In The Word
Read: Luke 23:26-43
Simon Carries the Cross
26 And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
27 Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and grieving for Him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Him.
The Crucifixion
33 And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves.35 And the people stood by, watching. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Yeshua was led to His place of death, and a man was pulled from the crowd to help carry the cross. Some who saw Yeshua wept, while others had no compassion and mocked Him even though He was in excruciating agony on the cross. Despite their rejection and His great physical anguish, Yeshua asked the Father to forgive them. One prisoner hurled insults at Yeshua, while his partner in crime rightly rebuked him declaring that Yeshua had done nothing to deserve the punishment; that prisoner found salvation.
Though Luke’s account of Yeshua’s crucifixion is brief, let us reflect upon the enormous magnitude of the price Yeshua paid for our forgiveness, salvation, freedom, and eternal life. You and I deserved the excruciating torture and cruel death that was put upon Yeshua for our sins against God. But Yeshua, out of love for the Father and mankind, willingly became the sacrifice for the world’s sins and failings. This story may become common for us as Christians as we hear of it often in church services, but we should never take it for granted and lose our passion.
People may mock, ridicule, and reject us, but we, like Yeshua, must lovingly forgive them. And we remain faithful, steadfast, and unashamed in our decision to commit wholeheartedly to Yeshua. Take a moment to thank Yeshua for His great sacrifice: you are saved from your sins. Recommit to share this great story with others that they also may be saved.