Day 36

Be Still:  Dear Father, Jesus was worthy of being hailed as our King.  We are humbled at what He gave up for our sake.  May we live our lives out of gratitude to Him.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:   Matthew 27:27-36

²⁷Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. ³⁰They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

³²As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ³⁴There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

Be Stretched:  In a horrible mockery of a coronation, the soldiers dressed Jesus in a twisted version of royal garb.  Jesus was with God the Father when He created Adam, the descendants of those who were now torturing Him.  They only drew breath because of His life-sustaining power.  Jesus was worthy of all their honor and glory.  Instead, He endured their ridicule and abuse.  Spend some time today really meditating on how much Jesus chose to suffer for your sake.  End by praying to Him, thanking Him for giving up so much for you.