The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2 April 2021 – TOPIC: JESUS DIED FOR ME
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TOPIC: JESUS DIED FOR ME
READ: JOHN 19:1-19 (NKJV)1. So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged [Him.]2. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put [it] on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.3. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.4. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”5. Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And [Pilate] said to them, “Behold the Man!”6. Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify [Him,] crucify [Him!”] Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify [Him,] for I find no fault in Him.”7. The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”8. Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid,9. and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.10. Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”11. Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”12. From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”13. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called [The] Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.14. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”15. But they cried out, “Away with [Him,] away with [Him!] Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”16. Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led [Him] away.17. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called [the Place] of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,18. where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.19. Now Pilate wrote a title and put [it] on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.*THE MESSAGE:*Today Good Friday – marks the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf. Our text gives a graphic account of His passion and eventual crucifixion. He was first scourged and crowned with thorns (verses 1-5). Then the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, tried him but found no fault in him (verse 6; Luke 23:14). The governor’s wife even sent a note during the trial urging the governor to “have nothing to do with that just man” (Matthew 27:19). The Jewish leaders presented many charges against Jesus, but He answered not a word (Matthew 27:12). Finally, Pilate succumbed to public pressure, and delivered Jesus to them to be crucified (verses12-16).Christ’s suffering and death were planned long before as the perfect sacrifice that would bring about our redemption (see Isaiah 53:1-9). He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). As High Priest of the new covenant, He offered up himself once for all mankind. Have you accepted this offer? Reflect on the hymn “I gave my life for thee; My precious blood I shed; That thou might’st ransomed be; And quickened from the dead; I gave my life for thee: What has thou given for me?” (SS & S 621)PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for dying that I may have eternal life