Friday, April 2, 2010

The Final Hours

Luke 23:33-47
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Imagine walking through the city carrying a cross, not just carrying a cross but carrying a cross after being beaten and ridiculed. Jesus endured all this for you and me.

Finally they arrived at Calvary, the place of skulls. Adam Clarke says, “probably so called from the many skulls of these who had suffered crucifixion and other capital punishments scattered up and down in the place.” It was at this place that they crucified Jesus with two criminals.

As He was hanging on the cross, suffering for your sins and mine, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The people standing around had never heard the likes of this, someone talking to God while hanging on the cross. Some considered everything that was going on, and pondered what it meant. Others were sneering and taunting, “He saved others, let him save himself.” Not realizing He was doing this for them.

One of the criminals joined in with the shouting and allegations. The second one rebuked him saying we are being punished for our crimes but this Man did nothing wrong. Then he asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered with “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus simply and completely forgave him for his sin.

Then absolute darkness covered the whole earth. It was total darkness in the middle of the day. The people stood there in fear, they had never seen such a thing before, or since, what happened, it is only noon time. At the end of the three hours Jesus cried, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” and he died. As the centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

Jesus died for your sins and mine. The burden of our sins killed him. Imagine what a burden it was, my sins alone would have killed this sinless Man, but the sins of the world! He did this because He loved us so much and did not want us to spend eternity in hell. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, do it today.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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