Save Yourself

Luke 23:35-43:

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Blog:

When Jesus went to the cross on Calvary, He offered Himself as one final blood Sacrifice to God in order to save all of us.  One of the ironies on the Hill of Calvary is that many witnesses to His Passion were yelling at Him to save Himself. But, Jesus didn’t come to save Himself – He came to save us. Many in the crowd on that hill couldn’t believe that the Man Who had raised others from the dead couldn’t save Himself from death.  Even one of the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus was yelling at Jesus with the crowd. But not everyone was yelling at Jesus – including the other criminal who was crucified with Christ. He found the one and only Way to save himself – by sticking-up for Jesus while humbling himself to ask for His Mercy.  This criminal who probably led a life full of sin (or at least enough sin to get him condemned to a cross) didn’t let his final opportunity (to confess and repent before the King of kings) pass. He knew Who was on the cross next to him and he didn’t waste his last chance. So, when we think that we’ve done way too many sins to be forgiven by God, we must remember what a Deacon (who I Pray is now in Heaven, too) once told me, “The only unforgiveable sin is the one that we don’t confess…because we can never out-sin God’s love for us.” Let’s all humble ourselves and let Jesus save us, too.