Verses 1-25 > Read through those first 25 verses and just marvel at the incredible love Jesus and the Father had for us. Three different times Pilate said the he found nothing wrong with Jesus, nothing he has done deserves the death penalty. Herod couldn’t find anything wrong with Jesus either so he sent him back to Pilate. And yet The Father and Jesus were bound and determined that Jesus would be convicted and die for us so that we could live with them forever! To me that is just incredible love! If you ever wonder if the Father loves you, if Jesus loves you go back and read these 25 verses again. They hung in there with their plan until the Jews wore down Pilate and he caved in to their demands! Wow, Cool Awesome, Righteous!
Verse 26 > this is a great picture of what Jesus said in earlier chapters of taking up our cross and hanging our selfishness on it and following Him.
Verse 31 > The figure of the green wood and the dry has been variously understood. Most likely the picture compares the judgment on Jesus as the green (living) wood to the worse judgment that will surely come for the dry (dead) wood of the nation. Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition
Verse 35 > I am glad Jesus didn’t save himself. If he would have done that he couldn’t have saved you and me!
Verse 37 > A true king is concerned for his people. Jesus didn’t save himself so that he could save his people. Thank you Jesus. This really shows the compassion of Jesus. Compassion is not only feeling sorry for people but actually doing something to help them. Jesus gave himself.
Verse 42 > The first thief’s prayer was, “Get me down. get me out of this mess”. The second thief’s prayer was LORD take me up into a higher understanding of you. Thank you for my situation. Thank you for trusting me with this privilege of living for you. Give me the strength to carry this load you have placed on me.
Throughout the old testament from Mount Sinai on there was a separation of the people from God by their own choice. Even when they followed God they wanted the glory of God to be blunted by a covering. When Jesus took on the sin of the world, the light was temporarily extinguished until the separation of the curtain was torn and the light could return just as the Son would rise on the third day. After that people could come directly to God through Jesus. The offering had been given and, as has been stated in the psalms and prophets, God’s real desire of relationship and obedience can be given.