Page 45 - Living Light 88

Friday April 18 - Death
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” Luke 23:28
In Shakespeare's words in Macbeth, ‘Nothing in his life became him like the manner of his leaving it.’ How true of Jesus. His extraordinary life was surpassed by his extraordinary death. From the death march onwards to the very end, Luke highlights his compassion for others.
Public crucifixion involved a ritual of humiliation and shame. But Jesus is unbowed and still has a heart for others. He responds to the weeping women of Jerusalem by warning them to beware of the future suffering they’ll face. This points to AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and also to subsequent events. He responds to soldiers carrying out the execution by asking God for their forgiveness. He responds to the crucified criminal by assuring him of his place in paradise. He responds to his Father, who hadn’t rescued him from the cross, by surrendering his life to him in the ultimate way.
Unsurprisingly, Luke records the extraordinary reaction of the onlookers. Creation itself hides its face in shame as darkness descends at noon. The inanimate temple curtain is ripped open. A pagan, Roman centurion confesses Jesus to be a righteous man, even while he was executed as a rival king to Caesar. Some, especially his female disciples, silently watched and grieved. Did they know it wasn’t yet over? In his death he still focuses on others. That’s why he died – for others. What compassion!
Gracious Father, teach me also to surrender myself totally to you and to develop a heart for others. Amen.
Saturday April 19 - Burial
Then (Joseph) took Jesus’ body down, wrapped it in a linen cloth and
placed it in the tomb cut in the rock... Luke 23:53
Many of us don’t quite know what to make of ‘holy Saturday’, the day when Jesus’ body lies in a tomb. We impatiently want to rush on to Easter Sunday, the day of Resurrection. But the gospels won’t let us. Luke provides some interesting details. The tomb was new, the property of one Joseph of Arimathea, a dissenting member of the council of religious leaders. Executed criminals were usually thrown into a common grave. Pilate consented to Joseph’s request, perhaps to annoy the religious leaders. Isaiah 53:9 was being fulfilled, though Luke doesn’t mention it.
The overwhelming impression he leaves is one of the patient devotion of Jesus’ followers. Joseph was longing for God’s kingdom to be unleashed. Was Jesus just another step of disappointment along the way? If so, Joseph shows no sign of thinking this but treats Jesus’ body with huge respect, giving it the honour of a new tomb. The women also long to show respect by anointing his body with spices. But they patiently wait through the Sabbath until they can visit the tomb.
They’re role models for us. We’re sometimes called to wait in the darkness, in the silence, in disappointment and confusion, as God seems inactive and absent from our lives. Those times are when true devotion proves itself. The wait proves worth it for them, and for us. It may be holy Saturday, but Resurrection Sunday is coming.
In the darkness, Lord, teach me to wait patiently, knowing that the resurrection is coming. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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