Love Demonstrated

Luke 23:33-34

When they arrived at the place called “The Skull” they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said “Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing”. And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Jesus exemplified one of the many principles of communion with our father, which is before you pray, if you have anything against anyone forgive him/her.  He forgave His persecutors despite the pain they caused Him because He understood the purpose of His pain was to bear our grief, carried our sorrows and bear our iniquities’. He was smitten and afflicted by God for our sake, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet “He himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness and He shall also see the labor of His soul and be satisfied.”

Jesus demonstrated His love for us by being humble and obedient to the Father, to the point of death, even death on the cross. His righteous act in loving His enemies, and praying for those who persecuted Him as He carry out the will of the Father, justify us for eternal life and make us right before God -By one man disobedience, many were made sinners, so also by one obedience many will be made righteous.  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Christ was crucified along side criminals, as if He was a criminal, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah “He was numbered with the transgressors and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Christ modeled the message He preached on earth while being persecuted and tortured.

Jesus said:  But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.(Matthew 5:44)

Jesus said:  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sin. (Mark 11:25)

Jesus said : For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(Romans 12:21)

The rulers of this age, did not know that Christ death on the cross would save us from sin, remove the wrath of God from us and reconcile us to God, that is God was in Christ reconciling the world to Him and not imputing their trespasses to them. The death of Christ brings salvation to everyone who believes He is the Son of God, who offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice, once for all, to save us from sin and condemnation.

If the rulers of this age knew, when believers die with Christ, by saying “no” to the flesh and “yes “to the spirit, believers would walk in the newness of life and would be made alive by the Spirit; the rulers would not have crucify the Lord of glory.  If the rulers of this age knew, when believers live under grace and not the law, sin and death would not have dominion over them, the rulers would not have crucify the Lord of glory. If only the rulers knew, that Christ’s crucifixion would wipe out the hand written requirement against believers and His crucifixion would disarm principalities and powers to make a public spectacle of them, to demonstrate the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, they would not have crucify the Lord of glory.  Christ understood His purpose was to die to save us from sin and He knew everything was working in conformity to predetermined purpose and plan of God- so He yielded to it. “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom and with thy getting get understanding.”

Matthew 1:21: “And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins”

Romans 8:32: He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

2 Corinthians 5:19: That is, God was in Christ reconciling the word to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Luke 23:35-39

The people stood and watch and even the leaders were scoffing: He saved others; let him save himself.If this is God Messiah, the Chosen One! The solider mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are king of the Jews, save yourself.  An inscription was above him: This is the King of the Jews. Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

In fulfillment of scriptures, the people of Israel, the leaders and soldiers scoffed and mocked at Jesus as stated in Isaiah “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. He was in the world and the world was made through Him and the world did not know Him. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.  They mocked at Him for claiming to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world; yet, He could not save Himself and them. Christ in the “flesh” demonstrated self control and power under control as He submitted Himself to the Holy Spirit.  He kept His focus on the father’s will as He remit the wrong mindset the people had of him as a political leader who came to deliver them from the romans tyranny. They did not understand God brought spiritual salvation through His Son to deliver them from the power of darkness and conveyed them into Kingdom of the Son of His love.

The irony of the entire event was its unfolding were fulfillment of scriptures, from the scoffing and mockery of the people as prophesied by Isaiah to the inscription above Jesus head  “ This is the king of the Jews” as, proclaimed by the magi at His birth and by Pilate at His trial.  They mocked Jesus; the Son of Man, who has power on earth to forgive sin. The mocked Christ, the Son of the living God, who made: the blind see, the lame walk, cleansed the leper, made the deaf hear, cast out unclean spirit, raised the dead and who proclaimed the good news to the poor, yet he could not save Himself and them.

The people of Israel were accustomed to God performing miracle, signs and wonder through messiahs such as Moses, who God worked through to part the red sea, or Joshua who left nothing undone as the Lord of all the earth cross over the children of Israel into the promise land. However, Jesus our savior, was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth, He was led as sheep before it shearer is silent, He did not open his mouth, knowing that He would conqueror sin, conqueror the grave and swallow death in victory to make us more than conqueror and over-comers through Him who loved us. Jesus Christ was humiliated on our behalf, as he lay down His life that He may take again, so that, believers would not be ashamed of the gospel the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Do you believe this?

