When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:6-13)
1. Samuel is standing in for us. The brothers are the various idols we have from which to choose. We are tempted to follow false idols, because they look to be the strongest and greatest. They will make our lives better. So, our sin compels us to choose the idols that will send us to hell quicker.
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
2. But serving Christ will not make your life better. You will find joy in suffering, but you will still suffer. Jesus Christ is not ever our first choice, or even our last choice, but he is God's choice for us.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10-11)
God wants faith alone (fear and hope in his steadfast love). Do you have faith in Christ? That is what God wants from you. Even Christ's followers wanted him to overthrow the Roman government, not be killed on the cross. It takes great faith to look at what Christ did and believe that to be the best way to conquer.
3. David is not even included with the brothers. He is off tending the sheep. Likewise, in our sin, we do not even consider Christ to be an option for us. The world hates him, and we don't want the world to hate us, so we reject him, too. This is important: God chooses him for us. We reject him as an option, but Jesus Christ turns out to be the only option for us.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
The cornerstone is the most important stone, the foundation stone; it holds up the whole structure.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)
Peter explains how crucial Christ is in Acts 4:
On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:5-12)
We must remember:
a) Only by the name of Jesus are we healed.
b) We reject this name.
c) We not only reject him, but we crucified him, too.
d) He is the cornerstone of our lives, when the Lord makes him so.
d) Only by the name of Jesus are we saved.
God chooses David. Samuel anoints David. Christ is the anointed one, the messiah. Put your faith in him only. Fear God and keep his commandments. By the name of Jesus only are you saved.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Bethlehem
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. (1 Samuel 16:1-5)
1. Saul stands in for the old Adam, our sinful flesh. We want our old self to reign over us, like a king, but God has rejected the old Adam. He has replaced him with the new Adam, Jesus Christ.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:12-14)
2. We are to go to Bethlehem to find our new Adam. God has provided us with a new king, a king of righteousness, there.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
3. Our sin, our old Adam, will attempt with all its might to keep us from turning to and serving the new Adam. Our flesh will war against our spirit. The evil in us will attempt to destroy the good that Christ is working there.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)
4. To crucify the flesh and turn from our sins toward the one who saved us is to be imitators of God, as beloved children. We walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
The whole Bible, old and new testaments, screams at us, "be reconciled to God." Reject Saul, the old Adam, the flesh. Travel to Bethlehem, find the new Adam, Christ. Resist temptation. Be obedient. Offer up yourselves as a living sacrifice to the God who made you. The Father draws us to Bethlehem. The Son meets us. The Spirit breaks us. Repent. Be forgiven.
1. Saul stands in for the old Adam, our sinful flesh. We want our old self to reign over us, like a king, but God has rejected the old Adam. He has replaced him with the new Adam, Jesus Christ.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:12-14)
2. We are to go to Bethlehem to find our new Adam. God has provided us with a new king, a king of righteousness, there.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
3. Our sin, our old Adam, will attempt with all its might to keep us from turning to and serving the new Adam. Our flesh will war against our spirit. The evil in us will attempt to destroy the good that Christ is working there.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)
4. To crucify the flesh and turn from our sins toward the one who saved us is to be imitators of God, as beloved children. We walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
The whole Bible, old and new testaments, screams at us, "be reconciled to God." Reject Saul, the old Adam, the flesh. Travel to Bethlehem, find the new Adam, Christ. Resist temptation. Be obedient. Offer up yourselves as a living sacrifice to the God who made you. The Father draws us to Bethlehem. The Son meets us. The Spirit breaks us. Repent. Be forgiven.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Genealogy of David
Here begins a lengthy series on David, and of course Jesus. We begin with the genealogy of David. This is from the end of the book of Ruth:
Now, these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nashon, Nashon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. (Ruth 4:18-22)
If we look at Christ's genealogy from the first chapter of Matthew, we see something interesting:
"Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth." (Matthew 1:5)
Twice in a row, in Christ's (and David's) genealogy, men from Israel have married gentile women, incorporating "unclean" foreigners into the bloodline. This is especially important, because Christianity, or true Israel, is not limited to the bloodline of Abraham. Indeed, outsiders are grafted into the true vine. Hear what Paul says in Romans 11.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Romans 11:17-24)
Even though the genealogy comes before Christ, it ends with Christ, and we can look back and see that the root is in fact Christ--remember he was begotten of God before all worlds--and so the ancestry is purposefully selected by God, who knew the bloodline beforehand. So Ruth was chosen by God. Rahab was chosen by God. Likewise, after Christ there is a spiritual "adopted" genealogy by faith alone that includes all believers. Christ is the root and all believers are the branches. Paul tells us to stand fast through faith, for wild and natural branches can not only be grafted in but removed at God's will.
