Daily Bread Luke 23
Daily Bread Luke 23
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Observation:
The events of this last day of Jesus’ life were really quite astounding. Pilate wants to let Jesus go, as he finds no basis for crucifying him, but the leaders and the people cry out for him to release Barabbas instead. Barabbas was an insurrectionist and a murderer.
Even King Herod, who was the next step up in authority from Pilate, found no basis for the charges to execute Jesus. But the people persisted. Fearing a riot, Pilate after the third time of trying to let Jesus go, issues a decree for Jesus to be crucified and for Barabbas to be let go.
At the crucifixion scene, one of the criminals scoffs at Jesus and asks him to save them all. The other criminal realizes the magnitude of what is happening and asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. Jesus hears the man’s request and says, “Today you will be with me in paradise.
As Jesus is crucified, those who are looking on realize what an injustice that is being done. Even the centurion says, “Surely this was the Son of God!” Interestingly, it says those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood in the distance watching these things. (v.49)
Application:
What is interesting to me is that those who were supposed to be the farthest from God, Pilate and King Herod; found no reason to crucify Jesus, but the Jewish leaders and people who followed them raised the loudest shouts of, “Crucify Him!”
The Good News in the story comes through 3 people. Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross. What an irony, Simon, a sinner, carrying the cross of the Son of God, so he can go and get nailed to it to die for the sins of the world (and Simon’s sin too!). Then there is Joseph, of Arimathea, one of the few leaders who got it right, even when the rest of them all voted against Jesus. Joseph makes sure Jesus is buried with dignity. And finally, this there is the one thief who recognizes his own sin which was deserving of death. But he also recognizes the only one who can make him right for that sin, right before he dies. Jesus honors his faith, even in this last hour of his life, and tells him that he will be with him in paradise that day.
What character would you be in the story? One of the ones shouting, “Crucify him!” Or, one of his followers, watching the event from a distance. Or finally, the thief who realized who Jesus was and went to him for forgiveness and asked him to remember him.
As we begin Holy Week may we be able to enter into the Passion of Jesus. May we be able to identify with all of these characters and realize that Jesus’ death was for all of them, all of us!
Prayer: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Help me to live a life worthy of the calling you have given me to follow in your footsteps, carrying the Cross like Simon of Cyrene did. In Your name, Amen.
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read:sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Observation:
The events of this last day of Jesus’ life were really quite astounding. Pilate wants to let Jesus go, as he finds no basis for crucifying him, but the leaders and the people cry out for him to release Barabbas instead. Barabbas was an insurrectionist and a murderer.
Even King Herod, who was the next step up in authority from Pilate, found no basis for the charges to execute Jesus. But the people persisted. Fearing a riot, Pilate after the third time of trying to let Jesus go, issues a decree for Jesus to be crucified and for Barabbas to be let go.
At the crucifixion scene, one of the criminals scoffs at Jesus and asks him to save them all. The other criminal realizes the magnitude of what is happening and asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. Jesus hears the man’s request and says, “Today you will be with me in paradise.
As Jesus is crucified, those who are looking on realize what an injustice that is being done. Even the centurion says, “Surely this was the Son of God!” Interestingly, it says those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood in the distance watching these things. (v.49)
Application:
What is interesting to me is that those who were supposed to be the farthest from God, Pilate and King Herod; found no reason to crucify Jesus, but the Jewish leaders and people who followed them raised the loudest shouts of, “Crucify Him!”
The Good News in the story comes through 3 people. Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross. What an irony, Simon, a sinner, carrying the cross of the Son of God, so he can go and get nailed to it to die for the sins of the world (and Simon’s sin too!). Then there is Joseph, of Arimathea, one of the few leaders who got it right, even when the rest of them all voted against Jesus. Joseph makes sure Jesus is buried with dignity. And finally, this there is the one thief who recognizes his own sin which was deserving of death. But he also recognizes the only one who can make him right for that sin, right before he dies. Jesus honors his faith, even in this last hour of his life, and tells him that he will be with him in paradise that day.
What character would you be in the story? One of the ones shouting, “Crucify him!” Or, one of his followers, watching the event from a distance. Or finally, the thief who realized who Jesus was and went to him for forgiveness and asked him to remember him.
As we begin Holy Week may we be able to enter into the Passion of Jesus. May we be able to identify with all of these characters and realize that Jesus’ death was for all of them, all of us!
Prayer: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Help me to live a life worthy of the calling you have given me to follow in your footsteps, carrying the Cross like Simon of Cyrene did. In Your name, Amen.
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