Luke 23:32-38

Scripture:  Luke 23:32-38: “Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³ 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. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. ³⁵ 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!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Observation: Jesus is finally at the hour of his crucifixion.  He faces the ultimate humiliation and degradation. He came into this world with angels singing and announcing his presence. He was visited by the three kings and given precious gifts.  And now he is with criminals.  He is being nailed to a cross. He is being mocked. His clothes are being divided up amongst the guards based on the results of a dice game. And someone puts up a sarcastic label over his head on the cross labeling him as King of the Jews.  Surely this is not how it was supposed to end up for the King of Kings!  Except that it IS exactly how it is supposed to end up. Everything that happens here is a fulfillment of prophecy.   Jesus comes to save us from our sins in the only way he could. He has to die to pay the ultimate price that we could not pay- the price of dying in our place. Jesus died in our place, to atone for our sins.  In order to do this, he must be rejected, despised, and degraded. He knew this was coming and he willingly did it, taking the punishment that WE deserved, not him.  The book of Isaiah chapter 53 tells us: 

“⁴ Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,yet we considered him punished by God,    stricken by him, and afflicted.⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,    he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him,    and by his wounds we are healed.”
   

Even though we were enslaved to sin since the fall in the garden, God has promised to send a savior. Genesis chapter 3 tells us:

“And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring^[a] and hers;
he will crush^[b] your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

Even though we are fallen, god loves us still, so much that he sent a savior. This was promised to us at the fall and was fulfilled in Jesus

Application:  Christ paid the price for us all. Do we live like we are loved and forgiven, or do we tend to forget the suffering and pain that Jesus endured for us? Do we remember Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Prayer: Lord help me never to forget that I am a fallen sinner and would be lost but for the grace of Jesus who died for me.  Help me to live for Jesus as a response in gratitude for all he has done for me.  Amen.

Jack Wells