The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Matthew 27: 32-66, Mark 15: 21-47, Luke 23: 26-56, John 19: 17-42, Psalm 22
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 3: Christ’s Deliverance of His People: God’s Work through the Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of His King
Background Information: Matthew 27: 32-66, Mark 15: 21-47, Luke 23: 26-56, John 19: 17-42, Psalm 22
Jesus spoke Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, but Aramaic was the street language in Israel during his lifetime. Common people would have used it in their everyday lives. The New Testament was written in Greek, which was the universal language spoken across the Roman empire. On the cross, Jesus cried out in Aramaic “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” Matthew used his exact words in his gospel, and then he added the translation for his readers who didn’t know Aramaic: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Why did Matthew choose to use Jesus’ original language in this instance? He wanted his readers to know the Lord’s exact words because they describe precisely what happened on the cross. Matthew said that “Jesus cried in a loud voice.” In the entire New Testament, the word translated “cried” is only used here; it indicates extreme emotion and distress. This was a gut-wrenching cry from the depth of his agonized soul. These last words of Jesus tell us that what happened on the cross was more than a terrible physical death. Jesus gave his life as a ransom for our sins. The Father turned his face away, and Jesus suffered this separation for us. In this cry, for the first time in all the gospels, Jesus did not address God as his Father. Yes, Jesus was in agony of soul and body, but his words were not random–they were chosen. They come from Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” They were on the tip of his tormented tongue because he had hidden scripture deep in his heart. We would do well to make Scripture the thing that comes from our hearts and mouths when we endure suffering. These words are more than just important memorized words of truth; they point us to the fact that his death on the cross was the fulfillment of Scripture. All that came before had pointed to this very moment. In this dark hour, our Lord had already been abandoned by his closest human companions, and now his beloved Father had become the distant God of judgment. He was truly and utterly alone. Read carefully and reflectively the words of the Lord Jesus. In this instant, Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so that you could drink the cup of his grace.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for those at the church who were baptized recently. Ask God to strengthen them in their faith.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.