Day 11 — The Cross — Love Poured Out
The crucifixion reveals both the horror of sin and the depth of God’s mercy.
John 19:16 - 37
16So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.
17He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called "The Place of a Skull," which is called in Hebrew, "Golgotha,"
18where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
20Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.
21The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, "Don't write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'he said, I am King of the Jews.'"
22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24Then they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, "They parted my garments among them. For my cloak they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.
25But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
27Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.
28After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty."
29Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth.
30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.
31Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32Therefore the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him;
33but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs.
34However one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.
36For these things happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "A bone of him will not be broken."
37Again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they pierced."
Centuries earlier, Isaiah prophecies that on the cross, Jesus would bare our sins, taking the punishment we deserved.
Isaiah 53:5 - 12
5But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth.
8He was taken away by oppression and judgment; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the disobedience of my people?
9They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.
11After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.