(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)
Worship
By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.
Thanksgiving
Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)
Scripture Reading
Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!
Scripture Reading: Matthew Ch. 27 (ESV)
Meditation
Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.
Devotional
Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.)
(vv.1-10) The previous chapter spoke of Jesus’ capture and the fleeing of the disciples (Mt. 26:56), so there are no more disciples to accompany Jesus; this chapter is about the trial, conviction and crucifixion of Jesus under the hands of Pilate the governor. The only mention of the disciples is the ending of Judas (Mt. 27:3-10). The final stretch of Jesus’ path reads like a very lonely one!
(vv. 11-14) He, alone, stood facing Pilate’s questioning, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” Aside from this, he gave no answer.
(vv. 15-26) He, alone, heard the cries of the crowd, under the persuasion of the chief priests and elders, shouting that they’d rather release the notorious prisoner Barabbas; despite Pilate asking, “Why? What evil has he done?” They didn’t care, but even responded, “His blood be on us and on our children!” It looks like the crowd had become so emotionally charged that they’d become blind, illogical and unable to be reasoned with.
(vv. 27-44) He, alone, endured scourging, mocking, ridicule, humiliation and even being spat on; he alone carried the crushing weight of the cross until a man of Cyrene, Simon, came to help him; he alone was crucified, the charge against him, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” was his true identity. He was beaten, mocked and scorned, and even his being the “son of God” was used as a laughing stock.
(vv. 45-56) All the way until Jesus cried out on the cross, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, crying out again with a loud voice before finally yielding up his spirit.
(vv. 57-66) This is the darkest moment in human history, yet it is also the moment that God’s grace shone the brightest. Man determined to nail sinless Jesus on a cross to die, God determined his death to become a ransom for sinners. Isaiah 53:3-6 writes, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The lonely and cruel road of the cross that Jesus walked exactly fulfilled what had been prophesied of the Messiah in the Old Testament.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Do you hear the cries of Jesus? Or are you like some of the bystanders who heard it and said, “This man is calling Elijah.” Jesus, who was originally one with the Father, who was in the Father and the Father was in him – in order to bear the sins of the world, had to part with the Father. More so than just seeing God’s perfect justice and absolute intolerance for sin, we see the immeasurable depth of God’s love for mankind – so deep, so wide – that he would be willing to go to such lengths to redeem us and wash away our sins.
Brothers and sisters, we ought to always think upon such grace and give thanks to God, and thank our beloved Saviour Jesus, who shed his blood and sacrificed his life, to pay the price for our sins!
Pray
Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what/where are you going to lead me to today?”)