Scripture to Read: John 19:18
God only had John mention this in John 19:18: “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” But God had Matthew record this in Matthew 27:33–34: “And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.” God had Mark give us this in Mark 15:22–23: “Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.” The reason they gave people wine mixed with gall or myrrh was to help deaden the pain as the nails were driven through the hands and feet. Jesus was unwilling to drink it because He knew that He was paying the price for the sins of all mankind and that He must bear the full weight of God the Father’s wrath for the payment to be made in full. But God had Luke record this in Luke 23:27–28: “And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.’” The women had good reason to mourn seeing Jesus’ beaten body, but Jesus, even after being beaten almost to death, was more concerned about them weeping for those who would reject Him as Lord and Savior.
Challenge & Application
• What sticks out to you today about Jesus and what He did and did not do?
• What do you learn about Jesus’ compassion for the lost, and how does your compassion for the lost compare?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!