December 19th

Daily Reading

Isaiah 53:9

He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.

Matthew 27:57-60

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

Isaiah 53:5-12

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins.
I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Romans 5:6-8

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

(Readings taken from Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/ New Living Translation)

A Prayer

King Jesus,

As I consider today the work done for me on the cross, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Gratitude that you had a plan!

Grateful that all the way back in that Garden, when Adam and Eve chose a counterfeit life, dictated by self – you still chose me. Grateful that you have been quietly and not so quietly weaving your plan of redemptive grace into hearts, and families and whole nations for thousands of years.

Grateful that even when we were lured by false gods, again and again, and still are today, you saw my brokenness and you came to be my Saviour.

I am undone when I consider that you willingly, kindly and ever so compassionately carried the punishment for my depravity, to balance the scales of mercy and justice.   

Thank you for it all.

Thank you that in all the moments today when I will forget your goodness to me – never-the-less you will remain good.

Thank you for your life, death and resurrection - the greatest and most unfathomable Christmas gift I could ever receive.

I gratefully accept the gift and Kingship of Jesus today.

Amen.