35The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”39One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”40But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”43And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:35-43 NLT
This is an interesting scene in the bible, especially given the circumstances. Jesus had already been betrayed by Judas, abandoned by the other 11 disciples/apostles, tested and disrespected by the Pharisees/Saduccees, made a mockery of by Pilate, and beaten by the Roman soldiers all night. After marching to Golgotha carrying the cross, he is then placed between two criminals and further highlighted by a homemade sign that read “This is the King of the Jews.” The Romans sought to shame Jesus by making him a focal point in the middle of the criminals and allowing the people to spit on him, throw things at him, mock him, in addition to the criminals crucified with him. All of these factors would leave even the best person bitter to some degree, especially when the only thing that they are guilty of is trying to to show love and save a people who don’t even realize that they need saving, or the person that is in their midst. Have your pure intentions and love ever been mistaken by others for control, lies, deception, or just outright refused because they are too bitter or hardened to receive what you are trying to off out of love? Jesus could have allowed all of the previous night’s events and the people’s current actions to close off his heart to showing love to anyone, or trying to save those in need of it. However, because of who he is, he CHOSE to continue to love and save those in need of it, like one of the criminals who was being crucified alongside him. Even in Jesus’ greatest time of affliction and loneliness, he still decides to save and show love for the criminal with him on the cross. This is a great example for how we should be EVEN in our times of affliction, sadness, pain, loneliness, etc; we should still have enough love and obedience to God, and love for others to reach them when we may be in need for the same type of love that we’re having to give at that moment. Jesus CHOSE his assignment/purpose, OVER his pain and current circumstance. If he had CHOSEN to allow his FEELINGS to determine his actions than he would have missed the opportunity to extend salvation to a criminal who needed it. He could have allowed the actions of Judas, the other 11 disciples when they abandoned him, Peter’s denial, the Pharisees/Saduccees disrespect, Pilates disrespect, the Roman soldiers abuse, and the people’s taunts to harden his heart to the point that he wouldn’t have been able show love and compassion to those who needed it most.
Reflection Time
Are you currently too hurt to show or give love to those who need it? Can you identify when or why you have been unable to connect with, minister too, or serve others? What do you think of when you think about Jesus hanging on the cross? In what way(s) does Jesus’ sacrifice impact your life, and in what way(s) do you use the example of his ministering to the criminal on the cross to direct your own actions during times of adversity?
