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.

Luke 9:23

Luke 9:23 - Then He (Jesus) said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Many were called, but few made the choice to follow. People thought it would be easy and fun. If they followed Jesus they would see all kinds of miracles and hear amazing things. It would be mind blowing and exciting, or so it seemed. Jesus warned them otherwise. It is definitely fun and exciting to follow Him, but it goes deeper than that. Jesus warned that it would not be easy, it fact it would be quite the opposite. They wanted to follow Him because it would make them feel good, but Jesus said, “You must deny yourself.” 

He was telling them that if they followed Him it would not be an easy road. This scared many away, but those who remained were not there for just an emotional high. Today we have the same choice to make. We can deny ourselves and follow Jesus or we can live for ourselves. Following Jesus has many rewards, but it also has many sacrifices. We were designed to live as He lived and reflect the glory of God, but there will be trials. 

If we follow we must first deny our own wants and needs and put His life ahead of ours. It sounds drastic, “Take up your cross,” but Jesus is not asking anything that He didn’t already do for us. He lived a selfless life and went to the cross for you and me. Jesus denied His place next to God in heaven and experienced separation from Him so that He could rescue us. Now He asks us to live that same selfless life, so that we can bring others to know Him.

Mark 15:31-32

Mark 15:31-32 - In the same way the chief priests and teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves, “ He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him. The ultimate act of humility. In Philippians Paul writes it like this, “Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” This had to be hard for Jesus. They mocked Him thinking He couldn't come down off the cross, but He knew that He could. All it would take is one Word from Him and they would all be proved wrong in their accusations. Jesus could have come off the cross, but He didn't. He could prove everyone that was there wrong, but that was not the victory He was looking for. Jesus victory was in letting Himself be beaten and bruised, insulted and ridiculed, and not standing up for Himself. His purpose was to go to His death. This would be really hard. It’s hard enough when people mock you or hit you, and you can’t do anything about it. When someone hurls an insult at me it is instinct to throw something back, something “witty” to make myself look like the “better” man. But Jesus said nothing. If someone tries to hit me, I will try and defend myself. But Jesus did not. Jesus let it all happen, and not for some great victory He could claim for Himself. It was all for a great victory He could claim for you. He endured the cross. Took all the insults and beating. He did this all for you and me. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice, committed the biggest act of humility, so that He could be with us for eternity.