salvation

All Kinds of Folks at the Cross

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Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34 ESV

If we were to wind the clock back to that dark day, we would discover that, just like today, there were many different kinds of people huddled around the cross. The loudest, though by no means the largest group were the mockers. These were the high priests, their political cohorts, and the brutal interrogators of Jesus. They beat Him, spit on Him, whipped Him and then sent Him on His way up the hill called “The Skull.” These were delighted to see Jesus ripped from the safety of his circle of followers, and the crowds who loved listening to His teaching. This teacher who had put in jeopardy their grasp on power was now reduced to a mass of welts and wounds and on His way to a humiliating execution.

The second and perhaps largest group around the cross were the ignorers. They passed by in curiosity, perhaps shuddering for a moment, and then went on their way. Though some were a bit more respectable than the drunken soldiers gambling for the clothing of Jesus, they were no more interested in His death than any other event of that day.

But one small group, including the mother of Jesus, a few friends and one disciple, stood watching and seeping while Jesus suffered those six long hours that fateful afternoon. One would imagine that in His suffering Jesus would have responded with indignation, or anger. He had come so far from the day He left Heaven and come to that humble manger in Bethlehem. Since the night of His birth Herod and others had looked for ways to snuff Him. There at the cross they were sure they had finally succeeded, and yet the words from the lips of our Savior were nothing as anyone could imagine. Instead of anger, He had forgiveness, and in place of despair, He gave the promise of paradise to a thief by His side. Though He was wearing the crown of thorns, He was not to be denied the crown of Life He would soon wear in Heaven. Though the soldiers had stripped Him naked and gambled for His earthly clothing, His Father had a robe that shone like the sun, for Him to wear when He came home. And for those who wept He gave the promise that their sorrow would soon be turned to joy. Today Jesus still cries “Father forgive them.” His merciful invitation is for mockers and mourners alike. The forgiveness Jesus offers is for disciples and drunken soldiers, thieves, and trusted friends, and best of all for you and for me. Come to the cross. Open your heart for Him to forgive you and make you His very own!

The Least Important Thing

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And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall diligently teach them to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV

Though I am retired, I continue to manage a large farm, which has been converted into a weekend rental. Among my duties is paying the various contractors, one of whom is a young mailman named Jesse, who along with his wife, clean the place in their spare time after work. The many hours they put in, remind me of myself at their age. Back then, with two teenage boys at home, a mortgage, and a car payment, it seemed we were always short on money. But looking back now some 50 years later, I now realize that the least important thing I did during that time was to make money.

I am not saying that working or paying bills doesn’t matter. In fact, we learn in the Bible that before Adam sinned, and even before God created Eve, Adam had a job. You are probably shouting right now. “What job was that?” Now, if you are wondering, about Adam’s entry level job, it was to name the animals that God brought them to Him. Maybe Adam started with Aardvark, and worked his way through the dolphins, lions, and whales, as one by one, Adam named thousands of animals. Finally, he was so exhausted that he fell into a deep sleep and while he rested, God created Eve. Yes, work is good and a gift from God, but sometimes we begin to juggle a growing collection of tasks in the way that a circus performer sends plates spinning on a variety of different sticks. It is all very impressive until the moment that they all come crashing down. Often the crash that we hear in our lives is the sound of a door slamming shut behind a close friend, a lonely teenager, or an angry wife, who have felt ignored, abandoned, or undervalued. We have forgotten God’s command to not just rush back and forth to church on Sundays and then hurry on to our next activity. God calls us to take time to talk about His words and find ways to weave them into our everyday lives. Those words which created planets, formed the glaciers and waterfalls are more than simply lines to be remembered: they are holy and pure and above all they are words that give us life. Have God’s words stirred your heart today? Then, pause for moment, bow your head in prayer and remember that what matters most of all is that God loved us and sent His only Son, so that we could spend all eternity with Him!

An Unexpected Meeting

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Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). John 20:15-16 ESV

Mary Magdalene had not come to the tomb of Jesus because she thought that Jesus was alive, but to show respect for the dead. But then the most unexpected thing in all of history happened. Jesus came to meet her! And Mary’s story is the story of everyone who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. We all have this one thing in common. He has come unexpectedly. Just like Mary, this Easter. you may be wondering where Jesus went in your life. Or, maybe like the disciples, you are hiding out behind locked doors. The message of Easter is that He will come just when we least expect it. He knows all about us and He wants to come and change our lives forever! What a wonderful Risen Lord and Savior we have waiting for us again this Easter. Jesus is alive and is calling your name – how will you answer Him? Mary wasn’t expecting Jesus, but when He came, she fell at His feet. Right now, wherever you are, you also may not have been expecting Jesus, but He has been expecting you and is waiting for you today!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I bow at your feet in worship and thank you for all you have done in suffering for my sins on the cross. I believe that you have risen from the grave, and I ask that you forgive my sins and in humble gratitude receive your gift of eternal life!