Faith alone. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." By faith she chose Christ over the world. The scarlet thread she hung in the window to save her and her family's life was Christ. James 2:25 says that Rahab the prostitute was justified by works and not by faith alone. But when we read Joshua 2 we find that her work was completely grounded in faith. She acted completely on faith. She had faith in Israel that she would not be destroyed along with the rest, and so she acted accordingly, even though by all rational means, the people of Jericho would be more dangerous to one who betrayed them than the unlikely fall of the great walls by a group of people on foot who marched around and shouted at the walls. Rationality tells Rahab to betray the spies and go with her own people. Faith tells Rahab to save the spies and lie to her people.
Here's Joshua 6:23: "So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel." Although they were outside the camp of Israel, outsiders, Salmon extended his hand to Rahab and married her. Then they fathered Boaz in the line of David and Christ. Likewise, Ruth was "outside the camp," a Moabite woman brought to Israel by the mother of her dead husband. Through faith in Naomi's words, Ruth found herself in a place where Boaz could extend his hand to her and marry her. They fathered Obed in the line of David and Christ.
Things we need to remember along the lines of the doctrines of grace:
1. To God, we are all prostitutes. To God, we are all Moabites. Remember the Moabites were spawned by illicit relations between Lot and his daughters. We all come from a corrupt bloodline.
2. God saves us anyway. He is rich in kindness and elects us without conditions into his family. No matter where we are from. No matter what evil we have done.
3. Christ died on behalf of branches that grew naturally on his tree, and he died for wild branches that were grafted on later. Also, there are natural branches on the tree that have been removed and are not covered by the atonement. There are, of course, wild branches that are never grafted on.
4. Rahab and Ruth did not graft themselves onto the root of Christ. God grafted them. They did the right thing because they were irresistibly drawn to the truth in Jesus Christ.
5. Rahab and Ruth persevered to the end, since Jesus was begotten before all worlds. His human genealogy was known to our Lord. God knew Rahab and Ruth from the beginning and he provided not only the protection of life they needed to be permanently grafted onto the vine, but he also provided the narrow course they needed to follow to get there. As children of God, he will never let us fall.
Now, these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nashon, Nashon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. (Ruth 4:18-22)
If we look at Christ's genealogy from the first chapter of Matthew, we see something interesting:
"Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth." (Matthew 1:5)
Twice in a row, in Christ's (and David's) genealogy, men from Israel have married gentile women, incorporating "unclean" foreigners into the bloodline. This is especially important, because Christianity, or true Israel, is not limited to the bloodline of Abraham. Indeed, outsiders are grafted into the true vine. Hear what Paul says in Romans 11.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Romans 11:17-24)
Even though the genealogy comes before Christ, it ends with Christ, and we can look back and see that the root is in fact Christ--remember he was begotten of God before all worlds--and so the ancestry is purposefully selected by God, who knew the bloodline beforehand. So Ruth was chosen by God. Rahab was chosen by God. Likewise, after Christ there is a spiritual "adopted" genealogy by faith alone that includes all believers. Christ is the root and all believers are the branches. Paul tells us to stand fast through faith, for wild and natural branches can not only be grafted in but removed at God's will.
