Luke 23:26-43
Day 1: The Cross We Didn’t Choose
đź“– Read Luke 23:26
Simon of Cyrene was just passing through. He didn’t expect to be swept into the story of the crucifixion. But that’s how God works. Simon is forced to carry Jesus’ cross, but in doing so, he becomes a picture of discipleship: following behind Jesus, bearing His burden. Later, his sons are mentioned in Scripture—suggesting that this involuntary moment changed his family forever.
Reflection
So much of the Christian life is like Simon’s story—we stumble into grace. We didn’t plan to carry a cross. We wouldn’t have chosen suffering. But God places us in the path of Christ so we can walk behind Him. This isn’t the strength the world admires. But it’s the path of salvation.
Prayer Focus
Thank God for the places He’s led you—even the hard ones. Ask for grace to carry your cross with faith, even when it wasn’t the path you would’ve chosen.
Day 2: Weeping for the Wrong Things
📖 Read Luke 23:27–31
Jesus sees the mourning women and tells them not to weep for Him, but for themselves. Judgment is coming. What a jarring moment. Jesus doesn’t comfort them—He warns them. They are brokenhearted, but they don’t see the deeper danger: their rejection of God’s Son.
Reflection
We are often burdened by the symptoms of sin—pain, conflict, chaos—but ignore the root. Jesus warns: Don’t just weep over the consequences. Weep over the cause. Are there places in your life where you’ve missed the real crisis?
Prayer Focus
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see clearly—beyond the surface. Confess where you’ve been weeping over pain but ignoring sin. Pray for repentance that leads to life.
Day 3: Mocking the Only Hope
📖 Read Luke 23:32–38
Jesus is mocked by soldiers, scoffed at by rulers, and insulted by a dying criminal. “Save yourself,” they cry. But they misunderstand the whole mission. Jesus doesn’t save Himself because He came to save others. This isn’t weakness; it’s divine love.
Reflection
How often do we look for a Savior who proves Himself through power, not sacrifice? When Jesus doesn’t fix our lives the way we want, we can scoff in subtle ways—through doubt, detachment, or disappointment. But our rescue comes through His refusal to rescue Himself.
Prayer Focus
Thank Jesus for staying on the cross. Confess any disappointment or doubt you’ve held when God didn’t act on your terms. Ask for eyes to see the cross not as failure, but as the greatest victory.
Day 4: The Thief’s Confession
📖 Read Luke 23:39–43
The second thief admits the truth: “We deserve this… but this man has done nothing wrong.” His simple request—“Jesus, remember me”—receives an eternal promise: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Reflection
This man had no time to clean up his life, join a church, or prove his sincerity. All he could do was admit his guilt, recognize Jesus, and ask for mercy. And that was enough. That is always enough. The ground at the foot of the cross is level.
Prayer Focus
Praise God that salvation is by grace alone. Preach the gospel to yourself: “Not because I… but because He…” Rest in the promise: “You will be with Me.”
Day 5: What Will You Do With the Cross?
📖 Read Galatians 2:20; Luke 23:26–43 (review)
In crisis, we often trust the wrong things. The crowd wanted a display of power. The thief wanted escape. Only one saw the Savior and clung to Him. Alistair Begg says it best: “The man on the middle cross said I could come.” That’s our only hope.
Reflection
The cross is offensive because it tells us we are helpless and guilty. But it is beautiful because it tells us we are loved. The Christian life is not about working your way to God, but trusting the One who worked for you.
Prayer Focus
Pray for a deeper grasp of the gospel—that you would daily live in the freedom of grace. Ask for the humility to admit your need and the joy to say, “Because He did it.”