Pocket Thoughts - 3/29/24
“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. ‘Are You the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate. ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. The chief priests accused Him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, ‘Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed…Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again, they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him…”
“It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read: ‘THE KING OF THE JEWS.’…Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals – one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots…One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: ‘Aren’t You the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are being punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.’…Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home…”
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the land…Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit…At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life…When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely He was the Son of God!’”
(Compiled from Mark 15:1-5, Mark 15:15-20, Mark 15:25, Luke 23:32-34, Luke 23:39-43, John 19:25-27, Matthew 27:45, John 19:28b-30, Matthew 27:51-54)
