Keith presents the passage of Luke 23:26-55. He focuses on the thief on the cross, but for some added context he shares the importance of Jesus’s last words to some of his followers along the road. A prophetic word to imply that the mistreatment he is receiving wouldn’t decrease in the fog of time. His ministries would only continue, and his mistreatment might become worse.
A few groups of people were there to witness the crucifixion. Religious leaders who joined in scoffing at him, loyal disciples who could only stand by and watch, criminals who deserve their fate and Romans who carried it out. Focus is put on the behavior of the two criminals, and Jesus’ assurance to the one who expressed belief in him. The promise was clear. This man who didn’t deserve it, would join Jesus and his kingdom before the day was out. Keith disputes the belief that claims the thief actually had to spend time in purgatory, or had to wait for a later time before joining Jesus.
He demonstrates how the language is clear, and we can know that this thief truly believed, and went directly to heaven at his death.
At the moment of Jesus death, when darkness fell on the land and its temple curtain was torn, at least one Roman soldier seems to also believe. He recognized Jesus wasn’t innocent man, and praise God. The religious leaders disappeared, unrepentant. His disciples were still frozen in place. But the moment was one that struct a hardened soldier to recognize what was done. The Messiah, and hope of Israel had just been killed. The grief and mourning of his followers had to have been harsh. It must had struck that that this darkness of agony would never end. Their hope had died.
The remaining events include the women who remained and watched as Joseph of Arimathea ask for the body of Jesus and bury him. It wasn’t normal to remove bodies from a Roman cross. They would hang there until they decayed, or animals ravished them. However, in Jewish culture a man was cursed who died on a tree. It was also not allowed to leave a Jew on the tree overnight. Joseph must also have been a man of great importance; in that he was able to approach Pilate directly to request the body of Jesus. It was a show of honor for him to place the body of Jesus and his unused grave.
The whole time the watching women made note of this, and hastily prepared the body for burial. They would have to stay away through the Sabbath that was just beginning at the setting of the sun.
Their mind-numbing grief didn’t allow them to consider Jesus’s words.
They forgot about the predictions he made about this day.
They missed the importance of what Jesus had just done for them, and the whole world.
The only ones who reacted in a positive way were a criminal, and a murderous Gentile.
But all that would change, because Sunday was coming.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:51 — 34.7MB)
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