Wednesday, March 27 2013

Read: Isaiah 52:13-15, Matthew 26:62-68, Matthew 27:27-31

It is very difficult to read about the brutality Jesus suffered in His last days without cringing. Jesus is beaten multiple times, scourged by the Romans, mocked, had a crown of thorns forced onto his head and finally crucified. It is easy for us to mentally sanitise Jesus’ suffering by pretending it wasn’t as bad as it was. Isaiah’s words in verse 14 of today’s readings take that option away however: “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness”.

 

Dwell on those words for a moment. Isaiah does not only predict that Jesus will be beaten and suffer physically. He also predicts the brutal extent of those sufferings. Jesus is beaten such that He is barely recognisable.

 

But there is a purpose behind Jesus’ sufferings. The blood of Jesus, shed on our behalf as He was beaten and died cleanses us from sin in the sight of God. How do we respond to Christ’s work on our behalf? We lament at the depth of our sin that brought such suffering on Him and we rejoice that His blood has been shed for our sins! Hallelujah!

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray for the services coming up at Christlife on Friday and Sunday. Pray that God would draw many who don’t know Him to attend so that they might hear about what He has done on their behalf and come into relationship with Him. Pray that the gospel would be preached faithfully and boldly throughout the world over this time.

¥ Pray for MOPS this morning. Pray that all of the community mums who attend would hear about what Christ has done on their behalf and would be drawn to saving faith in Him. Pray for wisdom for all the Christlife mums that they would be able to share about what Christ has done boldly.

 

My Additional Prayer Points.

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