Holy Week Devotional - Friday

Luke 23:33, 39-43 – “33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left…. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” 

Imagine this scene.  Jesus is being mocked and insulted by soldiers.  And also by one of the criminals who was crucified next to Jesus.  Jesus was considered by Pilate to be completely innocent of all charges.  He found no wrong in Him.  And yet, giving in to the pressure of the crowds (remember how the crowds treated Jesus on Palm Sunday?), Pilate sentenced Jesus to die by crucifixion – a punishment reserved only for the worst criminals.

So here was Jesus on the cross, a man who did nothing wrong, who is being mocked by a criminal who actually was receiving his due penalty for his heinous crimes.  What was the criminal saying?  Basically, if you’re really God, save yourself and save me too! 

You know, people mock Jesus and Christianity all the time.  They make fun of God.  They mock the things that Christianity stands for. 

But how does Jesus deal with it?  First off, He offers forgiveness.  He’s not angry.  He said on the cross, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”  And He gave His life for them – even those mocking Him. 

But then we come to this other criminal who simply says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  He is, in his own way, asking for forgiveness.  And Jesus lets him know he’s forgiven by saying, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” 

The gift of grace bestowed on us by Jesus is astounding.  In the midst of our sin, He gave His life for us.  Paul put it this way in Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Today is Good Friday.  It’s a weird day in that I don’t really know how to observe it.  Do I say, “Happy Good Friday”?  That doesn’t seem right.  We remember a horrific, painful, excruciating death on a Roman cross.  That’s not a happy thing.  And yet, it was a voluntary choice on Jesus’ behalf to save us from our sin, because He loved us so much.  That IS a happy thing! 

What does Good Friday mean to you?  In what way do you think is best to observe it? 

In what way are you like the first criminal – let’s be honest, we all have a little bit of that in us (God, if you really love me, why aren’t you doing XYZ for me???) – and in what way are you like the second criminal? 

Today, think about Good Friday and why it’s so important.  Think about God’s astounding love for you that is such that He would give His life for you.  Think about how you can share this incredibly good news with someone else in your life.  It’s a perfect time for that conversation!