The criminal hanging on the other cross rebuked the man, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You’re about to die! We deserve to be condemned. We’re just being repaid for what we’ve done. But this man—he’s done nothing wrong!” Then he said, “I beg of you, Jesus, show me grace and take me with you into your everlasting kingdom!” Jesus responded, “I promise you—this very day you will enter paradise with me.” Luke 23:40-43 TPT
Of all the ways for the Son of God to die—it was death by crucifixion. A painful, shameful, and brutal way to die. As they nailed Him to the cross He prayed—”Father forgive them.”
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. Luke 23:34 ASV
We were never meant to suffer alone. In silence or with any form of social dignity. Suffering is loud and untamed. Jesus suffered outload. In the public. For all to see—for all of eternity.
His last earthly breaths were taken beside two criminals who unlike Jesus, were deserving of the penalty of death. Jesus was unashamed to share His last moments on this side of eternity with those the world deemed “less than”.
Followers of Jesus Christ are promised suffering; and the command to pick-up their cross and follow Jesus. Simon, from Libya, set the pace for the rest of us.
And as they came out of the city, they stopped an African man named Simon, from Libya, and compelled him to carry the cross for Jesus. Matthew 27:32 TPT
I love the people Jesus kept company with—my people. He ate with notorious sinners. In a culture where sharing a meal has great significance—He broke bread with the broken.
He went out of his way to deliver living water to the woman at the well. In a society, not unlike places in our present day—where woman are on the bottom wrung of the social cast ladder—He loved well.
Being utterly unashamed of the woman “caught in adulty”—He became her defender. Maybe the first “defender” she had ever known. He was unafraid to face the crowds while sitting in the dirt with the accused.
Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, “Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?” John 8:10 TPT
He leaves the 99 to find the one lost sheep. Not intimated by the stench of sin—He embraces the lost—with the warmth of heaven. And, the Father’s love.
Amazing grace. Extravagant Love.
Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had 100 sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn’t you leave the 99 on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? Matthew 18:12 CEV
And. As if this wasn’t enough—He rises from the dead on the third day! Defeating death and darkness—once and for all! He sent an angel to share the good news with the woman on that glorious morning!
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 NLT
His parting gift? “Go and tell everyone!” He is alive!
Live like Jesus. Love like Jesus. Suffer like Jesus. Forgive like Jesus. Go like Jesus.
Tami Yeager 