Pause & think

How does this change your perspective about Jesus?

How long was Jesus on the cross?

What is the will of the Father ? John 4:43, 6:37-40, Ephesians 4:17-20

How essential is the will of God for your life?

Matthew 2:2:  saying, “where is He who has been born the King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 27: 37: And they put over His head the accusation written against Him “This is the King of the Jews”

Mark 15:2: Then Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews? He answered and said to Him “It is as you say”

Psalms 22:8: He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delight in Him

John 6:40: And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who see the Son and believe in Him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day.

Luke 23:40-43

But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same condemnation? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus “ remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”

The Lord our God, the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, shows no partiality, nor does He take bribe; He renders to each man according to his deeds, for there is no partiality with God. One of the two criminals knew God is just, as a result, He was getting what He deserved.   In fear of God, the criminal acknowledged his evil deed and did not gloss over it- “and this is condemnation, that light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” The criminal gained knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and he asked Him to enter His kingdom; as oppose to the people and the religious leaders who were versed with scriptures that were being fulfilled, yet they did not believe and receive Jesus as the Son of God.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding” Christ, who knows all things and knows the heart of men, saw that the criminal exhibited fruit of repentance, and believe in His name. Jesus Christ forgave him and accepted him into the kingdom of God to save him from the wrath of God to come. Jesus said: I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He also said, most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my words and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death into life.  Do you believe this? 

This criminal immediately became a child of God because he was justify by faith in Christ Jesus- as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God, those who believe in His name. This criminal became a new creation with the kingdom of God in Him while on earth, “today is the day of salvation” and He entered the kingdom of God after he departed the earth, because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Jesus said: I am the resurrection and life, he who believes in me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

Acts 13:38-39: Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sin; and by Him everyone who believes in justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 6:2: For he says, “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, the right time is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Luke 17:20-21: Now when He was asked by the Pharisee when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said. “The kingdom does not come with observation nor will they say, ‘see here!’ Or ‘See there!’ for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 23:43:46:

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. “When he had said this, he breathed his last breath

Darkness came over the whole land, a sign of judgment prophesied by Amos “And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord, that I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad day light.  Similar to how the Lord instructed Moses to stretched out his hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may be felt – darkness that preceded the first Passover. Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior substitutionary death torn down the wall of hostility and barriers that separated men from God to make a new a living way by which men may enter into the Holy of Holies by His blood. He became our peace by making all who believe in Him one and has broken down the middle wall that separates us by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, that is the law of commandments contained in ordinance, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two to make peace.  Jesus committed His spirit to our Father; the God of truth, the God of the spirit of all flesh to redeemed Him. 

Hebrews 10: 19-22: Therefore, brethren, having the boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh and having a High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and out bodies washed with pure water.

The Lord yielded up His Spirit to our father, who does not dwell in temple created by human hands, rather He indwell us who believe Jesus is the Son of God, so that the Spirit of Christ may dwell in our hearts enabling us to cry out ‘Abba Father’; the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit endued us with power from on high to be witness of Christ to all creatures and nations to the praise of the Father’s glory and grace. Through Christ we have access by one Spirit to the Father as we drink from the Holy Spirit who makes us one with Him.  By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. It is Jesus who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who baptizes us into the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:17: But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Galatians 4:7: Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, and Father.” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son and if a son then heir of God through Christ.

Acts 1:8: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

Ephesians 3:12:In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

Ephesians 4:4-6:There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.

John 14:17: The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things I said to you.

John 15:26-27- But when the Helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me and you will bear withness because you have been with with me from the beginning.

Pause & think

Who were Messiahs in scripture and what did they do?

How does one become a member of the body of Christ?

What is the difference between the baptism of Jesus versus the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

What is the significance of veil being torn down?

How was Jesus led while on the earth?

Acts of Faith

• Keep His commandments and abide in Him.
• Walk and live in the Spirit and yeild to His leading
• Read your bible, memorize scriptures and pray everyday.
• Pray in the Spirit, pray in understanding.
• Abide in love, God is love.