Faith alone. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." By faith she chose Christ over the world. The scarlet thread she hung in the window to save her and her family's life was Christ. James 2:25 says that Rahab the prostitute was justified by works and not by faith alone. But when we read Joshua 2 we find that her work was completely grounded in faith. She acted completely on faith. She had faith in Israel that she would not be destroyed along with the rest, and so she acted accordingly, even though by all rational means, the people of Jericho would be more dangerous to one who betrayed them than the unlikely fall of the great walls by a group of people on foot who marched around and shouted at the walls. Rationality tells Rahab to betray the spies and go with her own people. Faith tells Rahab to save the spies and lie to her people.
Here's Joshua 6:23: "So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel." Although they were outside the camp of Israel, outsiders, Salmon extended his hand to Rahab and married her. Then they fathered Boaz in the line of David and Christ. Likewise, Ruth was "outside the camp," a Moabite woman brought to Israel by the mother of her dead husband. Through faith in Naomi's words, Ruth found herself in a place where Boaz could extend his hand to her and marry her. They fathered Obed in the line of David and Christ.
Things we need to remember along the lines of the doctrines of grace:
1. To God, we are all prostitutes. To God, we are all Moabites. Remember the Moabites were spawned by illicit relations between Lot and his daughters. We all come from a corrupt bloodline.
2. God saves us anyway. He is rich in kindness and elects us without conditions into his family. No matter where we are from. No matter what evil we have done.
3. Christ died on behalf of branches that grew naturally on his tree, and he died for wild branches that were grafted on later. Also, there are natural branches on the tree that have been removed and are not covered by the atonement. There are, of course, wild branches that are never grafted on.
4. Rahab and Ruth did not graft themselves onto the root of Christ. God grafted them. They did the right thing because they were irresistibly drawn to the truth in Jesus Christ.
5. Rahab and Ruth persevered to the end, since Jesus was begotten before all worlds. His human genealogy was known to our Lord. God knew Rahab and Ruth from the beginning and he provided not only the protection of life they needed to be permanently grafted onto the vine, but he also provided the narrow course they needed to follow to get there. As children of God, he will never let us fall.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Seeking the Living
"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Luke 24:5
These words were spoken by two angels to the women who had gone to the tomb on Easter morning and found it empty. They were telling the women that they need not seek Jesus any further among the dead of this world, because he had risen. Indeed, he is still risen.
However there is more in this statement than the mere physical state and locality of Christ. It is a strong message to every believer.
Why do we seek the living among the dead? Why do we seek Christ among the dead things of this world? Why do we try to synchronize Christ and the dead things of this world. Why do we try to make Christ worldly? Furthermore, why do we try to find life in the world when it can only be found in Christ.
In him was life, and the life was the light of man. John 1:4
Life eternal can only be found in Christ, and faith in Christ is the only way into that life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one, life itself, Jesus Christ.
"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." John 5:26
Christ also told us that the only way to the Father is through the Son. The Father has life in himself, but he is unobtainable, except through Christ. Thankfully, the Father has granted the Son the same life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one, Jesus Christ.
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." John 11:25-26
Christ is the only path from the world of the dead into the world of the living. Not only is he the source of life, but he is the way to the light as well. Faith, once again, is the salve that keeps us from death. Faith in Christ resurrects us. Faith in Christ bestows eternal life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one.
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:30-31
The scriptures build our faith in Christ. The more we learn about who Christ is, from the Bible alone, the stronger our faith becomes. The Jesus of the Bible is the Son of God, and faith in that Jesus will give you eternal life. Therefore, we must seek the living within Christ alone.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Christ not only makes us spiritually alive, but he physically resurrects us from the dead. We receive physical bodies. We live for eternity, physically, with Christ. He is our life and our light, which we will see clearly and learn by. All are dead in their trespasses, but Christ makes those who believe in him alive again, both spiritually and physically.
Finally, there is another phrase that the two angels (are they the same angels?) tell the disciples. As the disciples look up into the sky after Jesus' ascension, the angels tell them, "Why do you stand looking into heaven?" Acts 1:11
Now that we have life in Christ, let us prepare for his return. Although we are not of the world, we are still in the world. So, go among the dead of this world and share the gospel of life with everyone. Let them know that only in Christ can we find the living. Many will reject this message, but a few will respond with joy. This is what it means to seek the living among the dead and actually find them.
