Welcome to Day 37 of our 40 Day challenge! Matthew 27:32-44

(Catch up with us, with our reading list March, reading list for April,  and Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 18, Day 19, Day 20, Day 21, Day 22, Day 23, Day 24,
Day 25, Day 26, Day 27, Day 28, Day 29, Day 30, Day 31, Day 32, Day 33, Day 34, Day 35, Day 36)

Today we are reading Matthew 27:32-44

Matthew 27:32-44

The Crucifixion of Jesus

³² As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).³⁴ There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

I now love the part where Jesus tells the thief next to Him that today he will be with Him in paradise. But I was so jealous of this man when I was a kid, being raised on a strict, works-based theology. I was working so hard to earn what this thief was mercifully given right there on the spot.

Because I didn’t see grace for myself, I resented the grace extended to others. But, praise God, I now know His character. He is not the capricious, strict or uncaring God of my youth.

When we truly look at the actions of Jesus, the only conclusion we can come to is that He is perfect kindness and love.

Jesus tells us that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. When we are under stress or pressure, whatever we are filled with spills out onto those around us.

When Jesus is betrayed, deserted by so many, humiliated, tortured, and then killed in the most painful way ever invented, we see only compassion for others spill out of Him. We see Him care for His mom. We see Him pray for forgiveness for those who are currently abusing and killing Him. We see only love. We see every fruit of the Spirit modeled for us in a time of intense pain and hurt.

Lord fill us to overflowing with your kindness and compassion for others. Help us love them as you love them, and treat people who treat us poorly with the forgiveness and compassion you show. Let us be so filled with you love that this is what spills out of us when we’re under pressure. ♥

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

We’ll see you next time, for Day 38 and Matthew 27:45-56

♥ Samantha