(continued from previous two blogs)
As we approach the next verses in this chapter (Luke 23:35 -43) it is hard to imagine the depth of darkness in the situation. Yet in this darkness something happens which should encourage every follower of Christ to be confident in the gospel.
As Jesus was nailed to the cross, everyone seemed to be against him. The guards were mocking; the priests and religious leaders were calling out in derision; Mathew tells us that even both men who were crucified began to mock him. But then something happens to one of the dying thieves. Maybe seeing the way Jesus was reacting to everything challenged his heart. He knew why he was there – he had set himself up against the authorities and knew that if he was caught this would be his fate. He realised that he was going to meet his Maker, and would answer for what he had done. But what had Jesus done? He had surely heard of him. He might even have listened to Jesus among the crowds sometime. Maybe he knew someone whose life had been changed by the healing touch of the one who was hanging there beside him. And he was given eyes to see that all this evil poured out upon the carpenter’s son from Nazareth could not destroy the better kingdom that was His.
And in that dark hour, he took hold of his only hope – “I do not understand how this is going to happen, but when you have moved on from this cross, and come into your kingdom, remember me.”
The answer Jesus gives him is astounding. He was here in weakness, deserted by his followers and to all intents and purposes his enemies had won – they were getting rid of him. But in his weakness he can turn to this dying, repentant sinner and confidently proclaim: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
a) Paradise – what a contrast to the rubbish dump outside Jerusalem where they crucified wrongdoers. People have all sorts of strange ideas about paradise – and it is mostly guesswork or wishful thinking. But the Bible gives us some true idea of what it will be like – No sickness, no death, no evil without to tempt us, and no evil within to cause us to fall, no tears as they are all wiped from our face. (Revelation 21:4) There will be a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sickness. The effects of the fall in Eden will be overturned in glory.
b) Today – there was no time for the thief to atone for his sins, but Jesus does not tell him that he’ll have to wait in purgatory to suffer for what he had done. The transfer to glory would be immediate, and all of grace. There would be no delay as the Son washed away his sins through the perfect blood that was being poured out even as they spoke to each other. What a difference between the blood of the sinner, calling out for judgement, and the blood of the spotless Lamb, washing away all condemnation. The thief would suffer a few hours, but in trusting Jesus he would spend eternity in glory.
c) You will be with me – That is the greatest part of this promise. To be with Jesus is heaven itself. Those who reject Jesus would not find themselves happy in heaven because the essence of heaven is being with Him. The Bible talks of heaven as a wedding, where the church – all those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ – appears glorious in perfection, prepared for the Bridegroom – Christ himself. And as one hymn expresses it so well:
The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.
Now if Christ in his weakness can boldly proclaim that his sacrifice will accomplish this, how much more confident should we be. We have heard him cry “It is finished!” We have heard the testimony of the witnesses that he was raised from the dead the third day. We have all the promises of the gospel. And countless numbers have been persuaded that this gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe.
How can we be silent when others today give everything for the privilege of telling others the good news? As you read this Christians in some countries are being persecuted, imprisoned and killed for the faith. And their testimony bears fruit which causes heaven to rejoice. If the gospel in Western Europe seems to be under a cloud, in other parts of the world it is thriving, especially where it suffers persecution.
What a wonderful promise Jesus gave to the dying thief, and what a privilege we have to proclaim this same promise to the dying world around us. Yet we are often fearful, and our fear causes us to be silent!
As we consider Christ on the way to Calvary, let us learn to take up our cross and tell others about Him. Let it not be a burden but a joy and not a duty but a privilege. And may we be filled with His compassion, driven to our knees to intercede for those who do wrong to us, proclaiming boldly His promise of life.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
Christ on the road to Calvary - 2
Again we turn to Luke 23, concentrating his time on verses 32 - 38
If we are amazed at the compassion of Christ as he is led to Calvary, we cannot be unmoved either by his attitude towards those who were carrying out the outrageous deed of nailing him to the cross.
These were hard men. They had done this so many times before as Roman soldiers. They were there to execute the judgement passed by Roman law. They had become oblivious to the cries of the prisoners as the nails crunched through the flesh and bones of their victims. This was their job, and they could even stand calmly, dividing the clothes of the victims as their pay for doing the work – one of the perks of the job. When they found one quality cloak among the clothes, they had some fun drawing lots to see who could have it.
