Greetings Church Family and Friends,
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”
But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The above Scripture was part of a recent Bible Studies, we spent time talking about the penitent thief on the cross.
Jesus is hanging on the cross after having been awake for 36 hours. He had been brutally beaten during the night. Two men with whips that had pieces of bone in the end were trained in brutalizing men who were sentenced to crucifixion. Crucifixion was one of the worst forms of punishment known to man and the Romans were trained inflicting the punishment that would cause men to suffer for a couple of days.
Jesus, enduring the punishment for the sins of the world and being mocked by those around, offered words of compassion and concern for others from the cross. One of the men on the cross recognized Jesus as an innocent man and evidently the promised Savior. He asked Jesus to “remember” him when he entered His kingdom. That thief recognized that there was more to life than what we have in this world. He recognized that there was a greater kingdom, an eternal kingdom and Jesus was the way for him to achieve that kingdom.
Jesus said to him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” No matter what his past had been, on that day he received God’s mercy and the promise of victory over sin, death, and hell.
As we move into the season of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, we are also able to celebrate God’s victory today. Yes, we have been in a pandemic for 18 months, yes, we have lost loved ones, we have endured sickness, we have been inconvenienced, we have done without, but God has not forsaken us.
We are victorious, today. We are already raised with Jesus. Not only did Jesus remember the penitent thief and offer Him paradise, but he also remembers you. You have victory. You can look forward to what else God has for you. You and I can be thankful everyday for God’s amazing Grace and power in our lives.
God’s Peace and Love,
Pastor Anthony
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”
But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The above Scripture was part of a recent Bible Studies, we spent time talking about the penitent thief on the cross.
Jesus is hanging on the cross after having been awake for 36 hours. He had been brutally beaten during the night. Two men with whips that had pieces of bone in the end were trained in brutalizing men who were sentenced to crucifixion. Crucifixion was one of the worst forms of punishment known to man and the Romans were trained inflicting the punishment that would cause men to suffer for a couple of days.
Jesus, enduring the punishment for the sins of the world and being mocked by those around, offered words of compassion and concern for others from the cross. One of the men on the cross recognized Jesus as an innocent man and evidently the promised Savior. He asked Jesus to “remember” him when he entered His kingdom. That thief recognized that there was more to life than what we have in this world. He recognized that there was a greater kingdom, an eternal kingdom and Jesus was the way for him to achieve that kingdom.
Jesus said to him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” No matter what his past had been, on that day he received God’s mercy and the promise of victory over sin, death, and hell.
As we move into the season of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, we are also able to celebrate God’s victory today. Yes, we have been in a pandemic for 18 months, yes, we have lost loved ones, we have endured sickness, we have been inconvenienced, we have done without, but God has not forsaken us.
We are victorious, today. We are already raised with Jesus. Not only did Jesus remember the penitent thief and offer Him paradise, but he also remembers you. You have victory. You can look forward to what else God has for you. You and I can be thankful everyday for God’s amazing Grace and power in our lives.
God’s Peace and Love,
Pastor Anthony