Monday, March 25, 2013
Jesus Crucified
Luke 23:26-49
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon
from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on
him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large
number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for
him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters
of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed
are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never
nursed!’ 30 Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b]
31 For if people do these things when the tree is
green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out
with him to be executed. 33 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. 34 Jesus said,“Father, forgive them, for they
do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting
lots.
35 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.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They
offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save
yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which
read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled
insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you
fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what
our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come
into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over
the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of
the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus
called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my
spirit.”[e] When he had said this, he breathed his
last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised
Godand said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness
this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.49 But all those who knew him, including the women
who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,watching these
things.
A very weird thing happened that I have never stopped to
notice before. In Verse 28-31, Jesus mentioned these things to the women who
were following him as he was led to be crucified. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do
not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will
come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never
bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, “Fall
on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us”, for if people do these things when the
tree is green what will happen when it is dry?”
The last part was said also by Hosea when he was prophesying
over the sins of Israel. At times like these modern times, we see and hear so
many crimes, injustice and sufferings that people go through, not just in poor
areas, but also even in our neighborhood. We hear about prostitution, forced
slavery, snatch thieves, murders, burglars, rapes, etc. and the list goes on
and on. Some would say that they are lucky they do not have to go through any
of it. But our security is still uncertain. Maybe that was what Jesus was
talking about - when the human race would do anything for their selfish gain. Jesus
was also murdered because the people during that time were full of self. And
the innocent ones could not do anything about it. They could only stand and
watch. Even His disciples fled.
The human race is full of sin, even though we might think we
are doing good. Everyone does what he/she thinks is right in his/her own eyes.
Some say cheating is the right way to live in this hostile world. Others would
rather take the consequences of telling the truth and being honest even though
they would hurt themselves and others. What is right is greyed and uncertain.
Therefore, no one is good except one – Jesus Christ.
He willingly gave his life up for us on the cross. He was
dragged, after being scorched by whips, to Golgotha where they mocked him until
his death. He faced all that so that we know we have a Savior who can
sympathize with every failure and every embarrassment we might go through, that
He might save us from our sin.
Verse 46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”.
Nothing that Jesus did was out of His own will. He did everything out of the
will of the Father. As He is one with His Father, His desire is the same as the
Father. And that desire is to die for you a painful death. I remember a song
titled “With all I am”. Its lyrics begin with “Into your hands, I commit again”.
How many of us are willing to commit our lives and our will to the Father? He
is good and He knows all things. He knows what you need and He has a plan for
you. Are you willing to die to yourself and your own ambitions to live your
life for Him and Him alone?
The ultimate model is Jesus and the ultimate goal is you.
Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and take on all that God has
for you?
