PARADISE

Luke 23:26-43

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

The Teacher is the Savior too. And in the excruciating agony and public humiliation of the cross, He reaches out to one of the two thieves suffering alongside of Him.

Luke pictures the ridicule of the mob surging and taunting at the foot of the cross. In pain and despair, even one of the two thieves adds to the chorus of jeers.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other thief defended Jesus - We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Demonstrating faith in difficult circumstances is perhaps the greatest test of one’s trust. And this penitent thief calls out for Jesus to remember Him when He comes in His kingdom.

His belief in the power of Jesus to provide a life after death is nothing short of amazing.

And it is equally incredible that in physical agony and surrounded by death, Jesus is able to reach out to one more person with words of healing and encouragement.

He promises Paradise.

For a few more hours they will share the cross. Then that very day they will meet again in a place of joy and comfort. He will be with Jesus…in Paradise.

This is the promise every student of Jesus holds most dearly in times of trial and pain. If we endure suffering with Jesus for a few hours now, then we will surely be with Him in paradise.

Forever together with Him!

VOX POPULI

Luke 23:13-25

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate wanted to do the right thing and release Jesus. For a while he was listening to his conscience. As he said, neither he nor Herod found any basis for the charges against the Teacher.

But there was something drowning out Pilate’s better judgment. It was the voice of the people shouting for Jesus’ death.

And there was something Pilate wanted more than a clear conscience. He wanted to please the people, keep the peace and advance his career as a good administrator for Rome.

To his credit, Pilate tried. Three times he appealed to the people to change their mind. And yet, to his eternal shame, he gave in when it mattered most.

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

And their shouts prevailed.

Students of Jesus take note. In the din of voices, they listen for one still small voice. The voice that is always right in every circumstance of life.

Not the voice of the people, but the Voice of the Teacher.

STRANGE FRIENDS

Luke 23:5-12

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Jesus unites two feuding politicians. It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Never truer than the reconciliation of Pilate and Herod over the trial of Jesus!

By all rights, Herod is the true king of Israel. Not the occupying force ruled by Roman Pilate. It is only natural they should be bitter political rivals.

Ambitious, power-hungry, ruthless! There isn’t much to commend either of these two leaders. But now they have a mutual problem – Jesus

Pilate sees the effort to condemn Jesus as mere religious infighting. Not worthy of Rome’s attention. When he learns that Jesus is a Galilean, he tosses the political hot potato to Herod’s jurisdiction.

Herod gladly accommodated, because he wanted to meet Jesus and to see one of the miracles all the people were talking about.

However, none of the many accusations leveled against Jesus found any resonance with Herod. He asked Jesus many questions to no avail, had Him beaten and sent back to Pilate’s court.

It’s still happening today. Opposition to Jesus unites disparate interest groups and creates strange friends.

This is actually the result of a much larger process. God, through Jesus is dividing people. Those who are for Him and those who are against! There is no middle ground!

Both Pilate and Herod found themselves on the same side, but on the wrong side. One axiom explains their newfound friendship - The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

However, students of Jesus are taught to love even their enemies. But it is also true - any friend of Jesus is a friend of every other student of Jesus.

SON OF GOD

Luke 22:66-23:4

They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

The Teacher is on trial for being more than a teacher.

Although His radical teaching has fired the animosity of the religious establishment against Him, it is the question of who He is that keeps them up nights.

Now apart from the adoring crowds they have Him alone and unprotected. They will have their answer - If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us."

To their surprise Jesus bypasses the question, and makes what to them must have been the most outlandish claim possible - But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.

Jesus knows His time has come. So He makes a direct claim to be God, knowing He will be charged with blasphemy and condemned to death. Certainly, if they have rejected Him before – even though He did notable miracles – they surely won’t accept this claim now.

No, their response was predictable - Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

Earlier in His ministry, the religious leaders asked for a special sign to confirm His credentials. Now they ask for none. The claim that Jesus would soon sit at the right hand of God, while true, was beyond their wildest imaginations.

Never could they have imagined that this time God did not call a man to be His prophet, but sent His Son to become a man.

This is the incredible privilege of being a student of this Teacher. He is The Son of God.

WRONG CAMP

Luke 22:55-65

But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

We’ve already seen how Peter disconnected from Jesus when the mob came for the arrest. He wasn’t paying attention to the Teacher. Didn’t wait for Jesus’ answer before acting!

That’s how Peter finds himself warming at the fire of the enemies of Jesus.

Now we see how helpless a student of Jesus is when disconnected from the Teacher.

Now alone, Peter denies His Lord. Not once, but three times. And each time more emphatically!

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."

Here we see the steps of regression that lead a student away from the Teacher. And where such a course leads! From a student in the inner circle of Jesus to huddling in the enemy camp and total denial of Him!

When the rooster crowed, Peter woke up - And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Eventually, Peter will also show us the way back to Jesus. His remorse will lead him back to resuming the daily business of listening to His Teacher once more!

Jesus will do what He does for all wayward students. He will seek Peter and restore Him in love.

DISCONNECTED

Luke 22:47-54

Peter followed at a distance.

When Jesus was forcibly arrested, Peter made a violent attempt to save Him. It was misguided – contrary to the principles and purposes of the Teacher – and it failed.

Now Peter hangs back. Disconnected and no doubt discouraged. It will get worse for him before it gets better. He will deny Jesus, curse and swear he doesn’t even know Him.

What happened? How does one go from Jesus’ inner circle to almost total disconnection?

Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens at one time or another in the life of almost every student of the Teacher! It happened to Peter because he wasn’t paying attention. He ran ahead of His Teacher!

Earlier that night Jesus warned him that he was a target of the devil’s attack. He instructed him to watch and pray. But Peter, along with the others, fell asleep. But…

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

When the mob suddenly appeared, the only voice in Peter’s head was his own. He didn’t wait for the Teacher’s answer. That’s when he made the mistake of acting precipitously and detachment was the result.

Maybe, like Peter, we think we are defending the faith, beginning some new excellent project. Then it happens. We fail.

We fail because it wasn’t the Teacher’s idea for us at all. We didn’t wait for His answer. It was our own voice we were following.

That’s when we too get discouraged with our Christian walk. Disconnect, follow at a distance.

Staying connected is about sustaining our relationship with the Teacher and that is all about paying attention to Him. And sometimes waiting patiently for an answer from Him.

SWEATING BLOOD

Luke 22:39-46

…and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Extreme duress! Palpable stress! Acute anguish!

Perhaps even these words to not approach the true magnitude of suffering Jesus faced the night of His betrayal.

At some point in life, most people know what it is to be in deep trouble. Even to be driven to their knees in prayer for deliverance.

But while everyone in the world knows sorrow and pain, Jesus’ circumstance is uniquely horrible. That’s why this moment in Jesus’ life must, to some extent, remain shrouded in mystery.

Nor is anyone else qualified to understand it. Nobody else, only Jesus! He alone was one with the Father. Only He is eternally perfect and came to earth and lived a perfect human life as well.

And now He must become intimate with sin. Not just some sin, but every sin of every person who ever lived or would yet live! The full implications of this are beyond our grasp, but He prayed…

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly…

Perhaps we can only identify slightly wiht an anguish that sweats blood.

But anyone can certainly fully appreciate the benefits of the victory He won in prayer that night. A decision that propelled Him forward to give all His blood on the cross!

A choice that opened heaven for all who believe and obey Him!