30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 16 Luke 23 35 The church being made one with Jesus
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Wed 29 Dec 2021 – The church being made one with Jesus - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (16) - Bible reading: I Peter 2:4-10
“Lord Jesus, You went through, not only the pain and the agony of the cross but You also went through the ridicule, mockery and taunting that the people did to You at that time. These were the ones for whom You came into the world, to save and bring into the fullness of life. Lord Jesus, we pray, that as Your church, we too will be one with You, knowing that we are in the world to reach and rescue the world from eternal damnation, though the world may persecute, ridicule and mock the church of Jesus.”
Luke 23:35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."
The Lord was going through the unimaginable pain of the cross and at that time, the crowd that was gathered there, mocked, sneered, laughed and ridiculed Him.
Matthew 27:39-43 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads (40) and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (41) Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, (42) “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. (43) He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
All of this that happened to Jesus was, once again, a fulfilment of prophecy.
Psalms 22:6-8 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. (7) All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, (8) “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"
We read about this in other parts of scripture. These show us that the Psalmist, underwent a similar experience and that was how he was able to express these in his writings.
Psalms 35:15 But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; Psalms 71:10-11 For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, (11) Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him."
This was also the experience of Jeremiah, the prophet.
Lamentation 3:14 I have become the ridicule of all my people— Their taunting song all the day.
We understand that the Lord was hurting deeply as He was being ridiculed and He longed for the Father to help Him.
Psalms 22: 19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
Peter captures this for us and shows that we too as the church, are called to be one with Jesus.
I Peter 2:21-23 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
We, as the church of Jesus, must follow the example of Christ, knowing that when we are mocked and ridiculed by the world, we are being a testimony to them.
The increasing persecution against the church is a sign of the end of the age. The name of Jesus is being made known to all the people of the world because of persecution. The judgement and wrath of God will soon fall on the world.
When the world stands before the judgment throne of God, they will have nothing to answer. Their mocking and their ridiculing against God’s people will testify against them.
How does this ridiculing apply to the church? We are to follow in the steps of Jesus.
I Peter 2:4-10 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." (7) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” (8) and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. (9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Through all this mockery, we are being built into the spiritual house with God. We are being made one with Jesus and we are being made a testimony to the world. The church is a witness to Christ.
Thought to ponder
The Lord is giving one more opportunity to the people of the world to repent, return and be restored to God.