LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Friday 18th April 2025
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Scripture Reading: Luke 23:43-49
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” Luke 23:46-47
Today, we remember and honour the price that Christ paid for our salvation. On the cross of Calvary, Christ died for the sins of the human race. He bore the judgment for the sin of Adam that had plagued all of us.
In the final moment of Jesus’ life, several profound events took place. There was an earthquake, the sun was darkened, and the curtain in the Temple’s holy place was torn apart. God used these various events to show us what was taking place spiritually.
On the cross, Jesus forgave those who nailed His hands and feet. That offer of forgiveness extended to all those whose actions led to His crucifixion. He also offered salvation to one of the thieves crucified with Him. In the brief time that the thief on the cross had, he took all the necessary steps leading to salvation. He acknowledged his sins before Christ. He then asked the Lord to remember him in His kingdom. With that expression of faith, Christ guaranteed salvation to the thief on the cross.
Crucifixion was accomplished by nailing or tying the arms and legs of the victim to the cross. The agony was sometimes prolonged for days. Death resulted from exposure, shock, and eventual suffocation when the body was so exhausted that breathing in that position was no longer possible. Comparatively speaking, the death of Jesus occurred rapidly.
Both Pilate and the Roman centurion who oversaw the crucifixion of our Lord judged Him blameless. Pilate judged Him innocent at His trial; the centurion judged Him righteous at His death. Jesus was the innocent and righteous Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.
We call today Good Friday because a good man died. Yes, they just died for the unjust. It is a Good Friday because, through the pain and shame that Christ suffered, God extended His goodwill to all of the human race. All we need to do is do what the thief on the cross did. We must acknowledge our sins and accept Christ as our Lord and personal Saviour.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die for me. I accept your offer of salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
