Christ Crucified
There are three kinds of people lived in the time of Jesus:
1. Jews: (Israelites) They believed that they are spiritual. They were looking for a Saviour who will save them from the hand of Roman Govt. and set them free. So they cannot accept a man who was crucified can become their Saviour. To them Jesus become a stumbling block.
2. Greeks: They were after wisdom. They were looking for knowledge everywhere. The great philosophers Socratics and Aristotle were from Greek. But by their wisdom, it was impossible for them to believe that Christ died on the cross for their sins. To them Christ become a Foolishness.
3. Romen’s: They are interested in sports and body building. There were good fighters among them. Most of them were solders. They were trying to conquer all the countries they can. But by their power/strength, it was impossible for them to believe that Christ died on the cross for their sins. It was impossible for them to accept Jesus, who has hanged on the cross can become a savior for them. To them Christ become a weakness
I Cor. 1: 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
For Jews Christ become a Stumbling block, For Greeks Christ become a Foolishness, for Romens Christ become a weakness. But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Now a days most preachers interested to preach about a Jesus who gives blessings, material possessions, money, Big house, healing etc. If you give One he will return Two. Most believers are also interested to here this kind of preachings.
2 Timothy 4 : 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But, Christ Crucified is the most important subject is to be preached in the world.
For some people Cross is a symbol of sacrifice. (Red Cross) For some cross is an ornament. But Cross without Christ is useless.
Some people love the Christ without Cross. They are looking for material blessings, physical blessings etc. but Christ without cross is nothing to us. Through his crucifixion we became the child of God.
Christ without Cross and Cross without Christ are of no use.
The purpose of Jesus coming to this world was to save the sinners.
It was reveled to the men of God a long before his birth. It is written in the word of God. He neither came to this world to heal the sick nor for raise the dead, nor for feed the hungry nor to do any miracles.
Before Jesus came to this world, in the old testament Abraham prayed for the sick. Through Elisha God fed the widow. In the wilderness God provided food for the Israelites in the desert.(Elisha fed 100 people 2 King 4: 42-44) In the Old testament it is mentioned that the dead were raised.(Elisha raised the son of Shunammite 2 King 4:8-36) Before the birth of Jesus, all these things were happened in this world through the men of God. So there were no need of Jesus to come to this world to do these things.
The primary aim for his coming was to save the sinners. To fulfill, what cannot be done by the law. i.e. Jesus came to this world to save me. He lived in this world to save me, He died in the cross to save me and he resurrected from the death to save me and he will come back to this world for me.
Rom. 8:3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (KJV)
Nobody is able to redeem his brother or pay the price to redeem his brother.
In one word what ever he did, he do for me only. Even if all the people of this earth were sinless, and I am the only one who is a sinner, Jesus would have come to this world and die to save me.
People come to this world with a strong desire to live. But Jesus was not come to this world to live for ever. But to die for the sinners. His death was not a murder. When the solders came to catch him, Jesus asked them. Whom are you searching? They answered, Jesus of Naserath. Then Jesus told them, I am he. He surrendered himself to the Solders who came to catch him. They did not force fully catch him. It is true that he got beating and slapped. But his death was not a murder. With his full conscious and will fully he submitted his soul in the hand of his Father. When he thought of the glory which is set before him, he find the present sufferings are nothing.
That means he came to this world to die for the sins of human being. It was a willful sacrifice for the mankind. There is no love greater than lay down life for his friend. He did so for me and you.
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha
There are two Criminals were crucified along with Jesus. We can see Three crosses over there.
1.Rebellious Cross – Here we can see a person who is so rebellious, Even though he is punished for his sins, he never changed his heart. Till his death he was rebellious
2.Redeeming Cross – Here we can see one Who died for our sins. Who purchased us through his blood. He became a sacrifice for us. By the price he paid at the cross he redeemed us. A Redeeming Cross.
3.Repenting and Saved Sinner’s Cross - Even though he was rebellious at the beginning, latter he confessed his sins. His repentance led him to an everlasting life - A Paradise.
We can find these two kinds of people around us (First and Third) Every one of you sitting here are either in the First group or in the third group. If you think you are in the first group, it is better for you to join the third group. Otherwise the Paradise will be lost for ever for you. You may not get a chance to change latter to the another group.
