Matthew - Week 89

Three Crosses 

READ 

Matthew 27:35-38 

35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 

The God of the universe allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross. Unconcerned, the soldiers played dice for His clothing. The sign above His head read what He claimed to be, but the religious leaders wanted Him killed for blasphemy because He claimed to be equal with God. They did not realize He was fully God as well as fully man. Two criminals were crucified with Him.  

REFLECT 

Consider the humility of Jesus allowing Himself to be nailed to a cross for the sins of lost mankind.  

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, read Psalm 22:1-18 and notice verses that remind readers of what occurred at the crucifixion of Jesus. The Old Testament looked ahead to Jesus. The New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell of His life and death. Other books in the New Testament look back to Jesus.  

Save Yourself 

READ 

Matthew 27:39-40 

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” 

Crucifixions were in a public place allowing the Roman government to warn all who would rebel against it. The people referred to a comment Jesus made, not knowing He was referring to His body and not to the Temple building. Because He claimed to be the Son of God, the people challenged Him to use His power to come down from the cross. More than the nails, it was His love that bound Him to the cross. 

REFLECT 

Consider the love of God that kept Jesus on the cross. Enjoy songs that remind you of the love of God. 

RESPOND 

Read John 2:19-21 to see Jesus’ statement about rebuilding the temple in three days. This is what His listeners did not understand. 

Mocked and Ridiculed 

READ 

Matthew 27:41-44 

41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way. 

Notice again that it was the religious leaders who mocked Jesus. Most of the priests were Sadducees who did not believe in the supernatural and would never agree to the teaching about anyone rising from the dead. Even the criminals being crucified with Jesus agreed with the religious leaders who were practical atheists.  

REFLECT 

Does your life reflect that you believe in a God who can do miracles? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about people and systems of belief that will not recognize accountability to a higher power, especially God to whom all must give account someday. Even today, those who believe in religion but not in a relationship with Jesus can be some of the greatest enemies of the Gospel. 

Darkness 

READ 

Matthew 27:45-46 

45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 

God the Father could not watch His son bearing all the sins of humanity. He concealed it also from a watching world. The Son and Father were one, but here the Father permitted His Son to bear the cross alone. Some may think this was cruel of the Father, but the Son agreed to the plan in eternity past. 

REFLECT 

Do not attempt to understand everything in the mind of God; you would have to be God to fully understand.  

RESPOND 

With a Christian friend, read Ephesians 1:3-8 and Philippians 2:5-11 to be reminded about how things were planned by God from the beginning.  

Confused Response 

READ 

Matthew 27:47-49 

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” 

The bystanders were confused by Jesus’ statement about being abandoned by God. Some thought He was calling for Elijah. The one who could have called thousands of angels, if He desired, would not need Elijah. At this point in his Gospel the apostle John added, “One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34).  

REFLECT 

Crucifixion was the cruelest means of execution and that is why the Romans used it. The government wanted everyone to fear such a death and, in this way, have them under its domination.  

RESPOND 

Consider the curse that Jesus endured for all mankind. Deuteronomy 21:23 reveals the cross was considered a curse. That is also emphasized in the New Testament in Galatians 3:13 by the apostle Paul when he wrote a letter to the Galatians.