Today, we remember that His body was broken for you and me. His blood was spilled for you and for me. And just as Jesus asked us to remember Him, the thief on the cross asked the Lord to remember him. The thief on the cross could offer Jesus nothing except for his belief in him. Someday, when you breathe your last, the Lord will be standing there waiting to receive you, only you must believe in Him.
At the end of today’s study, there will be a chance for you to consider giving your life to Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. We pray over you as you consider this opportunity, if you haven’t already accepted Him. Know that you are so dearly loved.
For today, we’re reading in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 26, picking it up in verse 39.
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Transcription:
Then Jesus went with them to the Olive Grove called Gethsemane, and he said, sit here while I go over there to pray. He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, my soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
It’s almost good Friday on the Bible for Busy People. We are reading in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 26 and we pick it up here in verse 39.
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, my father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, couldn’t you watch with me, even one hour? Keep watch and pray so that you will not give in to temptation for the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, my Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.
Those words echo over time.
When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went to pray a third time saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look, the time has come. The son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the 12 disciples arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal. You’ll know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. So Judas came straight to Jesus. Greetings rabbi, he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest slave, slashing off his ear. Put away your sword. Jesus told him, those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my father for thousands of angels to protect us and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now? Then Jesus said to the crowd, am I some dangerous revolutionary that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the temple? I was there teaching every day. But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the scriptures. At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
In the time between his bold prayer and the garden of Gethsemane and Golgotha, the place of the skull where Jesus will soon be crucified, He was flogged, mocked, beaten, mercilessly, and put on trial in the middle of the night. He was deserted by his closest followers. He was utterly alone. The women who loved him most wept for him, but they couldn’t save him. Even his father would soon turn his face away as the sins of the world would be laid upon his son. And now we continue the story of the greatest rescue in the history of humankind in Luke’s gospel, chapter 23, beginning in verse 32:
Two others, both criminals were let out to be executed with him when they came to a place called the Skull, they nailed him to the cross and the criminals were also crucified. One on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing, and the soldiers gambled for his cloth by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leader scoffed. He saved others, they said, Let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the chosen one. The soldiers mocked him too by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, if you are the king of the juice, save yourself. A sign was fastened above him with these words: This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, So you’re the Messiah are you prove it by saving yourself and us too while you’re at it. But the other criminal protested, Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus replied, I assure you today you will be with me in paradise. By this time, it was about noon and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone and suddenly the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands. And with those words, he breathed His last. When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, surely this man was innocent.
Yes, it is indeed Good Friday. And now you and I have done what the Lord Jesus has asked us to do. We remember that his body was broken for you and me. His blood was spilled for you and for me. And just as Jesus asked us to remember him, the thief on the cross asked the Lord to remember him. The thief on the cross could offer Jesus nothing except for his belief in him. Someday, when you breathe your last, the Lord will be standing there waiting to receive you, only you must believe in him. And if you’ve never done that, I want to give you that opportunity today. All you have to do is say,
Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to you. I’m a sinner and I’m sorry for my sins, and I know that the blood that you spillt can wash me whiter than snow. And so I receive your free gift of eternal life. Come into my heart and make me new. In Jesus name, amen.
If you just prayed that prayer, you are part of God’s family. That’s all you need to do is offer your belief in the Lord Jesus. So, welcome to the family. Hey, until Monday when we celebrate Easter together, you are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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