Mathew 27: 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
The people those who passed by can go on their way without saying anything. They do not have any reason to say any abusive word against Jesus. They can mind their own business and go on their way without saying anything. Even though they do not have any right or relation or even they do not know Jesus, still each one those who passed by said some insulting word and went on their way.
That is what happening in the present world when we start to take up our cross and follow Jesus, the people those who have no relation will start insulting us. Even though they do not have the right, or even though they do not know us, they would say something against us.
Two other thief’s were crucified along with Jesus. It is written in Mark 15:35 “Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” that means the people those who were crucified along with Jesus also started to say insulting words to Jesus. Even though they do not have the right to insult the one who has done anything wrong were also started to insult Jesus. That is what happening in the present world when we start to take up our cross and follow Jesus, the thieves and criminals also start insulting us. Even though they do not have the right, or even though they do not know us, they try to insult us.
See here both the thief were started insulting.
But latter one thief/criminal repented:
Luke 23: 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don’t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Here we can see both the criminals were requested something to Jesus. First one said Save yourself and us! He was asking for a temporary release from the present affliction. He had a request but it was for the immediate physical release. But Jesus not replied to him.
In this world most people are coming to Jesus for temporary release from Physical, or financial relief or material blessings. To them Jesus may not reply. It doesn’t mean that Jesus is not compassionate. He is a compassionate God. While his search for the sinners, in the street of Judia, he saw people suffering from different diseases and Physical handicap and he became compassionate and healed them. He so people starving for food and he made food for them. But when he himself felt hungry, He did’t made food for himself. When he so his disciples eating corns of wheat, he did not made food. When he saw the spirit of Satan tormenting the human being he become compassionate and drive out demons. But his ultimate aim is to save the sinner. But the attitude and the request of the first thief was not for a permanent release . It was not a personal request.
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don’t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
But the other thief first started to insult but latter he realize that he is a sinner but Jesus has done nothing wrong. He confessed that he is a sinner. And also said that Jesus has done nothing wrong. That is what we want to understand. We are sinners but our saviour Jesus has never sinned. He is the lamb sacrificed for me and you. His request was a personal request. This is what repentance. This is what needs to be happened in the Church. Once a pastor asked a girl when you received Jesus as your personal Saviour? Her answer was I am born in Pentacost. The pastor replied “You may be born in a hospital or in your house” This is what is the thinking of present generation. Born in a Christian family means you are sinless. It is not so. You are born as a sinner. When you understand you are a sinner and when you confess that Jesus was sinless and had died for my sin and resurrected on the third day from death and living in Heaven and he will come again to redeem me. Then only you will be saved. It should be a personal request. Some people say they are sinless. They are the worst sinners in the world.
ILL: Once a Doctor in Shadra, (in Delhi) mental hospital decided to discharge the patients who are mentally OK. The physical tests like blood, urine or blood pressure will not prove that the mental patients is ok. Some other means of checking needs to find out who all are ok. So, Doctor Called all the patients and said to them, “I am going to send home those who are well. So do one thing. You should not go by walk. You should go by a bicycle. The patients started to act like they are riding the cycle. Doctor become very upset to see that they all are not well. In between them one man was not riding cycle. He is standing steady. Doctor become very happy to see that atleast one man has become alright.
Doctor called that man and asked him. Are you well? He replied “Yes Doctor, I am Alright”. Then Doctor asked if you are well why don’t you riding cycle. He replied that I was riding through a slope.
Those who say I am sinless is just like this guy. They are the worst sinners.
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don’t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
See the second criminal now in a state that he fear God, and from his mouth came that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Then he made a request, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. His request is not a temporary physical relief. A permanent relief for his soul. Watching his attitude and his words Jesus immediately replied. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Those who come with a genuine request for the forgiveness for sin, Jesus will immediately respond.
Dear beloved brothers and sisters, if you have never got a chance to make a request to Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, just like the second thief made, this is the right time to make that decision. If you confess Jesus is Lord and Saviour, He will accept you as his sons and daughters. This is the right time, do not waste this time, come forward and confess that Jesus is Lord and Saviour.
I will conclude with one question, most people raise that the thief did not get baptized? So what is the need to get baptized.?
We all sing that
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.
We never sing that:
More, more about thief,
More, more about thief;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.
So please try to be like Jesus, not like thief, look at Jesus who died for us. He has show us a way to live, so we must follow him.
May God bless you abandontly.
