Mark 14:36

Mark 14:36 – “Abba, Father,” He said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

        As Jesus drew closer to the hour of His sacrifice it began to weigh heavy on Him. We see here that Jesus did not want to die. He was getting ready to go through excruciating pain, torment and ultimately be separated from God. There is nothing on this earth that could be worse.

        In Jesus prayer we can see His submission to God. He says, “Not what I will but what you will.” Jesus was not ready, but He knew the time had come. Later we see it said of Him that, “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

        So in order to fulfill God’s will in His life we see two things at work. First we see submission. Jesus put aside His own desires to obey what God had told Him to do. Next we see Him looking beyond the situation to the fruit that would come because of His obedience.

        As we learn from watching Jesus, we can apply these two things in our lives as well. Jesus told us we will face hard times, but we can make it through. When Jesus faced the darkest time in His life He first submitted to God. Then He looked past the trouble to the joy that waited for Him on the other side.

        When we face hard times we must follow Jesus example. First, submit to God and all that He has for you. Then, when you are facing trials, look past them to the joy on the other side. Because of Christ we have the joy of eternal life with God to look to.

Romans 6:10-11

Romans 6:10-11 - The death He (Jesus)  died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives He lives to God. In the same way count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Sin deserves death, so because we have all sinned we all deserve death, but Christ died for us. Jesus died the death that we deserved. He took our sin, all of it, and paid it’s penalty.

Before this, God’s people had to sacrifice animals every time they sinned in order to pay the penalty, but Christ died once. Being righteous He died and took care of all sin; past, present and future. The price has been paid; we have been set free.

Then Paul talks about Jesus’ life. “The life He lives, He lives to God.” Notice this text speaks of a current life, where as when Paul speaks of Jesus death it is in the past tense. Christ has already died, it’s done and over, never needing to happen again. Sin has been taken and defeated and now Jesus lives. He was resurrected and now He lives to God.

Now it is time for us to join with Christ. Just as He died to sin we must also count ourselves dead to sin. Jesus already took our sin and freed us from it. It’s done and the life we now live we must live to God.

This doesn’t happen on our own, but because of Christ. He took our sin and brought us into the kingdom of God as children. Just as we join with Him in His death, so we also join with Him in His life. Not just surviving, but thriving. It is time to to not just make it through, but to really live and do it to God. We must live our lives to glorify Him through all we do and say. Jesus is our example. Let’s live today as we follow in His footsteps.

Luke 23:40-41

Luke 23:40-41 - But the other criminal rebuked him, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “ since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Two criminals; and Jesus. All three receiving the same punishment, yet Jesus was the only one taking verbal abuse. Many of the people gathered at the cross were mocking Him, including the soldiers. They were hurling insult upon insult. Even one of the criminals joined in and started mocking Him as well. He was on the cross receiving the same punishment, but he still did not understand.

Then there was the other man. He was a criminal as well, but he had an understanding of who Jesus was. He was on the cross because he was a criminal, but he knew it was different with Jesus. Jesus was innocent and he knew it. More than that he knew Jesus was a righteous man. 

In that day and age it would have been impossible not to have heard something about Jesus. He had been traveling and teaching and performing many miracles for about three years. I’m sure everyone had a story. Some way Jesus had touched their life or the life of someone they knew. Maybe this guy had been at one of the gatherings where Jesus had performed some sort of miracle. It’s hard to say, but it is obvious that he had heard of Jesus prior to this encounter, and he knew Jesus didn't belong here. Yet there He was, nailed to a cross next to him, as a criminal. 

This man knew the truth. While everyone else was hurling insults he defended Jesus. Then he turned his attention to Jesus and asked Him a question, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He looked past the humiliated man that was dying next to him and saw Jesus for who He truly is, the King of kings. Jesus looked past the life this man had lived as a criminal and into his heart, then responded, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

So in looking at this story we see that our past doesn't matter. Jesus only looks at the condition of your heart right now. No matter what you have done or where you have been Jesus still wants you. This man was convicted and dying as a criminal, but Jesus looked past that and saw his heart had changed. He will take your heart as well, whenever you are ready to give it to Him. Don’t wait until the last minute, or it may become too late. Turn to Him today.