The Road to the Cross
Month 11: The Cross & the Empty Tomb · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 23:26-34
26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 30 At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Memory Verse
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”— John 3:16 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Acts 6-8
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Stephen becomes the first martyr, and the gospel begins to spread beyond Jerusalem.)The Heart of It
The journey to Calvary was a slow, painful walk through crowded streets. Jesus had been beaten through the night. The crossbeam was too heavy for His worn-out body. So the soldiers grabbed a man from the crowd. His name was Simon of Cyrene, and he was a visitor far from home. They laid the cross on his shoulders to carry behind Jesus (). All along the road, women wept for Him. But even then, Jesus turned His thoughts away from His own pain. He warned them of harder days to come. He was suffering, yet He was still loving. He was still teaching. He was still thinking of others. The road to the cross was lined with sorrow, and Jesus walked every step of it on purpose.
When they reached the place called Calvary, they nailed Him there between two criminals. And the very first words out of His mouth were not a cry of anger. They were not a curse on His enemies. They were a prayer. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (). Stop and let that sink in. The men driving the nails received His prayer of mercy. This is the heart of in action. God so loved the world that He gave His Son. He even loved the world that crucified Him. Jesus did not die forgiving only the nice people. He poured out love on the very ones who put Him there. That is how wide His love reaches. And it reaches all the way to you and me.
Around the Table
A kind man named Simon helped carry Jesus' heavy cross. And when the soldiers hurt Jesus, He prayed for them instead of being mad. Jesus loves even people who are mean.
Let's do it: Pretend to lift something heavy together and say, "Jesus, You carried the cross for me!"
Jesus' first words on the cross were "Father, forgive them." He chose to love and forgive the people hurting Him. That is the hardest kind of love there is.
Let's talk: Why do you think it was so important that Jesus forgave them right away?
Even in agony, Jesus stayed focused on others. He warned the women. He forgave the soldiers. His suffering never turned Him bitter or self-centered.
Let's go deeper: How does seeing Jesus love His enemies from the cross change what you think real love costs?
💬 Conversation Starter
Simon was just passing by when he was asked to carry Jesus' cross. If God surprised you today with a hard job that helped someone, would you be willing? Why or why not?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Skeptics sometimes say the crucifixion is a legend. But Roman crucifixion is one of the best-documented practices of the ancient world. Even non-Christian historians like Tacitus record that Jesus "suffered the extreme penalty" under Pontius Pilate. The cross is history, not myth ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Notice that Jesus' first word from the cross is a prayer of forgiveness, not a complaint. The Son had taught His disciples to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you" (). Now He demonstrates it under the worst possible conditions. This is proof that His teaching was never just theory. For a father, this is the deepest school of leadership. Our children learn what forgiveness costs not when we explain it, but when they watch us extend it to someone who has genuinely wronged us. Christ died for all, including the soldiers at His feet. That universal love is the engine of the gospel we hand our kids. Ask yourself honestly tonight. Is there someone I am still refusing to forgive, someone my children can sense? The road to the cross calls us to lay that down.
Draws on: John Stott, The Cross of Christ.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for the love that carried Jesus all the way to the cross for us. Even there, He prayed, 'Father, forgive them.' Teach our family to forgive like Him. Help us never forget how much You love the whole world. And thank You that You love each one of us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus walked the road to the cross loving His enemies. That is how far His love will go for me.