his Son to satisfy the demands of justice. Jesus bore the full measure of divine wrath against the sins of the world when God “laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Father descended in judgment on Golgotha to unleash his fury not against sinners but against the Sin-bearer.

When a judge delivers a verdict on a guilty criminal, he decrees justice or mercy; he cannot pronounce both. But when God delivered his sentence against guilty humanity, justice and mercy met in perfect harmony. The penalty paid for sin affirmed God’s justice, and our purchased pardon demonstrated his mercy.

Isaac Watts’ hymn captures the awe we feel when we contemplate Christ upon the cross:

“Alas! and did my Savior bleed,

And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done,

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity, grace unknown,

And love beyond degree!”

REFLECTION

Consider how the cross reveals both God’s justice and mercy. How does this understanding affect your view of God’s character and his actions in your life?

APPLICATION

Pray for an opportunity to share your testimony with another person, highlighting God’s mercy on your life.

PRAY

Heavenly Father,

We come to you in awe and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. His cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” reminds us of the horror of sin and the necessity of judgment. We cannot fully grasp the depth of Christ’s suffering or the weight of the divine displeasure he bore on our behalf.

Thank you for your mercy shown through Jesus, who took our punishment and offered us forgiveness and eternal life. Teach us to show the same mercy to others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why The Cross

The cross is foundational to everything we do as disciples and ministers. If we want to remain faithful to the call God has given us as a global family of churches, we must continue to be Christ-centered.

Introduction

Isaiah 53:10–12, Matthew 5:43–45, Matthew 27:33–44, Acts 7:59–60

“Father, forgive them.” Christ’s forgiveness of his tormentors reveals God’s desire to extend forgiveness to all. “And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” — Luke 23:33–34 Jesus hangs from the cross, looking upon the very people that he came to earth to save. The crowds are watching, the soldiers are gambling, the rulers are scoffing, and Jesus is dying. It’s a chaotic scene, yet at its heart, it’s about something incredibly pure—forgiveness. Jesus, amidst his suffering, looks down and says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The word “them” is a broad label. Who does it include? It includes the brutal and heartless soldiers throwing dice for his clothes, representing Roman power. It includes the mocking Jewish rulers who conspired against him and pushed for his execution. And it includes the crowds who, just hours before, called for his death. The actions of the Gentiles and Jews remind us that Jesus’ forgiveness spans wide, reaching those who are far from him and those who are close. “. . . for they know not what they do.” Can you recall when you said or did something sinful without knowing how damaging your behavior was? One scholar said, “Ignorance may diminish guilt, but does not remove it.” Christ’s forgiveness is not only limited to those present at his crucifixion. The prophet Isaiah tells us that Jesus was “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). At the cross, “them” includes us. This is at the heart of Jesus’ words. He understands our sin-sick condition and intercedes on our behalf both in prayer and sacrifice, taking our punishment and offering himself as the only pathway back to God and reconciling us to the Father on the cross. The Methodist hymn “Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive” captures well the power of Christ’s forgiveness: “How can Your pardon reach and bless the unforgiving heart That broods on wrongs and will not let old bitterness depart? In blazing light Your cross reveals the truth we dimly knew: How trifling others’ debts to us; how great our debt to You!” REFLECTION Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “despised and rejected by men.” How does Christ’s sacrificial forgiveness shape your response to being wronged or to those you may have wronged? APPLICATION Ask the Holy Spirit to show you someone you have unforgiveness toward. Determine how you will resolve that situation. PRAY Heavenly Father, We remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, where he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” We realize that “them” includes us and that our sins are part of why he suffered. Thank you for the wide-reaching forgiveness Jesus offers us. Open our eyes to see the harm our actions may cause and give us the grace to seek and offer forgiveness. We know the immense debt we owe you and how trivial our grievances against others are in comparison. In the light of the cross, we see the truth of our need for grace and the call to extend that grace to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 1

Mark 15:27–32, John 10:28–30, Romans 6:20–23, 1 John 5:11–13

“You will be with me in paradise.” Christ’s pardon of the repentant thief reveals his desire to extend eternal life to all. “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” — Luke 23:39–43 Suspended between life and death, one criminal mocked Jesus. But Matthew tells us that at some time, both criminals mocked him (Matthew 27:44). Something must have changed the heart of the penitent thief. What miracle transformed his heart of stone? Maybe it was when he looked into Jesus’ eyes and heard him pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The penitent thief saw the depth of his sin. “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds.” He recognized the sinlessness of the Savior. “This man has done nothing wrong.” And he confessed Jesus as Lord, showing he recognized Jesus as the ruler of a heavenly kingdom. The result was eternal life. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Paradise is from a Persian word that symbolizes a place of beauty and delight. Amazing grace made a criminal immediately fit for paradise. God’s grace still does the same to every repentant sinner. In the words of hymnist William Cowper: “There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see, That fountain in his day. And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away!” REFLECTION The thief confessed Jesus as Lord and recognized his kingdom. Reflect on your own confession of faith. How do you daily affirm Jesus as Lord in your life? What areas of your life do you need to surrender to his lordship? APPLICATION Meditate on Luke 23:39–43 and the additional readings (Mark 15:27–32; John 10:28–30; Romans 6:20–23; 1 John 5:11–13). After reading, pray, asking God to help you internalize the truth about repentance, grace, and eternal life. PRAY Heavenly Father, We are humbled by the repentant thief who found forgiveness in his last moments. We see ourselves as that thief and understand that we, too, deserve the consequences of our actions. And, like him, we look to Jesus and his mercy. We marvel at the grace that extended paradise to a repentant sinner, showing your desire to grant eternal life to all who turn to you. As the thief recognized your kingdom, we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Thank you for the forgiveness and new life that comes through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. His blood washes away all our guilty stains, making us fit for paradise. We find our hope in the promise of eternal life with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.