Today's Passage - Luke 23:33-38

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 23:33-38   When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, 'He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.'  The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.'  There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.   In this day and age, it's hard for us to imagine the humiliation and pain that the cross will bring about.  Nailing on the cross was the cruelest method of execution back in those days, but Jesus Christ had to persevere through all that suffering.  When Jesus was nailed on the cross, all the voices were asking Him to come down; the passersby asked Him to come down, priests and scribes asked Him to come down, and even the women who were looking from a distance was hoping He would just come down!  Seeing how the beloved Lord whom they had followed getting humiliated and nailed on the cross, the women's hearts must have been crying out: "Lord, wouldn't it be great if you could just come down, to show your authority and power to those people!"  Jesus, however, did not listen to his flesh and voice of the people, and He just quietly persevered all the penalties imposed by God on the entire human race.   The sacrifice that was manifested on the cross was the great one of all time; not only did Jesus sacrifice Himself, but it was also Father God sacrificing His beloved son.  The pain on the cross was not only pain from the broken heart and soul, but also physical pain.  This is not a pain that we can imagine, but whenever we remember the day the Lord suffered for us, we call it "Good Friday."  Why would we call such a painful day a "Good Friday?"  It's because the Lord has accomplished the wonderful salvation for us on the cross, which allows us not to be bound by sin because our faith in Him, and to enjoy freedom and joy in Christ.    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you sacrificed yourself for us, and on the cross you were willing to take on all the penalties by God on our behalf.  In you, our sins are forgiven and our hearts are freed, so please grant us the joy of freedom.  I thank you and I pray in the name of Jesus, amen!