Wednesday, April 13th, 2022
April 1st, 2021
Kingman, IN
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43 (NIV)
Bible Reading • Luke 23:32-43
The Crucifixion of Jesus
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
🤍 • 🤍 • 🤍 Challenge 🤍 • 🤍 • 🤍
Oftentimes we do things we’re not proud of, and these sins cause us to hide in secret. But Jesus welcomes us to shed the shame and guilt and enter into His presence with Him. Today, confess those sins that stand between you and fellowship with God, and celebrate His great love that goes above and beyond anything we can ask for or imagine.
A Lent Devotional-Uncovering the Love of Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu
📕 • 📘 • 📗 • 📙 • 📖 • 📙 • 📗 • 📘 • 📕
As you read today’s scripture verses did anything “jump” out for you? There’s certainly a lot to unpack in these twelve verses surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.
- We know the place of the crucifixion was called the “Skull.”
- We read that two criminals were also being crucified along with Jesus.
- We know Jesus was in the middle of the two men.
- We know the men carrying out the sentencing of the crucifixion took Jesus’ clothes, divided them and cast lots.
- We know the rulers “sneered” at Jesus.
- We know the soldiers mocked Jesus.
- We know one of the criminals hurled “insults” at Jesus and the other criminal rebuked him for saying them.
- We know the criminal who rebuked the other made a statement to Jesus saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
- We know that Jesus responded to the criminals statement by saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The one that stood out to me was the criminal who ask Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ~Luke 23:42
What I have deducted from the criminals statement is that he must have been familiar with the “fear of God” statement and that he thought/believed that Jesus was at the very least a man of God because of his use of the word “kingdom” and going to it after death. And, the criminal may have actually believe who Jesus had said He is the Son of God. I also believe that Jesus has the power to save anyone, even a convicted criminal. The saving that Jesus offers is not deliverance from the penalties we must face with our human bodies; not referring to sin but crimes/breaking man’s laws. No Jesus saves our spirit, so our souls will live forever in Heaven with Him. Our created beings created by God, Himself.
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My research into the biblical accounts of the two criminals and their interactions with Jesus, revealed that both criminals joined in with the unruly crowd at mocking Jesus. The reasons why one of them changed their tone towards Jesus is unknown but nonetheless, he in fact ask that Jesus remember him. The why we don’t know, probably never will; we do know that Jesus’s response to the criminal is all about what Jesus had been teaching: love, mercy, grace and hope. The criminal did not deserve any of this gifts; nether do you and I. It is not about deserving . . . It’s about the love of Jesus.
“Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
~Matthew 27:38,44 NIV
“They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
~Mark 15:27,32 NIV
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
~Luke 23:32,39-43 NIV
▫️ • ▫️ • Further Study • ▫️ • ▫️
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%2053:12&version=NIV
“Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
Mark 15:32 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2015:32&version=NIV
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
Ephesians 3:20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%203:20&version=NIV
Thank you my friends, family, and bloggers I so appreciate your support and encouragement as I live out my passion in this space. I am blessed beyond measure.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16,18 (NIV)
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
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