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Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 23 Luke 23 39-43 Understood the fear of God
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Wed 05 Jan 2022 – Understood the fear of God - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (23) - Bible reading: Revelation 15:3-4
“Lord Jesus, You are allowing people to seek to know the truth. When people seek the truth, their eyes will be opened and they will know You. When people are determined not to seek the truth, they remain blinded and go further into darkness. Lord, thousands are not seeking the truth. Father, in Your name, we go out to be those who will release people from their blindness, that they may seek the truth. In Your name, we exercise authority over the devil, to release people, so that they will seek the truth. We give You all the glory. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.”
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."
The blaspheming and insulting were taking place against Jesus by all those who were present, including the criminals, who were crucified with Christ. We have said, they were looking to Jesus to save their lives, which is how the majority treat Christ.
We are seeking Jesus to save our lives but the Lord is calling us to lose our lives for Him and for the gospel. It is only when we do as the Lord asks of us that we will save our lives.
Suddenly, amid all this mocking, ridiculing and blaspheming, one of the criminals was beginning to have a change of heart. We will refer to him as the second criminal.
We do not know what caused this change in the second criminal. Maybe, he was observing the response of the Lord to all that was being done to Him. Somehow, he was triggered to seek the truth. When he sought the truth, the Holy Spirit began to open his eyes.
All around us, people’s eyes are blinded. We, the church are the ones who must cause people to seek the truth. Just as how Jesus responded to all the wickedness that was done to Him, we too are to respond in the same manner so that someone will be motivated to seek the truth.
Once a person seeks the truth, the Holy Spirit will begin to work in that individual and open that person’s eyes.
We must be aware that the devil has blinded the eyes of people. For us to be those who cause people to seek the truth, our wrestle is against the powers of darkness.
II Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Our life, led by the Holy Spirit, causes people to seek the truth. We are to open blinded eyes, so that they may see the light and come to Jesus as the God of heaven and earth and repent for their sins.
Luke 4:18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED;
We must be conscious that a message is going out of our lives, all the time. We may not be aware but the reality is, people are reading our non-verbal responses to life’s challenges. This is the trigger that causes people to seek the truth.
Our task is to open blinded eyes. We must also keep in mind that the ones who will seek the truth will be very few. The majority will remain in their blindness, for they are afraid of the truth and will prefer the lie.
Matthew 13:14-16 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: \\\'HEARING YOU WILL HEAR AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND, AND SEEING YOU WILL SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE; (15) FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE GROWN DULL. THEIR EARS ARE HARD OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED, LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, LEST THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM.\\\' (16) But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
The majority are seeking to go their own way, they are not seeking truth. When they deliberately, continue down this path, their blindness will increase and they will go further into darkness.
The second criminal’s eyes were beginning to open and he responded differently.
The first big step was his realization that sin was against God and therefore sin deserves the just punishment from God.
Sin is a personal affront to God and so God will respond in wrath against sin. God\\\'s response to sin is His personal response, for God is holy.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
Instead of repenting of his sin before God, the first criminal was blaspheming God. Revelation 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
The second criminal was understanding the fear of God.
Thought to ponder
Being salt and light of the world, is where we bridge people to faith in Jesus.