Today’s image is by Richard Lawrence
Prayer & Reflection by Jo Hossain
Jesus is taken down from the cross (NIV John 19:31-37)
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
Reflection
Today’s image is based on Michaelangelo’s Pieta – a sculpture depicting Mary, Jesus’s mother cradling the body of Jesus. Although this is not anywhere is the gospels, can you imagine the loss she would have felt? Now imagine you are one of the soldiers in this scene helping to take Jesus’ body down from the cross to prepare it for burial. You are “looking on the one who you have pierced.” How do you feel looking at Him? Do you know who He is? What has He accomplished on the cross?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to look at you today, to remember your death. Help me to remember those who are suffering - maybe from the loss of a loved one, those who are persecuted, and those who are feeling broken at this time. Help me to remember that you suffered greatly, until death, for me.
