The clear message of justification can be found in this account of the thief on the cross. Gospel = Good news! No ifs, ands or buts. Just Jesus.
What a miracle that the thief is brought to faith in these last, horrible moments of his life! But then, it's a miracle when anyone is brought to faith, isn't it?
The author brings to light man's version of what's fair and compares it with God's definition. By nature, we like to call the shots when the reality is that God has that place. "Sin" is a dirty word and is used less and less in our society. It's scary to think that if people distance themselves more and more from the awareness of their sinfulness, they will have less and less reason to see their need for a Saviour.
Some things that jumped out at me in this chapter start at the top of page 120 - The repentant felon was only partly right when he said, "We are getting what our sins deserve." He could more accurately have said, "Jesus is getting what our deeds deserve." Here we see that the repentant thief felt a natural sense of justice knowing that there needed to be consequences for the wrongs he had done. What he would witness up there next to Jesus on the cross was grace. Instead, Jesus was also suffering the inferno of God's anger - in our place.
Another point to note was the author's observation (found at the bottom of pg.120) that the criminal called Jesus by name. That's very interesting to contemplate! His name meant something and explained everything about him!
Jesus is as near to us in the Bible as he was to the criminals that flanked him on Golgotha. (121)
I can't help but think that surely if I was alive during that time Jesus walked the earth and our paths crossed, how could I NOT acknowledge him as the Saviour? But the truth is, many did reject him even as their paths crossed. And here you have two men with a front row seat witnessing Jesus' suffering for mankind and one man still stubbornly rejects what his eyes can see. Would I be so different? Thankfully, by the grace of God, he has opened my eyes to belief just as he did for those that believed in him them.
This was really a poignant chapter. The message of forgiveness is clear. It's all Jesus!
Mothering Like Mary
From my experience, it was exciting to see my son confirmed in his baptismal grace like Carey recounts. It was an opportunity to look at it in my own life with new eyes and be excited for my son to have this gift that God has established for his church!
Ponder
How do you react to this chapter's treatment of the criminal who was not saved? I know far too many "criminals" today who've had opportunities to hear of God's forgiveness and learn of Jesus' sacrifice and still reject him like the lost criminal on the cross.
Christian funerals are one of the more opportune times to reach lost souls with Jesus' message. Attendees to these funerals have death on their minds and many are warming a pew they seldom sit in. The sermon preaches the good news of Jesus in a clear and straightforward way and many still wiggle uncomfortably and stubbornly resist "going there" in their minds.
I imagine the situations most like these criminals are the end of life, deathbed scenes: Lives that have resisted and rejected God throughout their time of grace now stand at the end of their earthly life and are looking at an eternity square in the face. Praise God that he does bring about deathbed conversions! We rejoice in the ability to comfort loved ones left behind that had prayed for this their entire lives! It was a close call:) ... but the angels are singing for another lost sheep has been found. But ... there are the sad stories, too. Like the lost criminal, they chose to face death on his own terms, terms that didn't include the Saviour beside him. He was in touching distance of Christ, within earshot of his words of forgiveness. .. Jesus was providing the fireproof protection of his love, but this felon chose to step out of that love and walk into the blaze of God's anger alone. His choice would mean not merely a physical death but also an eternal one. (120)
I am so thankful for the assurance of my salvation found only in Jesus!
2 comments:
Still plugging along here, delayed a few days!
It occurred to me as I read Jesus' words to the thief on the cross this morning that these might be some of the clearest, and most important words in all of Scripture: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Salvation by by faith in Jesus, pure and simple. (As you, Rachel, also alluded to in your first paragraph.)
The fact that we are all criminals in God's eyes is one that I've noticed takes lots of repetition to impress upon my boys (now ages 8 and 11). Our human nature and our culture want so badly to believe that there is some good in each of us, and that it's only the "really bad" people who deserve hell.
I do so very much look forward to my boys going through confirmation class and then, with a thorough understanding, taking their first communion. I pray that with lots of conversations through the years about the deep need each of us have for Jesus' grace and forgiveness, it will be a day they will remember as one of deep meaning.
Roc - a Godpleasing parental attitude, dear one. I must admit I had never really thought about preparing as a parent for my children's confirmation years but that is what we are doing when we consider Gods Word as important in our own lives and our children (and others around us) see us studying His Word and constantly learning and sharing the message and what we learn...an ongoing process until the day we die and go to heaven to sit at the actual feet of Jesus. A wonderful gift we give to our children through Gods most abundant grace.
Post a Comment