Week 42: Sweet Jesus, My King

Day:  293          Verses Memorized:  810          Working On:  Finishing Chapter 19

My Progress:
I broke the 800 mark!  I couldn't believe it just now when I tallied up the verses and realized that I only have 61 to go.  While I'm happy with my progress in the amount of verses I've done, I have not been too overjoyed with the content of this chapter. Some of the verses are quite difficult and I get angry when I have to go over it so many times because it is heart wrenching.  At any rate, this was a very successful week and the best part was, I caught up to my Pastor who has been preaching on John for the last year!  How exciting it will be next week when he does the scripture reading and I will have it memorized.  And I can't wait to hear the message.  I'm more motivated than ever and I'm looking forward to finishing 19 this week, the longest chapter I have left.

Some Thoughts:
First of all, I feel like a complete idiot because for many months I have been worrying in anticipation of memorizing the crucifixion.  I had no idea that John doesn't really include that many details about it!  "Here they crucified him" is pretty much the extent of the details.  I can't believe I worried for so long about something that wasn't even there.  (Hmm, that about sums up a lot of my life.  How about you?)

While I was pleased that I didn't have to memorize the awful details about beatings, blood, and nails, there was certainly no shortage of disturbing verses:

• "They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying 'Hail, king of the Jews!'  And they struck him in the face."  This verse just makes me so dang angry.
• "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.'"  Sweet, sweet Jesus.  Who on earth would be thinking of taking care of other people under such horrific circumstances?  As a mother, this is one of the verses in John that has touched my heart the most.
• "A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips."  Can you imagine being the guy who lifted the sponge up to Jesus' lips while He was hanging on the cross?
• "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."  I feel unworthy to even comment on this verse.  And the words in my vocabulary are grossly inadequate to express what this verse means to me.

I do believe it's important to meditate on these things.  This is the reality of what Jesus has done for us.  This was God's precious plan from the beginning of time.  We can't lose sight of the Gospel and the picture of not only His infinite love and mercy, but also the immeasurable price that was paid for it.