In Microcosm
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”Luke 32-43.
The above is Luke’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Here we see in microcosm society.
First of all not present were the disciples of Jesus. Who feared what was happening and left him to his fate.
They after his resurrection and ascension would finally put all the events of Jesus life into perspective and go on to evangelize their world. A process that is going on to this very day.
Secondly, there was the crowds who did nothing to help Jesus, nor speak in His defence.
Then there was the Roman soldiers doing what they were told to do. They had beaten Jesus mercilessly and crucified him on the order of the Roman governor. They as the say, were carrying out orders it seems without any pity.
There was the Roman governor who had found no fault with Jesus. The Roman governor a gentile, a non-Jews who could have refused to execute Jesus yet for political expediency didn’t.
Then there was the Jewish religious leaders of the day, who sneered at him. And said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
Thy too could have believed Jesus was all He said He was and prevented His death. Yet they chose not too. They instead seemed to see Jesus as a threat to their authority.
Then there were two criminals who by their actions showed how we get to heaven. One denied who Jesus was. He wanted Jesus to show who he was by getting himself and them down from the cross. The criminal even at the hour of his death refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah. This man didn’t it seems even fear God, into who’s presence he would shortly enter.
The second criminal believed Jesus was all he said he was. He believed Jesus was dying innocently. This man confessed his sin to Jesus to which Jesus said,
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The other two who were at the crucifixion were Jesus God the Father and Jesus. Jesus who on the night before his crucifixion prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42.
Jesus knew his fate and was committed to doing the will of God the Father.
On that cross, that day hung the very Son of God who was dying for our sins.
Jesus speaking of Himself tells us why when He said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
I firmly believe all people in our society today can look at the crucifixion and find themselves in one of those groups.
To many today however the words of the Apostle Paul ring true,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
Please think about it.
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”Luke 32-43.
The above is Luke’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Here we see in microcosm society.
First of all not present were the disciples of Jesus. Who feared what was happening and left him to his fate.
They after his resurrection and ascension would finally put all the events of Jesus life into perspective and go on to evangelize their world. A process that is going on to this very day.
Secondly, there was the crowds who did nothing to help Jesus, nor speak in His defence.
Then there was the Roman soldiers doing what they were told to do. They had beaten Jesus mercilessly and crucified him on the order of the Roman governor. They as the say, were carrying out orders it seems without any pity.
There was the Roman governor who had found no fault with Jesus. The Roman governor a gentile, a non-Jews who could have refused to execute Jesus yet for political expediency didn’t.
Then there was the Jewish religious leaders of the day, who sneered at him. And said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
Thy too could have believed Jesus was all He said He was and prevented His death. Yet they chose not too. They instead seemed to see Jesus as a threat to their authority.
Then there were two criminals who by their actions showed how we get to heaven. One denied who Jesus was. He wanted Jesus to show who he was by getting himself and them down from the cross. The criminal even at the hour of his death refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah. This man didn’t it seems even fear God, into who’s presence he would shortly enter.
The second criminal believed Jesus was all he said he was. He believed Jesus was dying innocently. This man confessed his sin to Jesus to which Jesus said,
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The other two who were at the crucifixion were Jesus God the Father and Jesus. Jesus who on the night before his crucifixion prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42.
Jesus knew his fate and was committed to doing the will of God the Father.
On that cross, that day hung the very Son of God who was dying for our sins.
Jesus speaking of Himself tells us why when He said,
“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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
I firmly believe all people in our society today can look at the crucifixion and find themselves in one of those groups.
To many today however the words of the Apostle Paul ring true,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
Please think about it.
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