Title: Three Crosses / Luke 23:32-43
In Christianity, this week is observed as Holy Week. This Sunday is also called Palm Sunday because when Jesus rode up on a donkey to Jerusalem on Sunday, thousands of people welcomed Him with waving palm branches.
After praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on Thursday night, at the signal of Judas Iscariot's kiss, he was arrested by the Roman soldiers, dragged away, tried five times, and sentenced to death.
1. Jesus crucified in the middle
People knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. But he was the Son of God who came to this earth to save mankind. During his stay on this earth, he did no harm to anyone. Rather, he healed many sick people with his great power, bound the pain of the marginalized with love, and proclaimed the kingdom of God with wisdom.
But why did he have to be crucified?
(1) Because of this: Jesus preached the word with the authority of heaven and performed great miracles, so many people followed Jesus. In addition, Jesus harshly rebuked the pride and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day, and the religious leaders, who had lost popularity, tried to find fault with Jesus, but they could not find it. So they accused Jesus of trying to make himself king. After examining Jesus, Pilate knew that he was innocent and wanted to release him, but the Jews demanded that he be forced to death.
(2) God's plan: The situation was the same as above, but Jesus, the Son of God, was able to avoid the cross as much as he could. Jesus said to Peter, who was holding his sword to resist the soldiers, to put the sword into his house, and said, “Do you think that I cannot ask my Father to send me more than twelve angels now? will it be done" (Matthew 26:53-54)
Jesus knew that it was the will of the Father to save all mankind through his sacrifice.
“For the Son of Man came to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
More than five hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace; and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he testified, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
2. Laughing evildoer
Two evildoers were crucified on either side of Jesus. They were all paying the price for their sins.
One evildoer cried out in pain and cried out to Jesus. “Aren’t you the Christ, save you and us?”
The salvation that this evildoer sought was immediate descent from the painful cross.
Many people today long for salvation without suffering on the cross.
At the height of his popularity, Jesus quietly told his disciples that he would suffer on the cross. Then Peter said, "Not so, Lord, for this will never happen to you." Then Jesus said sternly. "Get behind me, Satan, for you are a stumbling block to me, for you do not think about the things of God, but the things of men... If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. “He did (Matthew 16:21-24).
Satan tempted Jesus to "jump down from the top of the temple" at the beginning of His ministry, and now He was tempted to "come down from the cross" again when His ministry was complete.
3. A penitent evildoer
Another evildoer rebuked his colleague and, after witnessing to Jesus, entrusted himself to Jesus.
(1) Recognition of sin: “We receive a fair reward for our deeds.” He realized God's justice and feared God.
(2) Evidence of the righteousness of Jesus: “There is nothing wrong with what this man has done.” When he saw Jesus maintaining his integrity in front of the mocking crowd, he recalled the rumors about him and became convinced of the righteousness of Jesus and testified to his fellow men. did it
(3) Trust: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He was convinced that Jesus was king. So he wanted to enter his country too.
Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
He became the first person to enter paradise through the blood of the cross.
* Although Jesus is the sinless Son of God, He died on the cross to pay for the sins of mankind.
Those who believe in the merits of the blood can receive forgiveness of sins and enter his kingdom. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven. Let's look at Jesus like this evildoer.
What salvation do I seek? Do not hope for salvation without the cross