“There They Crucified Him”

By Jeff Curtis

As long as this earth has existed, people have died, but in Luke 23 and Matthew 27, there is a death recorded for us that is different. In spite of the magnitude of this death, it is summed up in four words in Luke23:33; “There they crucified Him.”

“There”

Where was Christ crucified? He was crucified at a cruel place; Golgotha, Calvary – “the place of the skull.” It was a shameful place; between two thieves. However, it was an appropriate place; outside the city walls (Hebrews 13:11-12; Acts 7:58). Finally, it was a conspicuous place; beside a well-traveled road (Mark 15:29-30).

“They”

Who was responsible for the death of Christ on the cross? First, the Jews were responsible for His death. They planned his death (Matthew 27:1-2), and they demanded that He die (Mark 15:12-14). They crucified Him because of envy and prejudice. Second, the Roman soldiers were responsible for the death of Christ. The soldiers actually did the deed of placing Jesus on the cross. They crucified Him through ignorance (Hosea 4:6). Finally, we are responsible for the death of Christ. Our sins nailed Him the cross; “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” (Isaiah 53:6); “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3); “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Corinthians 5:21).

Did the people have enough political influence to make Christ go to the cross if He didn’t want to go? Did the Roman soldiers have enough legionnaires to force Him to the cross? No! (John 10:17-18; Matthew 26:52-53).

Our sins caused Him to cry out (Matthew 27:46). Sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). To be forsaken by God is the most terrible punishment of hell (2Thessalonians 1:9), and Jesus suffered the pangs of hell for us.

“Crucified”

Christ died on the Roman cross; the cruelest instrument of torture ever devised. But the cross was just the climax of the physical suffering of our Lord. Let your mind go back to His sufferings (Matthew 26:39; Isaiah 53:4).

“Him”

“He Preached Right at Me”

by James Hahn

I have heard this statement made many times by individuals who have just heard a sermon presented which exposed some wrong in their lives. Did you ever wonder why anyone would feel that the preacher had “preached right at” him?

Suppose the preacher has just preached against lying. Who in the audience will feel that he has preached right at him? It could only be one who is guilty of lying. The same would hold true on any other subject.

Meditate on these things:

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

“Lord, Teach us to Pray”

By Jeff Curtis

People often ask preachers advice on how to preach, how to teach, how to use power-point, how to write bulletins. But no one has ever asked me to “Teach me how to pray.” That is the request that the disciples of Jesus made of Him; “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1).

The apostles had some knowledge of prayer. They likely knew the prayers they had memorized in their synagogue education. They were familiar with the formal prayers of the rabbis, the recited prayers of the priests in the Temple, and the loud and eloquent prayers of the Pharisees. Something was different, though, about the prayers and the prayer life of Jesus. They had seen Him “often slip away to the wilderness and pray (Luke 5:16), or go “up to the mountain by Himself to pray” (Matt. 14:23), and spend “the whole night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). They had also seen Him rise from His knees with renewed strength, revived after communicating with His Father. They wanted what He had. And so, the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Jesus’ response is found in Luke 11:2-13. He didn’t tell His apostles everything about prayer, but He did share basic truths needed by anyone that desires to improve their prayer life.

Be Prayerful. Jesus first repeated what is generally called “The Lord’s Prayer.” More accurately, this could also be called “The Disciples’ Prayer” or “The Model Prayer.” The longer and better-known version is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt.6:9-25). This example teaches us a lot about the God we approach in prayer.

We come to God – our Father. And so, the prayer begins with the word “Father.”

We come to God – the Divine being: “Hallowed by Your name.” To “hallow” is to “treat as holy.” The third of the Ten Commandments was “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exo. 20:7). The first concern in every prayer should be to honor and glorify God.

Be Persistent. To encourage His disciples to pray, Jesus told them the parable of the persistent host in Luke 11:5-8. In the parable, a friend arrived at midnight. In those days, hospitality wasn’t just a social nicety, it was a practical necessity and a moral obligation. There was no food in the cupboards, but there was room. The man went to a neighbor and knocked persistently to receive bread for his guest.

Be Patient. Why should we persist in prayer? Because God answers prayer. He who asked received, who sought found, and he who knocked had the door opened. This truth is illustrated in the parable of the persistent host. The asking, seeking, knocking man got three loaves of bread he needed.

Be Positive. We have every reason to remain positive concerning the prayers we utter. The fact is reinforced in Christ’s closing words in vv. 11-13. A boy comes to his father and asks for a fish. Then asks his father for an egg. The father would trick the son with something other than food.

Jesus said that fathers who care about their sons don’t play unkind tricks on them, and neither does our heavenly Father. Earlier Jesus used the same analogy, He had said, “How much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matt.7:11).

It was important for the disciples to learn how to pray. Ahead of them lay Gethsemane, the trials of Jesus, His scourging, the jeers of the mob, horror of the cross, and the dark silence of the tomb. Today, wea are also faced with many trials and temptations. It is equally important for us to learn how to pray.

Passage to meditate on:

 Proverbs 17:14

The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore, stop contention before a quarrel starts.