Passion Week: Friday - I Know Not What I Do

The Crucifixion of Jesus

“As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.  A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:26-43

I work in an elementary school with the 4 and 5 year old program. Today, on Good Friday, my class was beyond terrible. The children were rude, cranky and unkind at best. I was trying to do a project with them and ended up having to just stop the lesson because I was getting nowhere with them. I sat back and watched the chaos for a moment and suddenly a thought struck me.

Here I was trying to educate these children, having planned a fun interactive lesson and all they could do was be rude to me, decide they were not going to listen and generally goof off.

I gasped within myself as I realized this was a perfect picture of myself and Christ.

Jesus gave His very life so that I could have a real relationship with Him. Jesus carefully and lovingly plans my life so that I will grow in Him. Jesus redeems, protects and sanctifies me every single day.

And what do I do?

Give Him the time of day when I feel like it. Argue or complain when He gives direction for my life. Whine and gripe when things aren’t comfortable for me. Ignoring God’s will and being content to just do my own thing.

While watching my little students I also realized that they were unaware of how their behavior was affecting me. How much more so do I do this to my Lord!

And this is why You died, dear Jesus…to save me from my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice You gave on my behalf. Thank you for forgiving me, especially when I “know not what I do”. Thank you for going to the cross for me!