They were there to obey orders, and to ensure that the Jews were kept in their place. The Romans were the law here – not the Jews. This man had a sign to place above him – the King of the Jews – and any one who tried to set himself up against Caesar would know what would follow. As the people mocked Christ they probably thought: the poor deluded fool – even his own people have turned against him.
How do we feel when we are wronged? What do we want to do when we are blamed for something we did not do, or suffer an injustice? Our natural reaction is to strike back. We want to protest our innocence and right the wrong, even if it means that others will suffer.
Yet never did any one suffer such injustice as Jesus on the cross. He did no evil ever. He once challenged his enemies to point out any sin which he had committed (John 8:46) but they couldn’t. He did not deserve to suffer here, and what these men were doing was unfair, unjust and evil. Yet what words appear on his lips?
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34
He intercedes for them, even as they are casting lots for his clothes, asking that his Father would bless them.
“They know not what they do” –
(a) They do not realise what sin is. For so many people sin is just a mistake, or failing to hit the mark – after all no one is perfect. But sin is telling the eternal God that we do not want him to be God. We don’t want to live his way. Our way is better. Sin is rejecting the One who gives us our very existence and spitting in the face of the all powerful.
(b) If they realised who I am – that I am the eternal Word, and that one day they will have to give an account for their lives before the eternal judgement seat. They do not realise that on that day they will look up at the throne, and the judge will be the One they are now nailing to a piece of wood to hang and die. If they realised this they would not do this – they would bow down in awe and terror. Paul said something similar when he wrote to the Corinthians about the wisdom of the world: None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8
And Christ, having compassion on these miserable sinners, intercedes for them.
How do we, as Christians, react to those who reject the gospel? It is easy to find fault with them. It is so much easier to condemn than to be concerned. How many, I wonder, have prayed for the conversion of leaders of the Al Qaeda movement? How many have wept and prayed for those who persecute and kill Christians in some countries of the world today? And what about opponents in our own country? There are those who attack Christianity, mocking it as a delusion or a retrograde fantasy. And it is easy to condemn militant atheists in our reaction to this. But Jesus prayed for those who were doing him the most awful injustice and wrong.
These people today do not know that the One that they reject will one day judge them. They do not realise that as they follow their own way, they are spurning the Almighty and calling down judgement on their own heads.
Where is the agony in our praying for the lost? Where is the cry that God would forgive them, and open their eyes and hearts to see what the eternal love of the Holy One can do?
Facing a task unfinished
That drives us to our knees;
A need that, undiminished,
Rebukes our slothful ease
If we are amazed at the compassion of Christ as he is led to Calvary, we cannot be unmoved either by his attitude towards those who were carrying out the outrageous deed of nailing him to the cross.
These were hard men. They had done this so many times before as Roman soldiers. They were there to execute the judgement passed by Roman law. They had become oblivious to the cries of the prisoners as the nails crunched through the flesh and bones of their victims. This was their job, and they could even stand calmly, dividing the clothes of the victims as their pay for doing the work – one of the perks of the job. When they found one quality cloak among the clothes, they had some fun drawing lots to see who could have it.
They were there to obey orders, and to ensure that the Jews were kept in their place. The Romans were the law here – not the Jews. This man had a sign to place above him – the King of the Jews – and any one who tried to set himself up against Caesar would know what would follow. As the people mocked Christ they probably thought: the poor deluded fool – even his own people have turned against him.
How do we feel when we are wronged? What do we want to do when we are blamed for something we did not do, or suffer an injustice? Our natural reaction is to strike back. We want to protest our innocence and right the wrong, even if it means that others will suffer.
Yet never did any one suffer such injustice as Jesus on the cross. He did no evil ever. He once challenged his enemies to point out any sin which he had committed (John 8:46) but they couldn’t. He did not deserve to suffer here, and what these men were doing was unfair, unjust and evil. Yet what words appear on his lips?
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34
He intercedes for them, even as they are casting lots for his clothes, asking that his Father would bless them.
“They know not what they do” –
(a) They do not realise what sin is. For so many people sin is just a mistake, or failing to hit the mark – after all no one is perfect. But sin is telling the eternal God that we do not want him to be God. We don’t want to live his way. Our way is better. Sin is rejecting the One who gives us our very existence and spitting in the face of the all powerful.
