October 1 Daily Devotional

Matthew 17; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19

“After they had mocked Jesus, they took off the purple robe from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And he bearing his cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say … to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done to the dry?”

“And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha (skull), they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. There they crucified him, and the malefactors; one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

“And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross: and the superscription … was written in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city. Then said the chief priests of The Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.”

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam. woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose’ it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.”

“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save! If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”