Theme for this month: Jesus in the Four Gospels
Theme for this week: “Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew”
December 9, 2021 (Thursday)
The Gospel of Matthew describes the mistreatment and crucifixion of Jesus in Chapter 27. It may be hard for us to read, but we probably should remind ourselves periodically to read it again. Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper to remind us of his suffering and death in our behalf. As painful as it may be for us, we must never let these scenes from the life of Jesus completely fade from our memory.
If you feel up to it, you may read a graphic description of crucifixion by clicking here. If you saw the movie, “The Passion of Christ,” then you saw what these paragraphs describe.
As horrible as the physical suffering of Jesus was, the spiritual suffering was worse. You and I can never even imagine what it must have been like for Jesus as he took upon himself the penalty for all the sins of all people. He was, as John said, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Isaiah 53 describes the “Suffering Servant, giving us a glimpse of spiritual suffering.
Yes, Jesus is our King. But the path to the Crown took him to the Cross. We are so very thankful that His death on the Cross was for us and His Resurrection from the dead made salvation possible for those who believe in Him as the One who lives to save us.
THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
Author, George Bennard
1913
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain