1. Jesus Spoke to His Father
Luke 23:32-34
MEDITATION 1
Christ, there is none righteous, none but you.
Only One so righteous could endure the cruelty of injustice, with all its inhumane deeds and vile words.
Jesus, your righteousness remained steadfast through every evil assault.
Only One so righteous would willfully be led in death’s march among criminals.
Jesus, your companions in your death were those you came to save: the unholy, guilty, and unrighteous.
Only one so righteous could come in the likeness of the First Adam to redeem all He had forfeited.
Adam’s shame was covered by a sacrifice made by God.
Jesus, Your righteousness was exposed by your death executed by man.
Only One so righteous would respond to crucifixion with words of forgiveness.
What grace and mercy poured out from your life, all the more in your death! Upon the cross, your captors hear, “Father, forgive them.” The soldiers and the bystanders may not have heard or understood the gravity of Your words, but today, we hear and understand. We abide in the shadow of your cross, filled with unending gratitude. Unlike those 2,000 years ago, we know what we have done, we have sinned against you. Our shame is no longer in need of a temporary covering like the first Adam. We now stand clothed in your righteousness alone. Your marvelous, boundless, and supreme forgiveness over our sin is our forever testimony.
2. Jesus and the Criminal
Luke 23:39-43
MEDITATION 2
The Son of God suffered Salvation’s cross.
But those passing by saw Jesus as powerless. They were ignorant of the Lamb whose saving blood was touching the earth. Instead of falling prostrate in worship, they wagged their heads in scorn.
The Promised Messiah endured Salvation’s cross.
But the chief priests and scribes saw Jesus as defeated. These enemies of Christ were blind to the one who fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy. Instead of declaring to all, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” they mocked him, saying among themselves, “Others he saved; let him save himself, if this is the Messiah of God.”
The Savior of the world bore sin’s payment.
As death drew near, one criminal declared Jesus to be a fraud.
His fear of dying blinded his eyes to the Savior of the world.
But the other criminal declared Jesus to be the King of the Kingdom.
His faith opened his eyes to the Savior of his life.
With this one who now stands forever redeemed before the King of kings, we say,
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
3. Jesus and His Mother and John
John 19:25-27
MEDITATION 3
“His own” are never out of His sight.
In His most agonizing moment, Jesus saw His mother and beloved disciple. Their love for Him could not keep them away, and He would not keep His love hidden.
“His own” are never out of His reach.
Although His hands could not wipe their tears, His words would extend to the depths of their souls. He drew them near to His side by calling them, not according to their given name, but according to their relation to Him. His words of comfort and care address the two He called “His own”: His mother and His beloved disciple.
“His own” are never left alone.
In heartfelt devotion, the Son gives His disciple to His mother, and the Master gives His mother to His disciple. Before His death, the Son of Man declared something new to behold. Jesus brings together His mother and disciple to form one family, each to care for one another throughout their days on earth.
Through His divine will, all things are accomplished. It is unthinkable for Jesus to save the world but abandon those closest to Him. In our darkest hours, Jesus’ words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” are tested and proven true. In the shadow of His cross, Jesus draws us near and calls us “His own.”
4. Jesus’ Cry
Mark 15:33-34
MEDITATION 4
I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
“Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
Christ, you were enveloped with our darkness
The darkness of our iniquities became your crushing
The darkness of our transgressions became your wounding
The darkness of our sins became your cross
Christ, you became the forsaken for us
The mercy of God afflicted His only Son for our salvation
The wisdom of God bruised His beloved Son for our redemption
The holiness of God the Father forsook His Suffering Servant for our healing
Christ, we stand before your cross humbled, grateful, and surrendered.
5. Jesus’ Thirst
John 19:28
MEDITATION 5
The Suffering Servant humbled Himself to our mortal frailty
After six tortuous hours on the cross, the end is drawing near.
Jesus’ lungs are collapsing. His heart is failing, and his body is dehydrated, resulting in a slow, agonizing form of suffocation,
His body must fight gravity’s pull by pressing upward against His nailed feet for every exhale required for speech.
For His fifth word, the Son of Man says, “I thirst.”
The One who said on day three of creation, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear,” this One now thirsts.
The One whose power commanded the Sea to separate for Israel’s children to walk across in freedom; this One now thirsts.
The One who calmed the Sea of Galilee with the simple words, “Peace, Be Still,” this One now thirsts.
Not once did the Son of God implore His divinity to remove the implications of His humanity.
Not once did the Son of God lose His focus on Redemption’s plan and demands, even in death’s call.
His body was passing, but His mind remained present
His body was expiring, but His will was resolute
All things had to be accomplished, and in this sixth hour of suffering, Jesus knew all things had been realized.
His thirst, like every other hanging on a cross, was physical.
But his thirst was unique in that Scripture required it.
“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21)
Christ, your declaration of thirst in your dying moments was so that we may drink of your living water. All things are accomplished. Scripture is fulfilled. In the shadow of your cross, we hear your words, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)
Jesus, to you, we come.
6. It Is Finished
John 19:29-30
MEDITATION 6
In the beginning hours of His crucifixion, a sponge holding sweet wine was offered to Jesus, but He rejected its ability to dull the pain.
Now in His final moments, sour wine is extended and Jesus received its offering.
The fruit of this vine was the cup which He must accept to fulfill the Scriptures.
This was Jesus’ final cup to drink prepared by His Father.
His cup was extended from a hyssop branch. It was this same kind of branch that applied the lamb’s blood to doorposts and lintels on that first Passover in Eqypt.
It is fitting that it is the hyssop branch that would now be lifted to serve Jesus, our Passover Lamb, His final cup filled with sour wine.
Knowing all things were accomplished, Jesus drank from this cup and then said loudly, “It if finished!”
“It is Finished” resounded to the eternal throne of God.
The Son’s Obedience to His Father is complete.
Scripture is fulfilled.
Redemption is accomplished.
“It is Finished” resonates throughout every generation
Sin’s debt has been paid once and for all
Sin’s guilt is removed once and for all
Sin’s power is overcome once and for all
Christ, your last cry is Triumph’s call. Your bowed head was as a Victor not a victim. Our worship rises because what is written is now our testimony, “‘O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
7. Jesus’ Spirit
Luke 23:44-46
MEDITATION 7
The veil is torn.
The breath is given.
The Lamb is silent.
Darkness had covered the land for three hours, but it could not cover the glory of this final word.
The earth trembled,
but the Son did not.
The temple curtain split from top to bottom—
not by human hand,
but by divine decree.
The way was opened, for the Way was closing His eyes.
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”
Jesus, You were not taken—You surrendered.
No soldier seized your soul.
No cross claimed Your spirit.
You, our Passover Lamb, entrusted yourself fully to the Father’s will.
You, our Great High Priest, offered yourself without blemish to God.
You, the Son of Man, breathed your last—but not in despair.
You returned your spirit into the hands from which it came.
The crowd saw death.
The soldiers saw defeat.
But heaven saw a Son returning home.
We remember your first words in the temple: “Did you not know I must be about My Father’s business?”
And now, in your final breath, the business is finished—and you return to the Father’s hands.
Just as Isaac lay upon the wood, trusting his father’s voice, so you lay upon the cross, trusting the Father’s will.
Just as the Spirit hovered over creation’s chaos, so your Spirit now hovers over this moment of new creation.
This was not the end of life—but the reentry of the Son into Trinitarian joy, so that we too may be brought in.
A new covenant has begun.
A new access has been granted.
A new way has been opened through Your torn flesh.
O Christ, into the Father’s hands you gave Your spirit, that we—once far off—might now be brought near.
We behold the mystery of your death not with dread but with devotion.
You were forsaken so that we might be adopted.
The tomb is empty so our souls could be full.
You committed yourself
so we could be claimed forever.
We fall silent before your surrendered breath.
We rise singing because of your finished work.
And now, O Christ, as you breathed out your spirit, breathe into us the life you won.
We cling to your cross and cry, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”
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