(b) If they realised who I am – that I am the eternal Word, and that one day they will have to give an account for their lives before the eternal judgement seat. They do not realise that on that day they will look up at the throne, and the judge will be the One they are now nailing to a piece of wood to hang and die. If they realised this they would not do this – they would bow down in awe and terror. Paul said something similar when he wrote to the Corinthians about the wisdom of the world: None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8
And Christ, having compassion on these miserable sinners, intercedes for them.
How do we, as Christians, react to those who reject the gospel? It is easy to find fault with them. It is so much easier to condemn than to be concerned. How many, I wonder, have prayed for the conversion of leaders of the Al Qaeda movement? How many have wept and prayed for those who persecute and kill Christians in some countries of the world today? And what about opponents in our own country? There are those who attack Christianity, mocking it as a delusion or a retrograde fantasy. And it is easy to condemn militant atheists in our reaction to this. But Jesus prayed for those who were doing him the most awful injustice and wrong.
These people today do not know that the One that they reject will one day judge them. They do not realise that as they follow their own way, they are spurning the Almighty and calling down judgement on their own heads.
Where is the agony in our praying for the lost? Where is the cry that God would forgive them, and open their eyes and hearts to see what the eternal love of the Holy One can do?
Facing a task unfinished
That drives us to our knees;
A need that, undiminished,
Rebukes our slothful ease
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Christ on the road to Calvary
I've been quiet for a while. There have been a number of reasons for this, which I won't go into but here is a new train of thought which hopefully will help some.
The cross of Christ is central to every Christian. There we see the great act of salvation accomplished as Jesus takes upon himself our curse and dies for the sins of the world. For us therefore the fulcrum of history is the cross and resurrection of Jesus. We boast in it, and we never move far from it. And there are so many aspects of the cross which speak to us. As Evangelical or rather as Biblical Christians we believe it tells us about the wickedness of sin, the fulness of the atonement, the justice of God, the greatness of salvation, and supremely about the love of God the Father and God the Son towards us in accomplishing such a gracious redemption.
One other aspect which I have been thinking about recently is the example of the cross. Peter tells us that “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) Or to put it another way, the cross is a path for us to tread, as Jesus himself taught us that to follow Him means to take up our cross and follow Him. (Mathew 16:24.)
The danger here is that we can think of following Christ and telling others about Him as a duty rather than a delight. How many times have preachers felt that they are whipping their people into action, rather than encouraging them. Here is where meditating on Christ as he proceeds to Calvary can help – or at least it has helped me. So over the next few blogs I’ll be looking at Luke 23:26 – 43, especially thinking about the attitude of us Christians towards those who do not know Christ as their Saviour.
And we begin with the compassion of Christ.
We can all have some idea of the horror of the situation. Jesus had been in public ministry for three years. He’d been in the public eye, working and giving out to people day after day, often ministering late into the night. There were times when he often spent the whole night in prayer. At other times when he was tired, people came to him seeking help and he never turned them away. He must have been emotionally and physically tired. Then had come the betrayal, and although he knew it was coming, it could not have lessened the hurt. He’d given so much to the disciples, and then Judas betrayed him, the disciples fled and Peter denied that he knew the Lord. What emotional grief this must have been. Then he was taken and tried before a kangaroo court , lied about and condemned. He’d been humiliated by Pilate, Herod and the soldiers. He’d been cruellyu scourged, and often these whipping would be enough to kill the sufferer as the metal pieces tied into the leather thongs ripped the flesh apart.
Then there was the shame. How did this young man from Nazareth, with such godly parents, end up like this – “for a hanged man is cursed by God.” (Deuteronomy 21:23)? And as he is dragged naked through the streets of Jerusalem, women there weep as they take pity on him.
But Jesus’ response is truly amazing: But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (Luke 23:28) He tells them that their perspective is all wrong. “You look at me and think that I am worthy of pity, but this is a path that I have chosen. There is purpose to my suffering. But what about the path that you, and Jerusalem have chosen?” He compares the green with the dead dried wood. We have all seen what happened in Australia earlier this year when a spark from a carelessly dropped cigarette would set a forest on fire, enough to burn whole towns and communities. So he says that if God, who is merciful and loves his Son with an eternal love, yet pours out his wrath in such a way when Jesus clothes himself in our sin, what will happen to those who reject Him. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when he entered the city (Luke 19:41) knowing what would happen when Rome finally lost patience with the Jews in about 40 years from that time. The story of the destruction of Jerusalem is terrible. But that was only a shadow of the destruction that would come in the judgement at the end of time. “do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” He had compassion for them.
