27th Mar 26 | 16:08
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Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 28 Luke 23 39-43 The Lord who restores
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Mon 10 Jan 2022 – The Lord who restores - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (28) - Bible reading: Luke 15:20-24
“Lord Jesus, it is indeed thrilling to hear Your response to this second criminal on the cross. At the very end of this man’s life, he was restored to the fullness of life. Lord, this is the assurance for each of us, that we too can be with You, eternally. We can serve You, here, with abandon. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.”
We are witnessing this great miracle that this second criminal experienced at the cross, as we see Him being restored to fullness.
Luke 23:39-43 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
We will now focus on the words of Jesus, which is known as the second word from the cross.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
The Lord’s words remain. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
At the very end of his pathetic life, this second criminal had a glorious entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus.
The entire plan of God being worked out is what we see happening here on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
It is at the cross that man and all of creation are being reconciled to God and to fullness.
As the second criminal, confessed and repented of his sin, he was forgiven.
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, " I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin . Selah
Since his sins were forgiven, he was now justified before God.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
This second criminal could do nothing to prove that he was now a different man. Yet, because of his faith in Jesus, he was made righteous before God .
This is the heart of the gospel message that we are justified not by our works but by grace through faith in Jesus.
This is what is being proved here that this second criminal was being justified before God, because of what Jesus was doing for him on the cross.
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.
This is the one single, common, entry point for all of humanity to be reconciled with God. We all identify with the second criminal on the cross. It is by grace and through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. There is no other.
Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
This second criminal being reconciled with God was not an impersonal, sterile, theological exercise.
This was a highly charged, emotional experience. This was the heart of God, seeking for the one lost sheep and rejoicing when the sheep is found.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
It was as though the entire pain, agony and torture that Jesus was undergoing, was for this one single experience, which was to see this second criminal being restored to Him.
Luke 15:4-7 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' (7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
A glorious celebration took place in heaven as this second criminal was restored to God.
The heart of Jesus is as a Father who waits for his son, who has gone away from Him, to return.
Luke 15:20-24 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him . (21) And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (22) "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. (23) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
Thought to ponder
Man choosing to remain aloof from God, breaks His heart.