In today's devotional, we cover Jesus' trial before Pilate and Herod, his crucifixion and his death on the cross. We've looked at this scene from many angle but today, I want to focus on the significance of the words Jesus spoke, both on his way and on the cross.
The first words Jesus spoke was to the grieve streaken women who felt powerless at his suffering;
"But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:28-31 NLT.
Even now, Jesus was telling the people about what was coming. These events would happen just 70 years later as Jerusalem is destroyed and its citizens brutally killed and the temple destroyed. However, these words could also be referring to what will happen to Jerusalem at Jesus second coming.
The next words Jesus spoke was now on the cross;
"Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Luke 23:34 NLT.
Here, we note that Matthew and Mark recorded the same and just one word of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). Therefore, we note that only Luke recorded these words of Jesus asking the Father to forgive those killing him, John did not.
Next, Jesus assured the robber would had asked, that they would be together in paradise.
"And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 NLT.
The final words of Jesus as recorded by Luke here was;
"Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46 NLT.
In conclusion, without any contradiction, we know Jesus died on that cross for us. Thank you Jesus.
