Has the true story of the cosmic reality of what Jesus has done for us on the cross and through his resurrection been lost on you? Has the story grown stale? My prayer is this passion week, you might hear something in this chapter you haven’t noticed before, and remember the joy of your salvation.

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WHAT DOES IT SAY?

This week, listen to Nicole read Luke 23:1-43 and perhaps read it aloud to yourself or your family. The darkness of humanity is on display.

WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?

Pilot and Herod – power players in this passage. They almost play with Jesus like he’s an object.

The crowd – would have been some of the same people who were fed by him on the hillside, heard his teachings, put palm branches down for him – has now turned on him.

Barabbas – an actual criminal. Jesus, the innocent one literally takes the place of the guilty one. The passion of Christ is to take the sin and guilt of the world upon himself, even for those who do not know what he is doing.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Often the temptations and trials that come to us are meant to prepare us for a future moment of greater temptation. Jesus’ temptation by Satan (that we discussed earlier in the series) prepares him for his encounter with Herod.

We are a fickle kind of people. We are swayed by power and fear.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?

In the darkest that the world has to offer, Jesus is still so close. He is taking the punishment for your sin, the weight of sin for you, so that we can be with him in paradise. Fall upon his mercy, even though you don’t deserve it. Jesus remembers you, you are blessed.

What kind of person comes to Jesus? See 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Are you willing to accept Jesus on his terms?

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