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Apr
02

Gospel of Luke 23, Jesus Passion and Death

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Day 68, Luke 23

Today is Good Friday!  I write this after midnight — I am keeping vigil tonight — at this point Jesus was just arrested and so it begins!  I just can’t understand what that must have been like– I mean if you watch the Passion of the Christ it was basically unbearable treatment right from the start!  I don’t know how any human being could undergo that kind of treatment!

Grace grace grace — is the answer — this is our example!  Jesus free from sin — became sin for us so that we could be free from our sin and continue to do so —

Do you see now why we must frequent the sacrament of Confession and continually hand over our sin — this is the Sacrament of Mercy and the reason He died for us —

 

And today in our Chapter we see Jesus walking in procession too!  He is walking with His cross of suffering for all our sins!

Chapter 22 was part I of the Passion Narrative — and Chapter 23 is part II  So again we see…

It is all in there!!!

I see three crucial points to look at this chapter:

  1. Your Enemy’s Your Friends
  2. Daughters of Jerusalem
  3. The Cross

1- Your Enemy Your Friend

Ok so I am fired up because I love when you find something in Scripture that you’ve never found before!

Here it is!

Pilate finds nothing wrong with this man! 

Here are the charges of the Pharisees listed for us to see exactly why Jesus was condemned…

We found this MAN misleading our people…

He opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar…

and Maintains that he is Messiah, a KING!

There we have it in black and white!!!

So for them it is about money and POWER – I find it hard to believe that any man who came as Messiah would be the real one!  They didn’t want any one else in power — seems that way anyway!

When Pilate asks Jesus is if He is King of the Jews, Jesus says “YOU say so”

Pilate finds nothing wrong…..

And he sends him to his former enemy Herod!

Herod is eagerly awaiting Jesus and wants to see a sign – a miracle!

Herod and his soldiers treat Jesus horribly of course and dress him in “resplendent garb” and send  him back to Pilate….

Jesus never answers Herod and Herod also finds nothing wrong with the man…

and so here it is…

“HEROD AND PILATE BECAME FRIENDS THAT VERY DAY even though they had been ENEMIES FORMERLY!”

Isn’t that amazing!!! So Pilate and Herod were enemies!!!!  Today on Good Friday Friends!

Friends because they agreed that Jesus was innocent!  Maybe Pilate was happy that someone else supported not killing Jesus and so he could skip out of it!

I think the spiritual significance for us — when you are for Jesus you become great friends — your enemies become your friends! 

I have friends in Christ that are like family!!!  It’s crazy — the close connection in Christ!

I am just amazed that we read this — so much significance here — if we can forgive our enemies and pray for them — so many blessings are available…

I remember reading about loving our enemies when I first came to Christ and thought that we must love our enemies— tomorrow they could convert to Christ and be forgiven for all they’ve done to us– where would that leave me?

If Christ forgives them so must I!!!  Don’t waste any time — forgive today == especially today!

2- Daughters of Jerusalem

I am always amazed by the way Jesus tells those women weeping — while he is walking with the cross not to weep for Him but for their children!

It is all about focus here — we don’t focus today on the fact that Jesus is being beaten and wounded alone — but that He did this for the sins of the world –

Jesus here is directed our prayer — leading us to pray — not to look at the misery in our lives and in the world and just cry!!!!  Just worry!!! 

I here people see misfortune and say “OH THAT IS SO SAD!”  Great but what are you doing about it… there is redemption in everything that happens in this world!

WE are to be moved to pray — especially today— walk with Jesus in your heart at every hour today — 9am He is walking with the cross — 12 noon He is nailed to the cross — 3pm He dies!!!

Every day we can unite our suffering to these hours — and nothing is wasted!

We thank Jesus for His suffering for us and we go there with Him — because no one but His mother was there for Him — and a few friends — all left and abandoned Him at His hour!

PRAY for your children and the children of the world!!!  Bring many souls to Christ through the horror you see in the world — but don’t just weep about it!

