For they allow us to draw some interesting conclusions about these men. And second, we know that for their crimes they have been sentenced to death by the cross. First, we know that they are described in the Greek text by a special word for thief. The fact is we really know only what the gospels tell us about these two men. They also are certainly untrue-the stuff of empty legend. Those stories are touching and sentimental. And now, that child, having followed his father into a life of crime, hangs by Jesus’ side. But the infant Jesus reaches out his hand and heals the child.
Or it has been said that on the way to Egypt, Mary and Joseph encounter a bandit and his family. And now, these thieves become the men who hang on the cross next to Jesus. In the end, the second robber got his way. One robber wished to kill them, the other wanted to spare their lives. One legend tells us that when Mary and Joseph were fleeing to Egypt, they met two robbers. WHO ARE THESE THIEVES? Now, who are these two men crucified with Jesus? There have been some interesting stories that have built up around these thieves. The scorn of the cross is poured out by those who hang with Christ in suffering and death. The isolation of the Savior goes as far as to Calvary’s hill itself. a company of evil-doers encircled me." (Ps. The Psalmist speaks of the same circumstance when in Psalm 22:17, the prophet declares in the voice of the Christ: ". Jesus is literally "numbered among the transgressors" as Isaiah puts it (Isa. You see, Jesus has two comrades in death on Good Friday afternoon. Those who are dying with him will use their last remaining breaths to join in the abuse and ridicule. No, the scorn goes so far as to isolate Jesus even from Rome’s other victims on that Friday afternoon. Luke tells us, "One of the criminals was blaspheming him, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’" The scorn of the cross is leveled at Jesus not only by bored guards, who have seen it all before, not only by sadistic spectators who have turned out on a Friday afternoon to be entertained by dying men. But being thrown together into a maelstrom of terrible suffering did not automatically create a sense of camaraderie in death. You see, there were two other victims on Calvary that afternoon. Yes, we learn a great deal as we tune into a remarkable conversation Jesus had from his cross. Here, right in the crucible of the terrible suffering on Golgotha, Jesus talked about the deep heart yearnings of all of us for a new and different world! PARADISE REGAINED? But is that really the way God’s new world comes? Is that really the way to Paradise? It may surprise you that on Calvary, Jesus talked about Paradise-and the way it’s gained! Yes, really. Force is defensible if it’s carried out in the name of the divine. A new age comes by means of those with the courage to seize power. Others take a more revolutionary approach to bringing in a new world order. So far, I would say, their hopes haven’t been realized. New Agers put their hope of a new age right into their name! They’re hoping that the changing alignment of the stars reflects rising spiritual forces that will usher in the "Age of Aquarius" - an age of prosperity, freedom, and goodness. No wonder, then, that many people turn to religion as a way of rekindling hope for the future. No, all our efforts haven’t brought heaven to earth, have they? We thought we could bring in a new world-but instead, in the words of a title from a John Mortimer novel, we have seen "Paradise Postponed." Acts of terrorism have just torn through the streets of Mumbai, India. Huge problems loom with regard to the environment. As I prepare this message, the world’s economy is moving into recession. Recent retirees are wondering whether retirement is going to be the never-ending vacation they had planned for. Now we’re into the 21 st century, and futurologists are predicting that our children and grandchildren aren’t likely to enjoy the same standard of living that many of us enjoyed. The First World War was thought to be ‘the war to end all wars." But the 20 th century turned out to be the bloodiest century in all recorded human history. The World’s Fair held in 1933 in Chicago was even named The Century of Progress. In fact, many people expected the 20 th century to be the turning point of history that would usher in a grand new world order. PARADISE POSTPONED Do you ever get sick of the world as it is? Fed up with the problems, the dishonesty of leaders, the greed, the corruption?Ī century ago, a lot of people were pretty optimistic about what was happening in the world.
0 kommentar(er)
