Day 37

Be Still:  Dear Father, thank you for the example of the women at the cross.  What horrors they saw, but what love they had for Jesus.  We pray that we, too, would have such courage and perseverance in our devotion to Jesus.  In His name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  John 19:19-27

¹⁹Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." ²²Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

²³When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ²⁴"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," ²⁷and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Be Stretched:  The soldiers may have thought they were in control, but even their discussion of Jesus’ robe fulfilled scripture.  Does it comfort you to know that God is in control of all things?  Why or why not?  Several women were present at the cross, including Jesus’ mother, Mary.  What agony she suffered watching her son being crucified, an excruciating death!  Slowly read through the passage again, pondering the many emotions she must have felt as she watched her Son’s pain, and then as He provided for her future care.