Daily Devotional

Growing up in church, I have had many experiences in and around Holy Week. When I was in grade school, on Palm Sunday our church would have all the kids’ Sunday School classes march into the worship service waving Palm branches while the congregation sang “Hosanna In the Highest”. At AWANA on Wednesday night we would talk about the anguish Jesus must’ve been feeling as He anticipated the tragedy coming on Good Friday. And even though Maundy Thursday is the actual day Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and celebrated His Last Supper, we usually did that on Good Friday.

As a kid, I remember when I was taught the actual time Jesus hung on the cross that Good Friday. He was crucified at 9:00am and died at 3:00pm. Six hours. As I sat in school on Good Friday, I remember watching as the clock hit 9:00 and I thought, “Jesus has just been hung on the cross.” I thought about the pain and suffering He was feeling. I thought about the first words He spoke as He prayed for the soldiers, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” I thought about people mocking Him “He saved others, can’t He save Himself?” (Matthew 27:42) I thought about the thief on one side who said, “Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us.” And the thief on the other side rebuking him saying “Do you not even fear God, since you are the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying,”Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39–43).

Then I would start counting down the hours. After the first hour on the cross, I thought, “Only five hours left, Jesus.” Around noon, I’d think “Okay, halfway there, Jesus.” As 2:00 hit, I would think “Okay, only an hour left.” During that final hour I would start looking at the clock more and more as the minutes passed, and as the clock showed 2:50, I would think, “Only 10 minutes left, Jesus” My eyes would rarely leave the clock. I’d count down the minutes until the clock clicked over to 3:00 when Jesus cried out “It is finished! Into Thy hands I commit My Spirit.” (Luke 23:46). And at that moment, I would celebrate. I mean, I couldn’t shout HALLELUJAH! Or get up and jump around, but in my mind, that’s what I was doing. I thought, “Thank-You, Jesus for giving your life for mine. Thank You for paying the price for my sin. The hard part is over. You will now go into the grave. And while we are sad because of Your suffering, we are filled with joy because we know the story isn’t over. SUNDAY'S COMING!” Praise be to God.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation