30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 10 Luke 23 32-33 A life of blessing
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Mon 20 Dec 2021 – A life of blessing - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (10) - Bible reading: I Timothy 1:15-17
What took place at the cross will not just remain as a wonder but will become a reality and a blessing in our lives, as we identify with Jesus on the cross.
Luke 23:32-33 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. (33) And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
This is what we read in the Gospel of John.
John 19:17-18 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, (18) where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.
Jesus had no sin in Him but to take away our sins, He had to come to the place of being the chief of sinners. He took this place so that He could fully identify with all of humanity.
No person on earth can say, "I’m beyond redemption, for my sin is too grave". Jesus has placed Himself as the chief of sinners, so that the worst of sinners can come to the cross and say, “I have a Saviour, who has taken my place and has granted me forgiveness and healing”.
I John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
He was numbered with the transgressors.
Luke 22:37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS .' For the things concerning Me have an end." Mark 15:27-28 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. (28) So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS."
This was the prophecy regarding Jesus.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
Since Jesus identified Himself as the chief of criminals and sinners and paid for the sin of every individual, He has become our great High Priest and He makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We keep our eyes on Jesus, for in becoming the chief of criminals, He has become the author and the finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He endured the shame of the cross. To be placed in the center of two criminals and then to be crucified was shameful. He despised this shame yet He underwent the shame so that our shame can come on Him.
He did all of this so that we can enjoy the righteousness of God.
II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The reason why Jesus went to this extent was for us to experience the righteousness of God . He reconciled, restored and lifted us up to be people of God’s righteousness.
In order for us to benefit from all the blessings of the cross, we must identify with Jesus on the cross. We must be crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20)
II Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
We are constantly being crucified with Christ. Our old man, our self, is taken to the cross, repeatedly, by faith in Him. This is a regular reckoning that must happen in us for us to be identified with Jesus on the cross. It is when we die with Him that we shall also live with Him.
II Timothy 2:11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.
Apostle Paul talks of this experience while writing to Timothy.
I Timothy 1:15-17 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (16) However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul is overwhelmed by God’s plan for man’s salvation. He sees himself identifying with Jesus as the chief of sinners. This identification with Jesus, “I am the chief of sinners”, ought to be our constant catchphrase too, as we identify with Jesus on the cross.
As we identify with Christ on the cross, the Lord makes us be patterns, models, examples for those around us to inherit eternal life. Our life demonstrates the Christ life as His life flows through us.
Thought to ponder
The cross is the epicentre of the Good News.