Daily Devotions

Lenten Devotional for Thursday April 5, 2007

Today’s Scripture: Luke 23:44-46 (You are encouraged to read Luke 22:14-23:56)

“But I don’t want to be sad and cry.” This type of statement is made frequently during Holy Week in which we are reminded of the deepest depths of suffering Jesus endured for our sake. Many would prefer to go from the up experience of doing the wave on Palm Sunday to the rising joy and hopping excitement of Easter, without dealing with the darkness and sorrow that took place in between. But distancing ourselves from that sadness and sorrow is a disservice to our Lord and us.

We cannot pretend the pain and suffering did not happen, or simply gloss over it. It is important for us to be reminded of what agony Jesus experienced in suffering and dying for our sake, and not only the immense physical suffering, but the incomprehensible anguish of he who knew no sin taking the sins of the world upon himself, such anguish that Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” With these reminders, and experiencing that sense of sadness for ourselves, we can benefit by being more mindful and thankful for what Jesus did for us.

Grief can be a strong indicator of our love. When we grieve over the suffering and death of Christ and the pain our sins cause, we can demonstrate our love and gratitude to Jesus. As we sadly call to mind Jesus’ sufferings, we also celebrate them. We celebrate them in the celebration of Holy Communion and we celebrate them by calling the day of Jesus’ death on the cross, “Good Friday.”

May we not skip over the events between Palm Sunday and Easter. Let us open ourselves in the experience of worship to feelings of sadness and even cry over what happened to Jesus, what Jesus went through for us. Let us celebrate God’s love for us in Jesus and our love for Him in return, tears permitted.


Luke 23:44-46 NIV 

Jesus' Death
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.