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WALKING WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS Day 117

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 in General |

Read Luke 23:50-56

JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy and honored man of the Jewish high council. He was also a secret disciple of Jesus. The disciples who had publicly followed Jesus fled, but Joseph boldly took a stand that could have cost him dearly. He cared enough about Jesus to ask for His body so he could give it a proper burial.
The tomb was likely a man made cave cut out of one of the many limestone hills in the same area around Jerusalem. Such a tomb was large enough to walk into. After burial, a large stone would have been rolled across the entrance.
The Galilean women would have followed Joseph to the tomb, so they knew exactly where to find Jesus’ body when they returned after the Sabbath with their spices and perfumes. These women could not do great things for Jesus. They were not permitted to stand up before the Jewish high council or the Roman governor to testify on His behalf, but they did what they could. They stayed at the cross when most of Jesus’ disciples had fled, and they got ready to anoint their Lord’s body. Because of their devotion, they were the first to know about the Resurrection. As a believer, you may feel you can’t do much for Jesus. But you are called to take advantage of the opportunities given you, doing what you can do and not worrying about what you cannot do.

WALKING WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS Day 116

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 in General |

Read Luke 23:44-49

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
Darkness covered the entire land for about three hours in the middle of the day. All nature seemed to mourn over the stark tragedy of the death of God’s Son.
The tearing of the the veil symbolized Christ’s work on the cross. The Temple had three parts: the courts for all the people; the Holy Place, where only priests could enter; and the Most Holy Place, where only the High Priest could enter once a year to atone for the sins of the people. It was in the Most Holy Place that the Ark of the Covenant, and God’s presence with it, rested. The curtain that was torn was the one that closed off the Most Holy Place from view. At Christ’s death, the barrier between God and humanity was split in two. Now all people can approach God directly through Christ.

WALKING WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS Day 115

Posted on Mar 24, 2016 in General |

Read Luke 23:26-43

JESUS IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED
Luke alone mentions of tears of the Jewish women while Jesus was being led through the streets to His execution. Jesus told them not to weep for Him but for themselves. He knew that in about 40 years, Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed by the Romans.
As Jesus was preparing to inaugurate His kingdom through His death, the places on His right and His left were taken by dying men, criminals. As Jesus explained to His disciples earlier, a person who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die. The way to God and His kingdom is the way of the cross.
The place called the skull, or Golgotha, was probably a hill outside Jerusalem along a main road. The Romans executed people publicly as examples to the people.
Jesus asked God to forgive the people who were putting Him to death, and God answered that prayer by opening up the way of salvation even to Jesus’ murderers. The Roman officers and soldiers who witnessed the crucifixion said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Because we are all sinners, we all played a role in putting Jesus to death. The good news is that God is gracious. He will forgive you and give you new life through His Son.
Roman soldiers customarily divided up the clothing of executed criminals among themselves. When they gambled for Jesus’ clothes, they fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 22:18.

The sign nailed to the cross was meant to be ironic. A king, stripped and executed in public view, had obviously lost his kingdom forever. But Jesus, who turn’s the world’s wisdom upside down, was just coming into His kingdom. His death and resurrection would strike the death blow to Satan’s rule and establish Christ’s eternal authority over the earth. Few people reading the sign that bleak afternoon understood is real meaning, but the sign was absolutely true. All was not lost. Jesus is the king of the Jews, and of the Gentiles, and of the whole universe.

As the criminals were about to die, one turned to Christ for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. This shows that our deeds don’t save us; our faith in Christ does. It is never too late to turn to God. Even in his misery, Jesus had mercy on this criminal who decided to believe in Him. Your life will be much more useful and fulfilling if you turn to God early, but even those who repent at the very last moment will be with God in paradise.
As the criminals were about to die, one turned to Christ for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. This shows that our deeds don’t save us; our faith in Christ does. It is never too late to turn to God. Even in his misery, Jesus had mercy on this criminal who decided to believe in Him. Your life will be much more useful and fulfilling if you turn to God early, but even those who repent at the very last moment will be with God in paradise.

The dying criminal had more faith than the rest of Jesus’ followers put together. Although the disciples continued to love Jesus, their hopes for the kingdom were shattered. Most of them had gone into hiding. As one of His followers said two days later, “We had thought the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.” By contrast, the criminal looked at the man who was dying next to him and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” By all appearances, the kingdom was finished. How awe-inspiring is the faith of this man who alone saw beyond the present shame to the coming glory!

