April 20, 2022 Bible Verse | Devotional Message & Prayer | Wednesday Daily Devotional Message
April 20, 2022 Bible Verse & Prayer
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TOPIC: Last Words
BIBLE VERSE: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do. And they divided his garments and cast lots.” – Luke 23:34
April 20, 2022 Bible Verse | Devotional Message
Heinrich Schütz is considered a prominent German composer of the 17th century. His life spanned an era of instability in Central Europe with wars, economic hardship, and religious division. Synthesizing styles, he wrote music that transcended the times and continues to speak to us.
While nations struggled with the Thirty Years’ War, Schütz focused on Jesus’ death on the cross. The result was one of his greatest works, “The Seven Words of Our Dear Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ that He Spoke on the Holy Cross.” He wrote on the score, “If you love the world, then you are dead. But if you die in His red wounds, then He lives in your heart.”
Schütz understood the significance of the words Jesus spoke from the cross. Over the centuries, many have tried to capture the essence of those words. Jesus’ final words are timeless, words of forgiveness, words about eternal life: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). They’re words of compassion, like the words Jesus spoke to His mother: “Woman, behold, thy son!” (John 19:26-27).
Jesus’ words expressed how alone He felt: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). His words remind us of His humanity: “I thirst” (John 19:28). He spoke words of completion: “It is finished” (John 19:30) and words of surrender: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Words can change our lives! Ponder them.
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross. Speak to me! Thank You that the work is finished. In Your name, amen.
EXTENDED READING
Luke 23
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