Calendar

THE FORGIVING KING
TUESDAY, MARCH 22
Mark 15:24-32

Psalm 22:1-24

 

“…the superscription of his accusation

was… THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

 

THE FORGIVING KING
 
Jesus was crucified at the third hour (according to Jewish time, i.e. 9 am). His very first words on the cross were words of love and not hatred. Jesus prayed the Father to forgive those who have put Him on the cross. For the Jews who shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him,” and the Romans who tortured Him, He offered this prayer, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). By so praying, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Amazing love!
 
Jesus was not a rich man. He had no house, no money. His only possession was literally the shirt on His back. On the cross, He was stripped of His clothing. The soldiers divided His clothing into four parts (sandals, belt, outer coat, headdress), and distributed among themselves. The seamless inner coat was the costliest item. It would have been sheer stupidity for them to cut it up into 4 useless pieces. The soldiers thus threw dice for it. This fulfilled a thousand-year-old prophecy of David: “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Ps 22:18). Pilate ordered an inscription to be placed on the cross which read, “THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” It was written in three languages—Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. This Pilate did to insult not only the local but also foreign Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem. Despite his less than honourable intentions, Pilate unwittingly wrote the truth.
 
Satan had tempted Jesus in the wilderness, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down” (Matt 4:6). Now on the cross, Satan tempted Him again through the people, “Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matt 27:40). If Jesus had come down from the cross, Satan would have won, and we would still be in our sins. Jesus endured the cross, and all the temptations levelled against Him when He was physically most weak. Indeed, He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
 
THOUGHT: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” (Alexander Pope)
PRAYER: Father, forgive me of my sins as I forgive those who trespass against me.

Search