Fri.’s Devo - At the Cross

Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8 Moses called for all the craftsmen to come and help with constructing the tabernacle. Those whose hearts stirred them to give, gave gold, silver, gems, yarns, skins, wood, etc. *** The Lord had picked Bezelel and Oholiab to oversee the artistic work or building the tabernacle. God had put into their mind what to do. Others who were creative and had skills offered their talents to help. The people brought new supplies every morning till Moses had to ask them to stop bringing materials. *** The seamstresses wove beautiful curtains with the linen and the blue, purple and scarlet yarns. They embroidered cherubim into the fabric for eleven curtains that measured 45 feet long and 6 feet wide. They were hung with clasps on the framework they constructed. The framework was set in bases. The tabernacle was made so it could be assembled and broken down easily and quickly. *** The beautiful cherubim and embroidery was seen on the inside of the tabernacle making it feel like you had entered the Garden of Eden. *** In Matthew, they were taking Jesus to be crucified. He was so beat and weak, the soldiers grabbed Simon, a Syrenean, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha which means “Place of the Skull.” *** There the soldiers gambled for his robe and guarded the cross. A sign was made and nailed above Jesus’ head that read: “Jesus, King of the Jews.” They ridiculed him and mocked him telling him to save himself if he really was from God. *** At noon, darkness fell on the earth and lasted till three. This would be the time when they would crucify the pascal lamb at the Temple. When the light shone again, Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” This was from Psalm 22:1. Jesus was referring them to this Psalm. In it it tells exactly what he was going through and the outcome of his death. It says that future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord and everything he has done and serve him. We are of the future generations that serve him and read about all he did. *** At Jesus’ next shout he released his spirit and died. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn from top to bottom. There was an earthquake and the earth gave up their dead. Many in the cemetery came back to life after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to people in Jerusalem. *** The officers who had mocked and gambled for his clothes, and tacked that sign above his head saw and felt all this and realized that Jesus really was the Son of God. What a revelation! *** The women who had walked with Jesus watched all this from afar. Joseph of Arimathea had become a follower of Jesus. He was very rich and had had a tomb carved out of rock for his own burial. He went to Pilate to ask to have possession of Jesus’ body and was given it. He took Jesus and wrapped in him a clean linen cloth and laid Jesus’ body in his new tomb. (Thus fulfilling Isaiah 53:9, “He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.”) Joseph rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. The two Mary’s were observing all this from afar. *** On the Sabbath, the priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate and asked him to seal the tomb so his disciples couldn’t steal his body and claim he rose from the dead. Pilate ordered it sealed and guarded. *** Lord, It is amazing to see the great pains people will go through to maintain their narrative. May we lay down our preconceived ideas about you and let you be who you are and show us your truth. Thank you for your Word. May it be a light to light our path and may we hear your voice and discern your thoughts.