Luke 23: 26-56
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
What does the Passage say?
V. 26-30 Jesus, bearing the cross, walked to the hill he was supposed to be crucified. The Women weep for him, and Jesus tells them to prepare.
V. 31-43 Jesus and two other criminals were crucified on the hill called ‘Skull.’ And people start pouring out insults to Jesus, where he prays for forgiveness.
V. 44-56 Jesus dies on the cross, and the centurion who witnessed Jesus’ death confesses “Surely this was a righteous man” (v. 47 NIV)
What does the Passage say to me/us?
The story of Jesus mocked and died on the cross is a story that we all know. In the story, we shouldn’t forget about the reason why he went through all that agony. It was because of us.
Today, I would like to focus on the effect of negative thoughts. Negative thoughts are words contagious. It starts with the rulers of the Jewish community. They insult him and sneer at him by saying, “let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One” (v. 35 NIV). They insult him because Jesus was presenting the new perspective of the Kingdom of God, which they never experience.
Then the abuse and negative thought spread to the soldiers. And finally, it is spread to criminal hanging next to Jesus. These two groups never knew Jesus, nor had no reason to be against him. However, the negative thought has influenced them.
Maybe that was the reason why Jesus prayed this prayer. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34 NIV).
The sad reality is that negativity and sarcasm has a way of spreading without us knowing what we are doing. That is the reason why we need to be on guard, regarding any negative thoughts. And like Jesus, when we encounter negative thoughts/ people, we will need to have his heart to pray and forgive them, since they do not know what they are doing.
Prayer
Lord, guard our hearts against any negativity. Negative thoughts are not from you. Break us free from negativity and sarcasm so that we can bring your hope in this world.
In Christ Name, Amen.
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