Tag: Luke 23:34
Out of Anguish–JOY!
Scripture reading for July 17: Isaiah 53:11-12 “Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the Righteous One, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Hebrews 12: 2 “. . .looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah paints a picture with words of a suffering Savior Who willingly and faithfully obeyed God’s Will. He submitted Himself to God’s will, praying, “Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) While suffering on the cross, He made intercession for the transgressors, praying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) He came to earth to identify with those transgressing against His Father and He willingly bore their sins as an act of intercession that would open heaven’s door (His own body pierced) for all who would repent and believe.
Another revelation is that in the midst of His anguish, Jesus saw many being made righteous through faith. He understood that faith would bring revelation and salvation as a gift of grace, enabling sinners to call God their own Father. (Galatians 4:6-7) In the midst of anguish of suffering with other’s sins and its penalty of death, Jesus found joy set before Him of brothers and sisters walking in love. He endured the cross and it’s shame and rose again from the grave to sit at His Father’s right hand where He intercedes for us who believe! He is coming again to reward those who faithfully believe and follow by faith.
Prayer: Father God, what an amazing blessing to receive grace through Your sacrifice of Your own Son on my behalf! Because of His joy in showing mercy to lost sinners like me, many will enjoy eternal life and experience joy in Your presence. Amen!
Day 4–Courage to Keep Forgiving
Scripture reading for February 26: Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
A central teaching of Jesus Christ concerned forgiveness of sins. Man’s greatest need is forgiveness of sins and Jesus Christ’s primary message of the Good News was that through Him, sin could be forgiven. Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand forgiveness. Part of their religious training concerned equal retribution for offences. If someone poked out your eye, you could get even and poke out his eye. Jesus instead taught that if we expected God to forgive us our sins, we must forgive others their sins against us. All vengeance belonged to God, since only He knows all about each person and He alone can judge justly.
Peter, a disciple of Jesus, asked Jesus about how many times he should forgive someone who sinned against him. He suggested that seven times might be a generous number. But Jesus responded with something much greater–“seventy-seven times.” Some translations say ‘seventy times seven.’ The whole point is that forgiveness is the proper decision towards those who have offended you or did you wrong.
As first responders, we must work with others on most of our calls. There are always those who offend. These may be fellow responders or even the people that we were called to help. We should never keep score in order to get even or to repay in kind. Jesus’ gave us the ultimate demonstration of forgiveness when from the cross He cried, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) This prayer was directed to those who had crucified Him and falsely accused Him. He laid down His life that all might receive forgiveness and demonstrated God’s generous grace.
Prayer: Father God, like Peter, I sometimes count how many times I have forgiven and think I have been generous. Forgive me and teach me how to have the courage to forgive others every time I am offended or wronged. I trust You to have mercy on them and me. Amen.
“Away with this Man!”
Scripture reading for April 3: Luke 23
“Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this Man as One Who was misleading the people. And after examining Him before you, behold, I did not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him. Neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish and release Him.” But they all cried out together, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”–a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify Him!” Luke 23:13-21
Pilate, the Roman governor, and Herod the Tetrarch had found common ground in examining Jesus. They looked at the charges but found nothing deserving death. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and made that decision. But he was also a politician who feared the people and had no moral character of his own. As he announced his verdict, the people, spurred on by their religious leaders, demanded Jesus be crucified in spite of the facts. “Away with Him!” they cried! Pilate pleaded with them three times before he caved to crowd pressure. He released to them an insurrectionist and murderer instead of the innocent Jesus, King of the Jews. It appeared that justice was not done and Satan won.
But it was God’s plan and will that came together that day. The final Passover Lamb was examined and found to be spotless, ready for sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, Jew and Gentile. Both parties had a part as all have sinned. Jesus willingly laid down His life for the sins of His accusers and betrayers and those unable to see God’s plan. Jesus was falsely accused, mocked, spit on, whipped, and finally nailed to a cross. He prayed for those who did this to Him as He bore their sins, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 He pardoned the repentant thief who hung there with Him. He committed His Spirit to His Father and breathed His last. (Luke 23:43-46) The guards declared: “This man was innocent!”
As you listen to this story of Jesus’ trial and death, what part is most meaningful to you personally? What judgment have you made about Jesus and how does your life reflect that choice? If you haven’t asked Jesus for mercy, can you follow the thief’s example of asking for mercy now?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the greatest story of redemption ever told! I am so thankful for Your mercy and plan of salvation for Jew and Gentile. Use me to share this amazing and powerful message of Your great love with this lost world. Amen.
Thankful for Intercessors!
Scripture reading for January 25th: Exodus 28-32
Key Scriptures: Exodus 32:9-11, 14 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave Me alone so that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should Your anger burn against Your people whom You brought out of Egypt with great power and and a mighty hand? . . . .” “Then the Lord relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.”
After the incident with the golden calf, God was angry at the idolatry and adultery of His people. He was ready to destroy them and start over. Moses stood in prayer and interceded for God’s mercy! God listened and relented!
Thankful for Christ’s intercession: God’s anger against our sin was laid on Jesus Christ, who prayed for us! “When they came to the place of the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals–one on His right and the other on His left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)