WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
Luke 23:34-43
2 Corinthians 5:1-11

“…willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.”

HIS MOMENTS ON THE CROSS

It is a very cruel act to crucify an innocent man. But Jesus, the God of love, prayed to the Father in heaven to forgive those who crucified and mocked Him. Although these people did not know that it was the Son of God that they did these things, they must have known the injustice towards an innocent man. God is merciful but He is also just, all sins must be punished. When Jesus was moved with compassion to ask God to forgive His persecutors, this did not prevent Him from agreeing with the righteous judgment of God the Father. He knew the ordained condemnation for the reprobate and obstinate. Such ones can only be forgiven through faith in Jesus.

There were several kinds of people at the foot of the cross. The covetous ones took His minimal clothing and cast lots. There were those who watched Jesus with discernment probably recalling how He had done only good. The Jewish rulers and soldiers mocked Jesus, challenging Him to show His power by coming down from the cross. The two thieves also mocked Jesus, but one repented and believed.

God’s grace is indeed greater than man’s sins. One thief hanging on the cross was convicted of his sin and recognised that he deserved to be condemned. He then acknowledged Jesus Christ as His Lord and Saviour. This is a marvellous example of God’s great mercy and grace. What a man needs is to repent and believe. No matter how great a sinner a person is, if he be truly penitent, through Christ, he will not only have his sins pardoned, but will also have a place in the paradise of God. He tells all repentant sinners that when they die they shall go to be with Him right away. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). May every man see himself like this thief who by simple faith was snatched from the very gates of Hell into the glorious Heaven.

THOUGHT: Do I think of how much Jesus suffered on the cross?
PRAYER: Father, I will never be able to fathom Thy great love, how Thou sent Thy beloved Son to suffer for me, an unworthy sinner.