John 19:16b-27
16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,“They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
0 So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Reflection
Death by crucifixion is considered one of the most barbaric, torturous, and humiliating of deaths ever conceived by mankind. Yet Jesus’ heart of care and compassion shone through even in those awful moments. At a time when the pain of crucifixion would have driven most into a self-absorbed survival mode, Jesus gave focused attention and affection to a small group gathered at the foot of his cross—especially to Mary, his mother, and John, his beloved disciple.
Earlier in his ministry, Jesus identified all who do the will of his Father as his “brother and sister and mother” (Matt. 12:46–50). In some sense, therefore, we can see ourselves in this community of compassion at the foot of the cross. We are assigned the task of caring for one another as we behold the love of our crucified King together. Only the gospel can create this kind of mutually devoted community.
1 Peter 1:1-9
1: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
0 May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Reflection
In this letter, Peter primarily approaches two difficult subjects: holiness and suffering. Peter would agree with Paul that holiness and suffering are vitally connected (see Rom. 5:3–4). He knows that the holy will suffer and that the holy will be made more holy as they share in Christ’s suffering (1 Pet. 1:7; Phil. 3:10).
To take his readers into the commands of holiness and the demands of hardship, however, Peter must first take them to the power and assurance necessary for both. This power is found only in the gospel. Consider how Peter rejoices in the gospel in this opening paragraph to the letter. We are “born again to a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3), “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,” that is “kept in heaven” for us (v. 4). It is important for believers to be reminded of our future hope so that we have strength to obey and face suffering. We find strength knowing that we are forgiven for all eternity; and we are encouraged to hope in God through hardship, knowing that our souls are infinitely secure.
Psalm 37:29
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
Our eternal security in Christ gives us strength to face suffering in this temporary world and body. Prayerfully reflect on the future promises Peter describes in 1 Peter 1:3–9, asking God to give you joy as you consider what lies ahead in eternity.