Luke 23:
[27] And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
[28] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
[29] For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
[30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
[31] For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
[32] There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed.
[33] They were led to a place called “The Skull.” There the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. They also nailed the criminals to crosses beside Jesus—one on the right and the other on the left.
[34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”
[35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
[36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
[37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
[38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
[39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
[40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
[42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (KJV)
It’s important for us to remember that Jesus went willingly to the cross to accomplish the will of God. Jesus was NOT a victim. See John 10:18.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that as Jesus was being led through the streets; on the way to Calvary, there were Jewish women crying and mourning for Him. Even in his pain, Jesus must have felt it was necessary to speak to them. He tells them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children (descendants).
He explained that He is guilty of nothing and being treated as if He were guilty. Whereas those sending Him to the cross are guilty (of taking His life and not accepting Him as their Messiah), but they are acting as they are innocent.
Jesus tells them that those who do not have children are the lucky ones because there is a time coming when their descendants will be found guilty of the sins of their past generations.
Later when Jesus was hanging on the cross, the people stood mocking him, reminding Him how he had saved others but couldn’t save himself.
What they didn’t understand was that He could have easily come down from the cross at any time, but His mission was to die and be resurrected in order to save the world.
Even in the excruciating pain, (multiplied by OUR sins and sickness that he took to the cross with him) He still was able to ask forgiveness for those who were persecuting Him. “Father, forgive them…”
At the same time, there were two criminals, one either side of him, also being crucified. One started blaspheming (the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God).
The second criminal, having watched everything that had taken place, rebuked the first criminal and defended Jesus, even recognizing him as God.
He even admitted that he and the first criminal we’re getting what they deserved, but that Jesus didn’t deserve it at all, as he was innocent.
Then he asked Jesus to remember him; when Jesus went into His kingdom, proving that he believed that Jesus was the son of God.
Jesus assures the second man (no longer a criminal) that he will be in paradise that day. This man, formally a criminal, truly repented and was saved by Jesus’ love and forgiveness.
This is the only “deathbed” salvation mentioned in the Bible which shows that it is never too late and that we can never hold too much sin. Jesus will always accept and forgive a truly repenting heart.
This one example shows that God wants each one of us to be in heaven for eternity, so much so that He will even hear and accept a last minute confession.
Because no one knows how or when death will arrive it’s important to be prepared now. Many try waiting it out and many are lost in the waiting.
Can anyone be guaranteed that they will have enough time or even be conscious enough to make that decision for salvation?
The best time is right now. Accept God’s free gift of salvation. You will not regret it!
Interesting facts!
Point Number one – shows Him as a Prophet
Point Number two – shows Him as a Priest
Points Number three and four – shows Him as His true self: A KING!
1). Jesus WARNS the Jewish women that in the future the Jews will be found guilty of rejecting Jesus.
2). Jesus ASKS GOD (the Father) to forgive the people who are killing Him. This showed that He is living the way He commanded His people to live. (Matthew 5:44).
3). Jesus HEARS a repenting confession. We see the criminal saying: Do you not even fear God? We are guilty, Jesus is innocent. Then he spoke to Jesus directly calling Him Lord and asking for Jesus to remember him. This shows that the repenting criminal believed that Jesus was the Messiah and could give him forgiveness and everlasting life.
4). Jesus FORGIVES the criminal who asks. Jesus promises this man (no a longer criminal) that he will be in Heaven with Jesus.
These acts of love show us that even in extraordinary horrendous pain, Jesus took the time with people.
Almighty God, the Father of love and justice,
Thank you for the gift of salvation. You make it so easy: confess, love, believe, have faith, accept and be freed.
We can’t work for our salvation, we can’t buy our salvation, it is a free gift from you God; one that Jesus has already paid dearly for us, on the cross.
Father, I pray that you would touch the heart of every unbelieving person right now. I pray that their eyes would be opened to you and their soul would feel the heaviness and guilt of their sins.
I pray Lord that they would call on You right now, confess that they have sin and ask for forgiveness and salvation. I pray they would agree to make Jesus the Lord of their lives.
Thank you Father that you will hear the prayers of the wicked and immediately, they will be cleansed from the inside out and have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life! Hallelujah.
In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray.
Amen
