Lenten Daily Devotional - Day 32 - Thursday, 3/21/13

Devotional Scripture:   John 19:17-27

Devotional Thought:

"Dear woman, here is your son."  - John 19:26

Amazing!  Seriously . . . this just blows my mind in so many ways!

Here is the story of the crucifixion . . . we hear the cries from those whose hands and ankles were nailed through with spikes into the wood of their crosses.

We can only sense their agony as their crosses are lifted up onto the rack that held them, or dropped into a hole in the ground that served as the base used to keep them upright.

We can just imagine the quick military efficiency of the crucifixion "detail."  They've no doubt had to do this before.  It took only a few minutes. 

Better to be quick about it.

We can imagine the shock and alarm of those who were there as witnesses.  Crucifixion was meant as a way to keep people in line. 

It worked.

We can imagine Jesus being consumed in excruciating pain . . .

And yet . . . in the middle of the crucifixion story with all it's gory horrible detail . . . his thoughts are about his mother???

He looks at Mary and says, "Dear woman, here is your son", and then he focuses his eyes on John.  and says, "here is your mother."

Amazing!   Simply amazing.

I can imagine him cursing, screaming, calling down angels to rescue him . . .

Even as he approaches death . . . Jesus witnessed to the very core of his message . . .  to preach and minister to the poor, the down trodden, the sick, the blind, the widowed . . . a ministry of compassion.

"Dear woman, here is your son."

In the end  . . .  even when consumed in pain beyond imagination . . . he is caring for others.

Is there a lesson for us here somewhere??

This is the Jesus we have been preparing to meet on Easter morning. 

This is the Jesus who has inspired us to clear the rubble and refuse from our life and make straight the path to Him!

This is the Jesus . . . who cared for us so much . . . that he died for us.

Such is the compassion extended to us by our God!

Amazing!  Simply amazing.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>