These words were spoken by two angels to the women who had gone to the tomb on Easter morning and found it empty. They were telling the women that they need not seek Jesus any further among the dead of this world, because he had risen. Indeed, he is still risen.
However there is more in this statement than the mere physical state and locality of Christ. It is a strong message to every believer.
Why do we seek the living among the dead? Why do we seek Christ among the dead things of this world? Why do we try to synchronize Christ and the dead things of this world. Why do we try to make Christ worldly? Furthermore, why do we try to find life in the world when it can only be found in Christ.
In him was life, and the life was the light of man. John 1:4
Life eternal can only be found in Christ, and faith in Christ is the only way into that life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one, life itself, Jesus Christ.
"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." John 5:26
Christ also told us that the only way to the Father is through the Son. The Father has life in himself, but he is unobtainable, except through Christ. Thankfully, the Father has granted the Son the same life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one, Jesus Christ.
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." John 11:25-26
Christ is the only path from the world of the dead into the world of the living. Not only is he the source of life, but he is the way to the light as well. Faith, once again, is the salve that keeps us from death. Faith in Christ resurrects us. Faith in Christ bestows eternal life. Therefore, we must seek the living within the living one.
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:30-31
The scriptures build our faith in Christ. The more we learn about who Christ is, from the Bible alone, the stronger our faith becomes. The Jesus of the Bible is the Son of God, and faith in that Jesus will give you eternal life. Therefore, we must seek the living within Christ alone.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Christ not only makes us spiritually alive, but he physically resurrects us from the dead. We receive physical bodies. We live for eternity, physically, with Christ. He is our life and our light, which we will see clearly and learn by. All are dead in their trespasses, but Christ makes those who believe in him alive again, both spiritually and physically.
Finally, there is another phrase that the two angels (are they the same angels?) tell the disciples. As the disciples look up into the sky after Jesus' ascension, the angels tell them, "Why do you stand looking into heaven?" Acts 1:11
Now that we have life in Christ, let us prepare for his return. Although we are not of the world, we are still in the world. So, go among the dead of this world and share the gospel of life with everyone. Let them know that only in Christ can we find the living. Many will reject this message, but a few will respond with joy. This is what it means to seek the living among the dead and actually find them.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Following
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Luke 23:26-49)
Following Jesus is to be Simon of Cyrene. We are exiles from a different land, and the world lays upon us a cross of burdens and persecutions. We are hated because of Jesus and following him leads us to pain and suffering.
Following Jesus is to be the Daughters of Jerusalem. We mourn an lament for our savior. He comforts us by telling us that we should be weeping for ourselves, because the trials of the world increase and inflame. Following Christ is mourning.
Following Jesus is to be the thief on the cross. We shun the world, we understand the truth, we repent, and we ask Christ to remember us. He rewards us by taking us to paradise with him.
These are difficult and depressing things! Who wants to carry a cross? Who wants to mourn all the time? Who wants to be penitent? Well, not to worry! Because we fail at each of these three things. We don't carry our crosses, we rarely mourn, and we are far from penitent. Listen to this verse from Johann Heermann (1630): "Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone thee. 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee: I crucified thee."
Let's back up. Are we Simon of Cyrene? Are we the Daughters of Jerusalem? Are we the thief on the cross?
No, we are "they."
And as THEY led him away, THEY seized one Simon of Cyrene. We are THEY. We lead Jesus away. We seize the sojourner from another land. We lay upon him Christ's cross. We force him to carry the cross behind the Lord.
We are THEY. We will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us." When Christ returns we will be so frightened, because we have abused the lives that he has given us, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We were the green wood, and we are the dry wood. We are the evil that killed Christ.
We are the thief on the cross, yes, but we are the FIRST thief. We are the thief who challenges Jesus to save himself and us. We try to tempt him. We ridicule him. We put ourselves first and try to get Jesus to do our bidding.
