October 2 Daily Devotional

Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19

When they crucified Jesus, he prayed and said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do … When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deed: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

“And it was about the sixth hour (twelve at noon), and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour (three in the afternoon). And the sun was darkened. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani! that is to say, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished! And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Many things transpired during the hours of crucifixion. “Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom: and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept, arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many. Now, when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God! And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned. And many women were there, beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children; and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.”