23:32-4
There were two other men being crucified at the same time, both of these were indeed criminals, and, at least within the justice system of the time, deserved to be there. This was a fulfilment of Isaiah 53:12, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors”. In Matthew the “Skull” is called “Golgotha”. There was one criminal on His right, and one on His left. Jesus then said “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. There is actually some doubt about this statement, with some manuscripts not containing these words. However, they are entirely consistent with Jesus’ teaching, and Stephen uttered similar words when he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:60). The soldiers divided up His clothes, fulfilling Psalm 22:18.
23:35
The people watched and the rulers sneered. The rulers mocked that Jesus , who saved others, could not, as they saw it, save Himself. How could He be the Messiah? Today we see our rulers and the elites mocking Christianity. But where did this mocking start? It started in the church, in the liberal theological colleges, with people doubting the word of God, doubting the divinity of Jesus Christ, doubting the virgin birth, doubting the atoning sacrifice, doubting the resurrection. And so it spread to society as a whole. Yet on the cross, the Son who was dying, who was suffering, was paying the price for our sins. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were working together to rescue us from the mess we have got ourselves into. Jesus did not come to save Himself, but to save us.
No comments:
Post a Comment