Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 23:26-31
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Commentary:
23:26 they (the Roman soldiers) … seized one Simon of Cyrene. Mark 15:21; Acts 13:1. Since scourging preceded crucifixion (see note on Luke 23:25; cf. Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15), Jesus’ physical condition may have prevented him from carrying the cross (the patibulum or crossbeam; on the cross).
23:27–31 The sympathetic mourning and lamenting of the women leads Jesus to quote from the prophet Zechariah (cf. Zech. 12:10–14). the days are coming. See Luke 19:43; 21:6, 22–24. Blessed are the barren. In those days, the “reproach” of childlessness (see 1:25) will be a blessing. Fall on us. A request (cf. Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16) to be put out of their misery. green … dry. If God did not spare his innocent son (“green” wood), how much worse will it be when he allows the Romans to unleash his wrath on a sinful nation (“dry” wood)?
23:27–31 The sympathetic mourning and lamenting of the women leads Jesus to quote from the prophet Zechariah (cf. Zech. 12:10–14). the days are coming. See Luke 19:43; 21:6, 22–24. Blessed are the barren. In those days, the “reproach” of childlessness (see 1:25) will be a blessing. Fall on us. A request (cf. Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16) to be put out of their misery. green … dry. If God did not spare his innocent son (“green” wood), how much worse will it be when he allows the Romans to unleash his wrath on a sinful nation (“dry” wood)?
Questions:
- In verse 8, we see that Herod was excited to meet this guy, Jesus, that he had heard so much about. He wanted to see the show, witness a miracle firsthand. It's obvious that Herod likes talking about religious things. He's entertained by it. Jesus responds by refusing to answer any of his questions. How many people in our culture are like this? How many are curious about religious things or want to be lightly entertained by religious activity but have no interest in actually taking up their cross and following Him?
- As Jesus is heading up to the crucifixion site, and as Simon is carrying the cross for Him, He turns and addresses the many grief-stricken women that were following along. He stops and looks at them and tells them that if they understood at all what had been going on, they would not be weeping for HIM but for THEMSELVES because of the judgment that was about to come upon their nation. Jesus was saying, "You think MY judgement is bad? Just wait until evil is punished." If God does this in judging His own Son for the sake of forgiveness, what will His judgement look like on those who reject His offer? The real tragedy is those that don't choose deliverance, life and forgiveness. The failure to choose correctly about Jesus has grave consequences. Do you carry with you an urgency and a burden for those in your life that don't know Jesus? If not, why not?
Pray:
- That you would be about following Jesus, not religious activity.
- That you would be burdened for those that don't know Jesus.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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