3- The Cross

My favorite prayer at this time is JESUS REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM! 

Jesus forgives even while nailed to a tree!!  And receives this prayer and answers it..

“Amen, I say to you today you will be with me in Paradise!”

In our suffering we are to forgive and pray and offer any wrong doings to the Lord!

This is probably one of the biggest stumbling blocks to Christianity— one of the biggest reasons that I see people not coming to Christ! 

Jesus remember me — and remember all those who don’t know you this day!!!

Jesus asked us to remember Him in the memorial of His body and blood — the HOLY EUCHARIST!

Remember for us is to make present!  Jesus remembers us as we remember Him!

Anyone , he said, who does the least for my brother — he did it for me!  Jesus remembers…

Anyone, who acknowledges me before man — I will acknowledge Him before my heavenly Father!

Make Jesus memorial of suffering — His suffering for salvation remembered in your heart some way today!

Hoping that you can be at a Good Friday Service at 3pm — or a Stations of the Cross in the Evening — don’t waste this time to pray and watch!!

It says in this chapter that those who condemned Him were at the cross screaming out at him and telling him to prove that He is the Son of God — THEY WATCHED — it says –

Let us do the WATCH Jesus was calling for — not the watch that allows the enemy to enter in — but the guarding watch –

Let us be like the Centurion here who as a witness to what happened — glorified God and said,

“This man was innocent beyond doubt!”

And so let us go to the cross today and offer Jesus all our sinfulness — and let us leave all our burdens and sufferings at the cross!!!

WE will study this again for tomorrow — there is so much more and I am sure we can share the next two days on what is touching our hearts as we go to the cross today — we must stay in prayer through tomorrow — Saturday — the tomb — HOLY DAY —

God bless you all!!!

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  • Anonymous

    imagine hearing Jesus say to us: “this day you will be with Me in Paradise.” it is worth all the forgiveness we need to give.
    to me the most important thing to concentrate on is forgiveness and praying for those who hurt you. this is the Christian way and the hardest way and i think some people find this impossible to do. im trying – every day is a struggle.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen! That is a confirmation for me! Today I watched the Passion of the Christ Movie — we went to 9am prayer service and then watched the movie — then stopped it right when Jesus was nailed to the cross — and just got back from 12 noon service –
    so what hit me was the words Jesus says — with me in PARADISE!! I was thinking in my mind I wonder how beautiful heaven must be for Him to call it Paradise!!! Praise God for this insight! It is more than worth it!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Last night I went with some parishioners who pray after Holy Thursday night — the Seven Churches — they drive to seven churches and say a prayer — OH MY GOODNESS — I took the kids and what an experience!! To see people all over keeping vigil with Christ on the night of His betrayal!!!

    What a great tradition — these ladies have been doing this each year — of course the churches with Spanish churches were very passionately singing and had the best display of love for our Lord!!!
    Hope you all had a blessed Holy Thursday and are into His PASSION!! Pray Pray Pray!

  • marionraffa

    imagine hearing Jesus say to us: “this day you will be with Me in Paradise.” it is worth all the forgiveness we need to give.
    to me the most important thing to concentrate on is forgiveness and praying for those who hurt you. this is the Christian way and the hardest way and i think some people find this impossible to do. im trying – every day is a struggle.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen! That is a confirmation for me! Today I watched the Passion of the Christ Movie — we went to 9am prayer service and then watched the movie — then stopped it right when Jesus was nailed to the cross — and just got back from 12 noon service –
    so what hit me was the words Jesus says — with me in PARADISE!! I was thinking in my mind I wonder how beautiful heaven must be for Him to call it Paradise!!! Praise God for this insight! It is more than worth it!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Last night I went with some parishioners who pray after Holy Thursday night — the Seven Churches — they drive to seven churches and say a prayer — OH MY GOODNESS — I took the kids and what an experience!! To see people all over keeping vigil with Christ on the night of His betrayal!!!

