He Cannot Save Himself

  Reading the Word Matthew 27:33–44 (ESV) 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one … Continue reading He Cannot Save Himself

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You Will Be with Me in Paradise

Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. I do not publish additional material on Sundays, but I do include a suggested Scripture reading. Please be sure to subscribe to this page so you can follow along each day. We are reading through the life of Christ in 2019. Thanks for reading! Reading the Word Luke 23:39–43 (ESV) 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of … Continue reading You Will Be with Me in Paradise

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Father, Forgive Them

Reading the Word Luke 23:32–34 (ESV) 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Parallel Texts: Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; John 19:18 Understanding and Applying the Word Jesus was crucified as a criminal though he was innocent of any crime. An … Continue reading Father, Forgive Them

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Weep for Yourselves

  Reading the Word Luke 23:27–31 (ESV) 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if … Continue reading Weep for Yourselves

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Take Up Your Cross

  Reading the Word Mark 15:20–21 (ESV) 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. Parallel Texts: Matthew 27:31-32; Luke 23:26 Understanding and Applying the Word Jesus had been flogged multiple times in the previous hours. Those beatings left him battered and too weak to carry his cross to the execution site. Therefore, … Continue reading Take Up Your Cross

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A Crown of Thorns

Reading the Word Matthew 27:27–31 (ESV) 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him … Continue reading A Crown of Thorns

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Motivated by What Is Right

Reading the Word Mark 15:15 (ESV) 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Parallel Texts: Matthew 27:26; John 19:16 Understanding and Applying the Word In this single verse, we read of how an innocent Jesus ended up on a cross for crucifixion. Pilate, the Roman governor, wanted to please the crowd. The motivation was not doing what was right, but doing what was popular and best for himself, even if an innocent man had to die. Sinfulness causes us all to do terrible things. Imagine … Continue reading Motivated by What Is Right

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Who Is Your King?

Reading the Word John 19:1–15 (ESV) 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to … Continue reading Who Is Your King?

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Hail, King of the Jews!

Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. I publish a suggested Scripture reading each day along with some devotional thoughts on the passage. However, on Sundays I only post a suggested reading. Please be sure to subscribe to this page so you can follow along. We are currently reading through the life of Christ. Reading the Word Matthew 27:27–31 (ESV) 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a … Continue reading Hail, King of the Jews!

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Choosing Sin over Righteousness

Reading the Word Matthew 27:15–23 (ESV) 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that … Continue reading Choosing Sin over Righteousness

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