Easter Episode 3: You Will Be With Me in Paradise, Come to the Cross, Week 1, Day 3
Devotionals on the Go
English - March 19, 2024 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.59 MBChristianity Religion & Spirituality daily devotionals women's devotional bible study devotionals on the go christian podcasts women's bible study church bible study church devotionals devotionals for women Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Pairs with workout 2 from soulstrengthfit.com’s Come to the Cross Faith Based Easter Fitness Program.
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Read: Luke 23: 32-43
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’”
The word Messiah was a word all Jewish people were familiar with because they were all looking forward to when God would send a messiah. The word refers to the person chosen by God to save the people.
But the criminal on the cross has turned "Messiah” into an insult. How could the savior be on a cross, helpless and about to die? He wasn’t the only one to mock Jesus. The religious leaders, the soldiers, the crowd all sneered and mocked Jesus as He hung with the sign posted above His head: “This is the king of the Jews.” But how about the other criminal?
“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.’”
Compare this response with the perspective found in the book of Matthew.
“Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and 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!’