the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
John 19:31-42
When they come to finish off those being crucified by breaking their legs, the soldiers realise that this is unnecessary for the Lord Jesus as He is already dead. Their brutality fulfils the words of the Lord for the converted robber: "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). But one of the soldiers is not afraid of profaning the Lord’s body on the cross by thrusting his spear into it (cf. Zechariah 12:10). A marvellous sign of grace is the answer to this last insult: the blood of atonement and the water of purification flow from His pierced side.
Then the burial of our beloved Saviour takes place. God prepared two disciples to render that honour to the body of His Son which the Scriptures foretold (Isaiah 53:9). Up till now Joseph and Nicodemus had not had the courage to take sides with Him openly. But now, roused by the enormity of their nation’s crime, they know that to keep silent would brand them as agreeing with what has been done. Dear believing friends, never let us forget that the world has crucified our Lord. To keep quiet or to enjoy ourselves with His murderers is tantamount to denying Him. On the contrary, the time has come for us to make ourselves known as being His disciples.