Is then no one saved? No. Christ transforms us into Simon of Cyrene. He transforms us into the Daughters of Jerusalem. He transforms us into the second thief on the cross. But we are never originally those three to begin with. As Paul tells us in Ephesians, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—" (Ephesians 2:1-5)
We only become Christians when Christ saves us and not one moment before. Our deeds are evil until Christ changes our hearts, until he forgives us. How does he forgive us? That is exactly what he did on the cross. He shed his own blood to forgive the debt that we owed God. It was the only possible transaction. It is the only forgiveness possible.
Read Luke's passion narrative further. "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" This Centurion had a hand in crucifying Christ, and the moment Jesus died, he was forgiven. He immediately took on the attributes of the second thief on the cross: "this man has done nothing wrong." The centurion will now begin to carry his cross like Simon of Cyrene. He will begin to mourn for the world like the Daughters of Jerusalem. He will begin to be penitent like the thief.
The great news is that this forgiveness is free. Jesus bestows it upon us freely. There is nothing we can do to earn it. We receive it by faith alone. Realize that you crucified Christ and have faith that he has forgiven you.
Following Jesus is to be forgiven.
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Luke 23:26-49)
Following Jesus is to be Simon of Cyrene. We are exiles from a different land, and the world lays upon us a cross of burdens and persecutions. We are hated because of Jesus and following him leads us to pain and suffering.
Following Jesus is to be the Daughters of Jerusalem. We mourn an lament for our savior. He comforts us by telling us that we should be weeping for ourselves, because the trials of the world increase and inflame. Following Christ is mourning.
Following Jesus is to be the thief on the cross. We shun the world, we understand the truth, we repent, and we ask Christ to remember us. He rewards us by taking us to paradise with him.
These are difficult and depressing things! Who wants to carry a cross? Who wants to mourn all the time? Who wants to be penitent? Well, not to worry! Because we fail at each of these three things. We don't carry our crosses, we rarely mourn, and we are far from penitent. Listen to this verse from Johann Heermann (1630): "Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone thee. 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee: I crucified thee."
Let's back up. Are we Simon of Cyrene? Are we the Daughters of Jerusalem? Are we the thief on the cross?
No, we are "they."
And as THEY led him away, THEY seized one Simon of Cyrene. We are THEY. We lead Jesus away. We seize the sojourner from another land. We lay upon him Christ's cross. We force him to carry the cross behind the Lord.
We are THEY. We will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us." When Christ returns we will be so frightened, because we have abused the lives that he has given us, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We were the green wood, and we are the dry wood. We are the evil that killed Christ.
We are the thief on the cross, yes, but we are the FIRST thief. We are the thief who challenges Jesus to save himself and us. We try to tempt him. We ridicule him. We put ourselves first and try to get Jesus to do our bidding.
Is then no one saved? No. Christ transforms us into Simon of Cyrene. He transforms us into the Daughters of Jerusalem. He transforms us into the second thief on the cross. But we are never originally those three to begin with. As Paul tells us in Ephesians, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—" (Ephesians 2:1-5)
We only become Christians when Christ saves us and not one moment before. Our deeds are evil until Christ changes our hearts, until he forgives us. How does he forgive us? That is exactly what he did on the cross. He shed his own blood to forgive the debt that we owed God. It was the only possible transaction. It is the only forgiveness possible.
Read Luke's passion narrative further. "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" This Centurion had a hand in crucifying Christ, and the moment Jesus died, he was forgiven. He immediately took on the attributes of the second thief on the cross: "this man has done nothing wrong." The centurion will now begin to carry his cross like Simon of Cyrene. He will begin to mourn for the world like the Daughters of Jerusalem. He will begin to be penitent like the thief.
The great news is that this forgiveness is free. Jesus bestows it upon us freely. There is nothing we can do to earn it. We receive it by faith alone. Realize that you crucified Christ and have faith that he has forgiven you.
Following Jesus is to be forgiven.
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