“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Stainless. Selfless. Even on a sinner’s cross Jesus’ holiness illuminates heaven.
Don’t cry for Me, says Jesus.
Many could have spoken on behalf of Jesus, but none did. Until now. Kind words come from the lips of a thief writhing in pain while hanging on the cross next to Him while the other thief joins in the taunting. The thief knows he is a sinner and makes his request. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The Savior turns his heavy head toward the prodigal child and promises, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Don’t cry for Me, says Jesus. I have the power to put an end to this agony, power to lay down my life and pick it up again. Don’t cry for Me. I know what I am doing.
To those at the foot of the cross, this dialogue between Jesus and the thief was curious. But to those at the foot of the throne, the dialogue was outrageous. They couldn’t imagine it. How could the thief come to paradise? How could a soul speckled by sin go to heaven? How could a sinner be saved? They were about to see.
Don’t cry for Me, cry for yourselves who don’t know me and believe me.
Did an angel move, did a demon stir as they witnessed the answering of the prayer? This is so bizarre! The sins of the thief (and all us thieves!) leave his heart, mind, and soul and go to Jesus. This sinner on the cross next to Jesus—saved from hell by the grace of Jesus? Yes! Layers of guilt and shame along with every evil thought and vile deed—his sins, all of is his sins now cover Jesus. What nauseates God now covers his Son. For a few excoriating moments in time, until it is finished, God must turn his back from His Son who is covered with the sins of the world—until grace wins. The One with no sin becomes sin-filled. The one sin-filled becomes sinless.
Don’t cry for Me…I know what I am doing to save you.
Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus fulfilled his earthly mission and atoned for sin—all the sins of the world—for those who believe on His Name and confess with their hearts that He is Lord—just as the thief did.
Don’t cry for Me, says Jesus, cry for yourselves who do not believe in Me.
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.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Jesus, Son of God, embodied God’s supreme love, compassionate mercy and outrageous grace that enabled Him to carry out God’s Plan of salvation for all who believe. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” This statement of prayer alone reveals the passion and power of our Savior.
Jesus cherishes women. A group of women openly wept and lamented as they sympathized with Jesus and contemplated the terrible spiritual condition of their nation. “Don’t cry for Me, cry for yourselves” says Jesus. Behind these words we hear the echo of the words the crowd had just spoken, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25). How these words have been fulfilled through the centuries!
It has been pointed out that, as far as the gospel records are concerned, no woman was ever an enemy of Jesus. Nor was Jesus ever the enemy of womankind. His example, His teachings, and most of all, His redemption have done much to dignify and elevate women. The news of His birth was shared with a Jewish maiden, His death was witnessed by grieving women, and the good news of His resurrection was announced first to a woman who had been demon-possessed.
Stop crying over what Jesus did to save us. Stop crying over our own sin. Stop complaining about the sins of others. Stop blaming others for our own sins. Let’s own our sin then repent of our sin. It woud be a disservice to Jesus to continue to be revolted and mournful over the atrocities of Jesus being tied and nailed to a cross of wooden planks without believing in why He did it. Jesus came to earth for the lost without a relationship with God. Mankind had a sin problem that was merely “covered over” sin for a time by putting the sins of man on an unblemished lamb but this religious act and ceremony didn’t remove sin completely. But religion also had a sin problem.
God still loved us and had a plan to save us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Jesus became the Lamb of God, who was without sin, to be the sacrifice for all sin. Jesus’ sacrificial act removed sin once and for all. God loved us so much He sent His Son to put an end to our sin problem so we could come boldly to God in relationship with Him—ALL because of Jesus. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Don’t cry for Jesus who died and rose again to save us, weep over the unrepented sin that stands in the way of our relationship with Him!
By faith in Christ, we gain access to all of God’s treasures—joy, peace, and eternal life. Don’t wait another minute. Believe. Repent of all sin and be saved from the sins that had a hold on you. He removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west”! Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Commit the rest of your life to following his teachings.
David, the King who sinned against God then later asked forgiveness. This is his song of praise to the One who removed his sins (transgressions) as far as the east is from the west. God does the same for us because what Jessus did for us.
Psalm 103–Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord,
Thank you for removing our sins, cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, refreshing our souls and restoring the joy of your salvation at work within us daily as we pray and call on your Name. I cry for those not yet believing and pray that soon, very soon, all might call on your name and be saved for eternity.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 