WALKING WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS Day 114

Posted on Mar 23, 2016 in General |

Read Luke 23:13-25

PILATE HANDS JESUS OVER TO BE CRUCIFIED
Jesus was tried six times, by both Jewish and Roman authorities, but He was never convicted of a crime deserving death. Even when condemned to execution, He had been convicted of no felony. Today, no one can find fault in Jesus. But just like Pilate, Herod, and the religious leaders, many still refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord.
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd loudly demanded His death; so Pilate sentenced Jesus to die. Now doubt Pilate did not want to risk losing his position, which may have already been shaky, by allowing a riot to occur in his province. As a career politician, he knew the importance of compromise, and he saw Jesus more as a political threat than as a human being with rights and dignity.
When the stakes are high, it is difficult to stand up for what is right, and it is easy to see your opponents as problems to be solved rather than as people to be respected. Had Pilate been a man of real courage, he would have released Jesus no matter what the consequences. But the crowd roared, and Pilate buckled. You are like Pilate when you know what is right but decide not to do it. When you have a difficult decision to make, don’t discount the effects of peer pressure. Realize beforehand that right decision could have unpleasant consequences: social rejection, career derailment, public ridicule. Then think of Pilate and resolve to stand up or what is right no matter what other people pressure you to do.
Barabbas had been part of a rebellion against the Roman government. As a political insurgent, he was no doubt a hero among some of the Jews. How ironic it is that Barabbas, who was released, was guilty of the very crime Jesus was accused of.
Who was Barabbas? Jewish men had names that identified them with their fathers. Simon Peter for example, is called Simon son of John. Barabbas is never identified with his given name, and this name is not much help either: Barabbas means, “Son of daddy,” or “Son of Abba.” He could have been anybody’s son. Barabbas committed a crime. Because Jesus died in his place, this man was set free. You, too, are a sinner and criminal who have broken God’s law. Like Barabbas, you deserve to die. But Jesus had died in your place, for your sins, and you have been set free. You don’t have to be a very important person to accept your freedom in Christ. In fact, thanks to Jesus, God adopts us all as His own sons and daughters and gives us the right to call Him Father.
When Pilate said he would have Jesus flogged, he was referring to a punishment that could have killed Jesus. The usual procedure was to bare the upper half of the victim’s body and tie his hands to a pillar before whipping him with a three pronged whip. The number of lashes was determined by the severity of the crime; up to 40 were permitted under Jewish law. After being flogged, Jesus also endured other agonies. Hes was slapped, struck with fists, and mocked. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, and He was beaten with a stick and stripped before being hung on the cross.

Pilate did not want to give Jesus the death sentence. He thought the Jewish leaders were simply jealous men who wanted to get rid of a rival. When they threatened to report Pilate to Caesar, Pilate became frightened. Historical records indicate that Pilate had already been warned by Roman authorities about tensions in his region. The last thing he needed was a riot in Jerusalem at Passover time, when the city was crowded with Jews from all over the empire. So Pilate turned Jesus over to the Mob to do with as they pleased.

WALKING WITH THE FRIEND OF SINNERS Day 112

Posted on Mar 21, 2016 in General |

Read Luke 22:54-71

PETER DENIES KNOWING JESUS
Jesus was immediately taken to the high priest’s residence, even though this was the middle of the night. The Jewish leaders were in a hurry. They wanted to complete the execution before the Sabbath and get on with the Passover celebration. This residence was a place with outer walls enclosing a courtyard, where servants and soldiers warmed themselves around a fire.
Peter’s experiences in the next few hours would change his life. He would change from a half-hearted follower to a repentant disciple, and finally to the kind of person Christ could use to build His church.
Peter wept bitterly, not only because he realized that he had denied his Lord, the Messiah, but also because he had turned away from a very dear friend. a person who had loved and taught him for three years. Peter said that he would never deny Christ, despite Jesus’ prediction. But frightened, he went against all he had boldly promised. Unable to stand up for his Lord for even 12 hours, he had failed as a disciple and as a friend. You need to be aware of your own breaking points and not become overconfident or self-sufficient. If you fail Him, you must remember that Christ can use those who can recognize their failure. From this humiliating experience, Peter learned much that would help him later when he assumed leadership in the church.
Jesus in effect agreed that He was the Son of God when He simply turned the high priest’s question around by saying “You are right in saying that I am.” And Jesus identified Himself with God by using a familiar title for God found in the Old Testament: “I am.” The High priest recognized Jesus’ claim and could accuse Him of blasphemy. For any other human this claim would have been blasphemy, but in this case it was true: Jesus was the “I am.” He was God.
Blasphemy, the sin of claiming to be God or of attacking God’s authority and majesty in any way, was punishable by death. The Jewish leaders had the evidence they wanted.