" About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice. "Eloi
Eloi lama sabachtani." Which means "My God My God why have you
forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
The sky was filled with darkness on crucifixion day. How do we know? The
Bible says so in the twenty seventh chapter of Matthew. We also read here that
the earth shook and the vale in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The women wept, The Pharisees and passers by hurled insults. And the chief
priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked the Lord Jesus as he
hung dying for our sins on that wooden cross at Calvary.
Kind of a sad description of the state of man kind at that time don't you think?
Never since this day have I ever read of such vulgar acts being displayed
at someone's murder. I mean let’s be honest here. Jesus Christ is being
murdered upon a cross. You can call it a crucifixion. You can call it a
human sacrifice. You can call it a lot of things. But the reality here is that
a murder is happening in front of all these people's eyes to see. We don't
read of to much compassion being displayed here. Though, the women wept at
the foot of the cross. Sure, we read that. But others, others acted
like they were attending a minor league hockey game in Toledo on a Thursday
night. Knowing they took a personal day on Friday.(No offense to the city of Toledo, of
course.) You get what I am trying to say here right? Let's think
about it! Someone is getting put to death here. Someone's son, well actually God's Son. Someone’s friend,
someone’s brother, someone, I say again is getting killed here!! In some sort
of crazy way it reminds me of how nasty people can get at times. But have
you ever seen or heard of people mocking a person who was about to be put
to death in an electric chair? I mean how sad would that be? For example, to make
my point here, here's how that may sound. "Hey buddy, yeah you about
to fry. Why don’t you try and get out from those straps before your head
explodes? Yeah, you cannot do it. What kind of man are you? Or ever gone to a
murder crime scene? Haven't seen or read about to many people heckling the
dying victim as they laid there in a pool of their own blood, right? Is it me?
Am I the only one that thinks that is a really sick thing to do? I mean these
are the supposed to be the top respected people in the community who are
doing these horrible things. It is not like the town drunk or village idiot is
yelling out these insults. No, we read in the Bible that it is the chief
priests and the teachers of the law that are acting like complete idiots here.
Could you imagine going to a Catholic church on Sunday and seeing a bunch of
Priests yelling insults at the people as they were heading into mass? Listen
how that may sound. "Hey you over there with the ugly suit and hair cut.
Your tithing has been a little on the short side lately. And why I am at it you
better keep that brat kid Johnnie quiet today or we will have one of the alter
boys throw you both out on the street." Could you ever imagine that being
said in public by a priest? I am dumb founded here. I don't even know where to
go with this chapter. To put it plainly, this is sick. Isn't a bad enough a man
is dying here? Even though it is undeserved or deserved, who mocks the person
while the event is happening? " He saved others, the chief priests
said. But he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from
the cross and we will believe in him. He trust in God. Let God rescue him now
if he wants him for he said, I am the Son of God." In the same way the
robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on Him." (Matthew
27:41-44). The two key words here for me are now and
robbers in these passages. Let us start with the word now
okay? I mean, get down now from that rugged wooden cross. Before you
remove those nails that have been driven so deeply through your hands and
feet Lord. I mean do this now! They requested so rudely. Not tomorrow, not
after dinner, not before or after we take a walk through the soft and misty
rain later. I mean you are going to die today, Jesus. But if by chance you are
going to show us some show stopping miracle, you better do it in our time, at
our prideful request. Or maybe just maybe this miracle might just lose its
marquee value, if you wait any longer, Jesus. So do it now they
requested. Kind of a insane request don't you think? Now the second word
that intrigues me is robbersss. I added a few more sssss's
to get my point here across. Let us say that again robbers insulted him. Don't
we all know the story of the one robber who asked Jesus Christ to remember him
while they hanging also on the cross next to the Lord. "Today you will be
with me in Paradise." Christ tells him in
his dying hours. I ask you what happened here? I believe that the Lord's
actions here on the Cross got to the one criminal. The acts of love, the acts
of forgiveness, the care for everyone else except for himself, displayed to
this one criminal that this Godman hanging next to him showed changed his
hardened heart. That is why he stopped insulting and started defending the
Christ. "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at
him. Aren't you the Christ ? save yourself and us. Butthe
other criminal rebuked him. He said since you are under the same sentence. We are
punished justly for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has
done nothing wrong. Then he said. Jesus remember me when you come into your
kingdom. Jesus answered him. I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise. (Luke 23: 39-43) What is amazing here to me, what I learned
most about this scripture, what God has truly shown me here, is that our
actions can make a true difference in another’s life. We cannot just honor God
with our lips. We must as Christians honor God with our actions and heart.
These criminals got a first hand look of what was going on that crucifixion
day. Both saw forgiveness. Both saw love and concern for others. Both saw no retaliatory
acts by the Christ. Both saw the cruelty and harshness of people mocking and
insulting a dying man. And both must have heard a Saviors plea to the Father In
Heaven. "Father, forgive they know not what they do." Unbelievable
love, unbelievable forgiveness, a believably Great Savior!! When you really
come to think about it we as Christians have no excuse not lay down our lives
for others. Most of us, will not be heckled by others, by priests, or
pastors or other ‘men of reputation’ at our death bed hopefully. And then
again, there might be some of you that might have a disgruntled
In-law or two who might want to get in some parting shots at you before
you leave this earth.(Only Joking, Okay?) Then again you understand what I am
trying to convey here. And that is this; there is no one like Jesus Christ. The Lord
gives us an example of how to act. I believe Jesus doesn't reply to these
insults and mocking because he truly knows and understands what his purpose is.
To die on the Cross of Calvary for the atonement of all of mankind’s sins.
Christ also understands that Satan has infiltrated some of the crowd to
try and provoke him to come down from the cross and not accomplish God's will.
Thank the Lord he doesn't fall for the satanic provocation, and finishes
what the Father In Heaven has requested him to do. I know some of you are going
through some tough situations. Some of you have health issues. Some of you have
mean people in your life. Some of you are having marriage problems and troubled
times. Whatever it is that you are going through and you think that might not
make it through. I want you to think about the love of Jesus. Jesus could have
come down from that cross and called down legions of angels that day at Calvary. He could have wiped out those who were making
fun of Him. But the truth is. Listen carefully now. Christ was dying for them
also that day. And he knew that if He would of come down from that cross that
Satan would have been victorious and we wouldn't have a way to be forgiven for
our sins by the Father In Heaven. And that is why he would rather die for you
that day, than live without you for eternity. Think about that today my
friends. Really think about in your heart what Jesus endured for you and I.
When you do, when you finally do this you can then only begin to know the
greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and how much he truly loves us.God Bless you on your Journey!!
I mean these
are the supposed to be the top respected people in the community who are
doing these horrible things. It is not like the town drunk or village idiot is
yelling out these insults. No, we read in the Bible that it is the chief
priests and the teachers of the law that are acting like complete idiots here.
Could you imagine going to a Catholic church on Sunday and seeing a bunch of
Priests yelling insults at the people as they were heading into mass? Listen
how that may sound. "Hey you over there with the ugly suit and hair cut.
Your tithing has been a little on the short side lately. And why I am at it you
better keep that brat kid Johnnie quiet today or we will have one of the alter
boys throw you both out on the street." Could you ever imagine that being
said in public by a priest? I am dumb founded here. I don't even know where to
go with this chapter. To put it plainly, this is sick. Isn't a bad enough a man
is dying here? Even though it is undeserved or deserved, who mocks the person
while the event is happening? " He saved others, the chief priests
said. But he cannot save himself. He is the King of