What is our concern most often. We are so full of our own problems. We don’t see things as Jesus saw them. We think of the difficulties we face, rather than the eternal judgement which awaits those who would reject Christ. Often we secretly even envy those who are rich in the things which this world offers. We do not see them as Jesus sees them. No one is as blessed as those who know Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer. And no one is to be more pities than those who are without Christ. I recently heard of a converted Muslim, a week after his conversion to Christianity undertook his first missionary journey. He went to tell his friends about his new found Saviour and Friend. They hung him up by his hair until his hair fell out, and he now has great bald patches on his head. But he knew that he had no choice but to try to save his lost friends.
O teach me, Saviour, teach me
The value of a soul.
The cross of Christ is central to every Christian. There we see the great act of salvation accomplished as Jesus takes upon himself our curse and dies for the sins of the world. For us therefore the fulcrum of history is the cross and resurrection of Jesus. We boast in it, and we never move far from it. And there are so many aspects of the cross which speak to us. As Evangelical or rather as Biblical Christians we believe it tells us about the wickedness of sin, the fulness of the atonement, the justice of God, the greatness of salvation, and supremely about the love of God the Father and God the Son towards us in accomplishing such a gracious redemption.
One other aspect which I have been thinking about recently is the example of the cross. Peter tells us that “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) Or to put it another way, the cross is a path for us to tread, as Jesus himself taught us that to follow Him means to take up our cross and follow Him. (Mathew 16:24.)
The danger here is that we can think of following Christ and telling others about Him as a duty rather than a delight. How many times have preachers felt that they are whipping their people into action, rather than encouraging them. Here is where meditating on Christ as he proceeds to Calvary can help – or at least it has helped me. So over the next few blogs I’ll be looking at Luke 23:26 – 43, especially thinking about the attitude of us Christians towards those who do not know Christ as their Saviour.
And we begin with the compassion of Christ.
We can all have some idea of the horror of the situation. Jesus had been in public ministry for three years. He’d been in the public eye, working and giving out to people day after day, often ministering late into the night. There were times when he often spent the whole night in prayer. At other times when he was tired, people came to him seeking help and he never turned them away. He must have been emotionally and physically tired. Then had come the betrayal, and although he knew it was coming, it could not have lessened the hurt. He’d given so much to the disciples, and then Judas betrayed him, the disciples fled and Peter denied that he knew the Lord. What emotional grief this must have been. Then he was taken and tried before a kangaroo court , lied about and condemned. He’d been humiliated by Pilate, Herod and the soldiers. He’d been cruellyu scourged, and often these whipping would be enough to kill the sufferer as the metal pieces tied into the leather thongs ripped the flesh apart.
Then there was the shame. How did this young man from Nazareth, with such godly parents, end up like this – “for a hanged man is cursed by God.” (Deuteronomy 21:23)? And as he is dragged naked through the streets of Jerusalem, women there weep as they take pity on him.
But Jesus’ response is truly amazing: But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (Luke 23:28) He tells them that their perspective is all wrong. “You look at me and think that I am worthy of pity, but this is a path that I have chosen. There is purpose to my suffering. But what about the path that you, and Jerusalem have chosen?” He compares the green with the dead dried wood. We have all seen what happened in Australia earlier this year when a spark from a carelessly dropped cigarette would set a forest on fire, enough to burn whole towns and communities. So he says that if God, who is merciful and loves his Son with an eternal love, yet pours out his wrath in such a way when Jesus clothes himself in our sin, what will happen to those who reject Him. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when he entered the city (Luke 19:41) knowing what would happen when Rome finally lost patience with the Jews in about 40 years from that time. The story of the destruction of Jerusalem is terrible. But that was only a shadow of the destruction that would come in the judgement at the end of time. “do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” He had compassion for them.
What is our concern most often. We are so full of our own problems. We don’t see things as Jesus saw them. We think of the difficulties we face, rather than the eternal judgement which awaits those who would reject Christ. Often we secretly even envy those who are rich in the things which this world offers. We do not see them as Jesus sees them. No one is as blessed as those who know Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer. And no one is to be more pities than those who are without Christ. I recently heard of a converted Muslim, a week after his conversion to Christianity undertook his first missionary journey. He went to tell his friends about his new found Saviour and Friend. They hung him up by his hair until his hair fell out, and he now has great bald patches on his head. But he knew that he had no choice but to try to save his lost friends.
O teach me, Saviour, teach me
The value of a soul.
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