Luke and The Lost

There is no greater feeling than to get a receipt for the final payment on a long term loan. That’s small potatoes compared to the debt our Lord paid for us. Paid in full is stamped on the hearts of all who believe. But there are still some who don’t want the gift of freedom from debt. Some continue to make payments to sin thinking they can handle this debt all by themselves. Where will that lead?

Luke 23, The Message
Skull Hill
26-31 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. The time is coming when they’ll say, ‘Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!’ Then they’ll start calling to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ calling to the hills, ‘Cover us up!’ If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they’ll do with deadwood?”

32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.

33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

34-35 Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!”

36-37 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!”

38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”

40-41 But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

43 He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”

44-46 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.

Think about it a little more…
–Jesus paid it all. Truly.
–Every sin ever committed in the world was placed on His shoulders. Our sin and His love for us held Him on the cross.
–He fought back with love and forgiveness. “Forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” And to the repentant one, “Don’t worry, today you will join me in paradise.”
–The world goes dark as The Light is snuffed out but only for a little while. Jesus went to hell and back again for our sin, paying our debt to the devil in full. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! No one can take that away from us! It’s finished.
–The Temple Curtain that separated God from common man is now split in two, right down the middle. THE way to God has been opened by Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

How can we possibly deny this act of unconditional love? How can we walk away?

How can we live in gratitude and praise Him for Life and Light? Begin today.

In Jesus Name, Amen.