Day 39: April 3

Readings:

And they bring Him to the place Golgotha, which is, being translated, Place of a Skull. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but He received it not. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots upon them, what every one should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His crime was inscribed, The King of the Jews. And with Him they crucify two robbers; one on His right hand, and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, And He was reckoned with the transgressors. (Mark 15:22-28)

Their giving to the Lord “vinegar mingled with gall,” which was also called “wine mingled with myrrh,” signified the quality of the Divine truth from the Word with the Jewish nation, namely, that it was mingled with the falsity of evil, and thus altogether falsified and adulterated, therefore He would not drink it. (Apocalypse Explained 519:2)

“Blessed are ye, when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and shall say every evil word against you falsely, for My sake; rejoice and exult, for great is your reward in the heavens; for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

Reflection:

Jesus was condemned and crucified, because the church rejected what He stood for as evil and hellish. In reality the church had falsified the truth and was mixing evil with good. Jesus said being persecuted would lead to blessing. Good people will be spiritually persecuted by hell, but do you think that being rejected by the world is part bearing the cross?

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