21 THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION ON THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST
1) JESUS SUFFERED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS:
Often we are willing to suffer for our own benefit but let us learn to suffer for the benefit of others.
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Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2) JESUS SUFFERED BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE THE JEWS:
Often our suffering can be caused by our own people and not by strangers.Jesus was persecuted not by the Romans but by the Jews.
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John 18:35
"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
3) JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN DISCIPLE:
Often we may be betrayed by those close to us and who have benefitted much from us .Jesus was betrayed by one whom He had trained.
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Matthew:26:21
And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
4) JESUS WAS PLOTTED AGAINST BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS:
Often we may face attacks from those who are supposed to lead people in the ways of God.It was the priests who wanted to kill Jesus.
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Matthew 26:3-5
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
"But not during the festival," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."
5) JESUS WAS HATED WITHOUT CAUSE:
Often we wonder what evil we have done to face so much hatred but let us remember that Jesus who did so much good was also hated thus.
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John 15:24-25
If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ’They hated me without reason.’
6) JESUS SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE JEALOUSY OF PEOPLE:
Often we may face suffering purely because of the jealousy of people.Pilate discerned that the Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus.
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Mark 15:10
For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
7) JESUS FACED INTENSE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL AGONY:
Often we may face agonising periods of great suffering but no one has faced the agony of Jesus whose sweat came out as blood.
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Luke 22:44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
8) JESUS WAS DESERTED BY EVERYONE WHEN HE FACED DANGER:
Often we may feel left alone when we are in danger.Jesus was deserted by everyone when he was arrested and faced his enemies alone.
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Mark 14:50
Then everyone deserted him and fled.
9) JESUS SUFFERED EVEN THOUGH HE WAS RIGHTEOUS AND INNOCENT:
Often we complain that we face suffering unjustly even though we are faithful and godly but let us remember that Jesus also faced it.
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Luke 23:14-16
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
10) JESUS WAS TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL :
Often we may feel that we are treated like criminals and not like God’s children .Remember Jesus was crucified between thieves.
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Matthew 26:55-56
In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Mark 15:27-28
With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."
11) JESUS FACED FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND FALSE WITNESSES:
Often we may face false accusations and false witnesses but we are only following in the footsteps of Jesus.
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Matthew 26:59-60
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
12) JESUS WAS SILENT BEFORE THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS:
Often when we face false accusations we may want to defend ourselves vehemently but Jesus was silent and committed it to God.
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Matthew 27:12-14
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, "Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor.
13) JESUS WAS REJECTED AND BARABAS WAS CHOSEN:
Often we may face rejection and someone with dubious credentials may be preferred.A murderer was chosen instead of Jesus.
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Matthew 27:20-23
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"
"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
14) JESUS WAS SPAT UPON AND BUFFETED:
Often we may face abuse and pain but remember Jesus the Son of God was spat upon and buffeted.
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Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
and said, "Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?"
15) JESUS WAS MOCKED AND RIDICULED:
Often we may be mocked and humiliated and we may be unable to stop it.Jesus was mocked and ridiculed by the soldiers.
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Matthew 27:29-31
and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
16) JESUS WAS REVILED EVEN BY THOSE WHO PASSED BY:
Often we may be reviled even by irrelevant people who are not connected with us in any way.Even those who passed by reviled Jesus.
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Matthew 27:39-43
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
"He saved others," they said, "but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ’I am the Son of God.’"
17) ’HE SAVED OTHERS HIMSELF HE COULD NOT SAVE’:
Often we may be mocked like Jesus.We help others and solve their problems but sometimes we are unable to solve our own problems.
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Matthew 27:42
"He saved others," they said, "but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
18) ’MY GOD ,MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?’ :
Often we may cry out in the same way but let us remember that the crucifixion was followed by the resurrection.
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Matthew 27:46
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").
19) JESUS HAD A PAINFUL AND AGONISING DEATH:
Often we wish for peaceful end without any suffering but let us remember that Jesus died in great agony and suffering.
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John 19:16-17
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
20) ’IF THEY DO THIS TO THE GREEN TREE WHAT ABOUT THE DRY TREE’
Often we may wonder why we face so much suffering but Jesus already predicted that this would happen to His followers also.
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Luke 23:27-31
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?"
21) ’FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO’:
Often we may be tempted to retaliate when attacked but Jesus wants us to forgive those who persecute us in their ignorance.
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Luke 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
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