This week’s devotion of the Passion Week from Jesus’ Perspective. The devotions are written as first person, from Jesus’ perspective, like His personal journal of his thoughts and words gathered through Scriptures as the scenes of the Passion Week unfolds.
There are a number of references to the Song of Songs to get a peep into Jesus’ love for His people. As there are many symbolism used in Song of Songs, the list below helps to explain some of them that are found in the verses quotation in this week’s devotions.
- Shulamite symbolizes Israel and the Church
- The Beloved symbolizes Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom King
- Spikenard symbolizes worship
- Myrrh symbolizes death
This devotion emphasizes more on the heart and the spirit, rather than knowledge.
- Take time to read the devotion slowly to allow the scriptures and events to go deep into you, beyond your mind.
- It helps to read it several times, asking the Holy Spirit to bring you deeper.
- Highlight the portions that jump out at you and write down your thoughts under “Personal Reflection” and also put into writing the response or even commitment that you want to make before God.
Day 5 – The Cross
Read Luke 22:54-23:56; John 18:12-19:37
The high priest and council of elders of Israel cannot find any false witnesses against me. Even the two false witnesses speak correctly that I am going to tear down the temple of God and rebuild it within three days. You do not believe me when I confess that I am Christ, the Son of God, the King of the Jews and call it blasphemy. I feel your spat on my face and the pain of you hitting me with your hands. I know each one of you for I created you. The trial has found me guiltless and you want me to take the place of Barabbas. Yes, I will take the place of Barabbas on the cross. I will take the place of you. It is for this reason that I have come.
O my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah,
Lovely as Jerusalem,
Awesome as an army with banners! – Song of Songs 6:4
The cross is heavy for my broken body. Bless you Simon of Cyrene for carrying the cross and walking with me. O daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children for greater evil will fall upon them (Luke 23:28-31).
I can feel the nails going through my hands and feet. The weight of the world is felt on my physical shoulders when the weight of my body is on the nails as they hoist my cross up. “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). All the reviling, the blasphemy and jeering I put aside for my mind is set on doing Abba’s will. Some women were crying and amongst them, Mary my mother. My beloved disciple John is with her. I know John will take good care of her. Each breath I take is filled with excruciating pain but I know the end of this. “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32). I have allowed this temple of my body to be destroyed in a day and I will rebuild it in three days. I will go down to the lowest place for the keys of hades and death so that they will have no hold over my people!
After three hours of darkness, the ninth hour has come. Darkness looms so heavily upon me. All that I need to do on earth is done. Now the weight of the world has come upon my spirit. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?) Abba, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
It is finished.
