Luke 23:32-43
Dear RTB’ers,
Jesus’ Crucifixion. Yesterday we saw Pilate hand Jesus over to crucifixion and He began His Golgotha walk, assisted by Simon of Cyrene. It is helpful to read the Good Friday account in the Chronological Study Bible. The other writers include a number of items left out by Luke, in particular the scourging by the Roman soldiers and the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Luke only has Herod dressing Jesus in “splendid clothing” (Luke 23:11) As horrible as crucifixion was back then, I’ve always been equally troubled in my spirit by the brutality of the Roman soldiers and accounts that I’ve read of scourging. I understand that Jesus died on our behalf, for our sins – for all humanity for all time. But why the additional suffering…?? Deeply troubling…!
And He [Jesus] said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (v. 43) Occasionally we play these stupid games of who’s in Heaven, who’s in Hell? There’s a spectrum we could name. Mother Theresa? Gandhi? Hitler? But, in fact, the only person that we know with absolute certainty is the “good” thief on the cross. Jesus forgave him personally and brought him alongside into Paradise. “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.”
Blessings!