“They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.” (John 19:17)
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Wood is one of the most common elements on earth. So abundantly found, it is burned for warmth, sliced to make paper, joined to build houses. Yet two very common pieces of wood, once drenched with rain, and perhaps even gnawed at by insects or animals, would soon absorb the sweat and blood of our Lord as He was crucified. Imagine such a rough surface jammed against your back. Christ’s cross was not padded. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t custom-fitted for His body. It was just a normal piece of wood, plucked out of a forest, suddenly made holy through the touch of the Messiah.
Think long and hard about what it meant for Jesus to accept these pieces of wood. As He began carrying the cross, every step took Him closer to the horrors of Golgotha. He knew where this journey ended; He was not ignorant of the physical, spiritual and emotional suffering that lay ahead. At any moment, He could turn around and walk away. He could command the angels to slay the soldiers who “guarded” Him. He could ascend to heaven and take His rightful throne. He could avoid every drop of blood, calm every screaming nerve, reject every sin that was about to be laid on His shoulders.
But Jesus kept walking, carrying the common wood on which He would be crucified, to accomplish His mission. He did it so that you wouldn’t have to.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times when my life doesn’t turn out exactly how I had hoped and I begin to question Your love accordingly. Touching this wood, remembering how You knew it would be the tool of Your crucifixion, I have no right to question Your commitment or care for me ever again. Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how great a price was paid for my salvation.
* Daily Readings are not based on the sequence of events during the Passion Week, but instead to reflect on and then prayerfully consider applications of some of the aspects and events of this sacred week.