30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 23 44-49 THE DEATH OF JESUS 21 04Feb2022 Luke 23 49 The Lord is there for us
📖 Luke 23:44-49
21 – 04Feb2022 – The Lord is there for us - Luke 23:44-49 - THE DEATH OF JESUS - Bible reading: II Timothy 4:17-18
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are calling us to take up our cross and follow You. Lord, You are showing us that when we bear our cross and follow You, acquaintances and loved ones may not be there by our side. We give You all the glory and praise and in Jesus' name, we pray, Amen. “
Luke 23:49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
There was a time when some of His loved ones and acquaintances were close by to the cross but after the three hours of darkness and the death of Jesus, they were not close by.
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John, His disciple was there by the cross.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the pinnacle moment of His ministry. He was reconciling man and all of creation back to God. Jesus then died, physically, when His Spirit left His body. At this most important moment, His loved ones were not there, by His side. Those who were close by were the rough Roman soldiers and His other attackers.
Let us see what we learn from the Gospel of Matthew and Mark.
Matthew 27:55-56 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, (56) among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Mark 15:40-41 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, (41) who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Luke refers to acquaintances. We hope it included His disciples. The women are specifically mentioned. These were the ones closest to Jesus but they watched His death from afar.
The Psalmist writes of his lonely experiences.
Psalms 38:11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. Psalms 88:18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.
Job’s story is yet another example of a child of God who experienced loneliness.
Job 19:13-14 “He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. (14) My relatives have failed, And my close friends have forgotten me.
This is the lonely experience for those who love God and seek to serve Him.
Each of us has a cross that the Lord has assigned for us. To be a disciple of Jesus is to carry ‘our’ cross and follow Him. Our cross is the purpose for which the Lord has placed us here on earth.
When we fulfil the purpose of God or carry our cross, it can become lonely.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
We must know our specific purpose here on earth. We must know our cross and we must carry our cross and follow Jesus, in His enablement.
As we carry our cross and follow Jesus, acquaintances and loved ones may or may not be there but the Lord is always with us.
Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
We take the promise of God being with us in a general sense, which is correct but we must see God being Emmanuel, in the specific context of us carrying our cross and following Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
These days, when frightening things are happening around us, this understanding becomes exciting. We carry our cross and we follow Jesus. He is with us to strengthen us. This is the encouragement for the church.
This is Apostle Paul’s testimony at the very end of this life.
II Timothy 4:17-18 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
Paul carried his cross and followed Jesus. His cross was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The Lord stood with him and strengthened him.
Acquaintances may not be there when we carry our cross and follow Jesus but the Lord will always be there with us .
Thought to ponder
Do you know your cross and are you carrying your cross, whatever be the circumstances?