    What a great tradition — these ladies have been doing this each year — of course the churches with Spanish churches were very passionately singing and had the best display of love for our Lord!!!
    Hope you all had a blessed Holy Thursday and are into His PASSION!! Pray Pray Pray!

  • Anonymous

    Hi, Marie, Last night I went to Holy Thursday service. I have to tell you I was disappointed. Some woman was taking pictures. There was only three people on the altar the rest were situated along the isle of the pews. I couldn’t see a thing, It seems to be it went very fast. The music was good!!!!! We all processed into the hall. I stayed till midnight. Today of course the kids did the Stations of the Cross which was good the music was awesome and the service was good too. Soo nice to receive the Eucharistic today!!!!!!!!!!!! The Cross that was displayed was beautiful big and on it was the stations of the Cross inbeted in it. I shed tears today and thanking the Lord for His grueling sacrifice.
    Here we go again with the cold hearted jealous Chief priests lying to Pilate. Then weak, cowardly Pilate gives in to the people. If that isn’t enough then they want Barbbas who was the worst criminal of all to be set free. What’s happen to these peoples mind., their crazy with hate for the King, their Savior, their Redemmer. Jesu my friend what does He say when He is dying on the Cross. Father forgive them they know not what they are doing Come aon folks wake up boy they were all spiritually sleeping Hello time to wake up. Heres the King of Kings the one and only !!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that I’m as forgiving as Jesus was what love he had and has for us all. It’s truly Amazing and AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooo, wooo

  • Ann

    “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”, it was sung while we were walking up the aisle to kiss the feet of Jesus at the 3pm Service. Can you just imagine being the “Good Thief” and hanging next to Jesus knowing while you were guilty Jesus was not? It’s all about the grace that God gives to each one of us and whether we choose to accept the faith that is offered to us. We make a lot of choices about just what we believe. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins, it’s personal!

  • Anonymous

    I read what Marion says about struggle daily forgiving. I share that with you Marion.

    I feel personally for me it is my pride that makes it hard for me some days- so that I scream silently to God “I am sorry” – scream because I don’t really feel it and if I scream loud enough maybe it will settle in my heart.

  • marylatini

    Hi, Marie, Last night I went to Holy Thursday service. I have to tell you I was disappointed. Some woman was taking pictures. There was only three people on the altar the rest were situated along the isle of the pews. I couldn't see a thing, It seems to be it went very fast. The music was good!!!!! We all processed into the hall. I stayed till midnight. Today of course the kids did the Stations of the Cross which was good the music was awesome and the service was good too. Soo nice to receive the Eucharistic today!!!!!!!!!!!! The Cross that was displayed was beautiful big and on it was the stations of the Cross inbeted in it. I shed tears today and thanking the Lord for His grueling sacrifice.
    Here we go again with the cold hearted jealous Chief priests lying to Pilate. Then weak, cowardly Pilate gives in to the people. If that isn't enough then they want Barbbas who was the worst criminal of all to be set free. What's happen to these peoples mind., their crazy with hate for the King, their Savior, their Redemmer. Jesu my friend what does He say when He is dying on the Cross. Father forgive them they know not what they are doing Come aon folks wake up boy they were all spiritually sleeping Hello time to wake up. Heres the King of Kings the one and only !!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that I'm as forgiving as Jesus was what love he had and has for us all. It's truly Amazing and AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooo, wooo

  • Ann

    “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”, it was sung while we were walking up the aisle to kiss the feet of Jesus at the 3pm Service. Can you just imagine being the “Good Thief” and hanging next to Jesus knowing while you were guilty Jesus was not? It's all about the grace that God gives to each one of us and whether we choose to accept the faith that is offered to us. We make a lot of choices about just what we believe. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins, it's personal!

  • judystefencavage

    I read what Marion says about struggle daily forgiving. I share that with you Marion.

    I feel personally for me it is my pride that makes it hard for me some days- so that I scream silently to God “I am sorry” – scream because I don't really feel it and if I scream loud enough maybe it will settle in my heart.