Saved from What?       Luke 23:26-43

As believers we need to be very familiar with the gospel accounts, because the crucifixion is misunderstood by the majority of people. Satan has been very successful in his endeavours. (John 8:44) This was a problem right from the beginning of the church. (Galatians 1:6-9)

V27. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem in his triumphal entry, the people welcomed him as their King. (Luke 19:38) Now the people saw Jesus as a victim; nothing could be further from the truth. (John 10:17) Jesus was in control. God was using the evil of men to fulfil his will. (Proverbs 16:4)

V28. The weeping women saw a man being led to his death. What they didn’t see was what the future held for them.

V29.  In the years ahead, Israel; Jerusalem would suffer greatly.

V30. See also Hosea 10:8, Revelation 6:15-17

V34. In all of his pain and anguish, Jesus was concerned for the people who were responsible for his suffering. (Isaiah 53:10)

V35. These rulers demonstrated a severe misunderstanding of the nature of salvation; a misunderstanding which persists to this day. The religious leaders had incited the rabble to demand the death of Jesus. See also Matthew 27:39-44

When Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem, the crowd was expecting him to defeat the Romans and take control of Jerusalem. Salvation to them was to be saved from Roman rule, but Jesus had said to Pilate John 18:36 …“My kingdom is not of this world.”

While they mocked Jesus, saying he should save himself, he was saving them, and us!

A major responsibility of the priests was to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people and for their own sins, because- Hebrews 9:22.

But their sacrifices weren’t enough. (Isaiah 1:11) These sacrifices were ordained by God, but they couldn’t atone for sin. They did point to what was to come. (Hebrews 10:1-6)

When the priests had Jesus killed, they were unwittingly fulfilling their role; offering the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

It was for sin that Jesus died. (Isaiah 53:6) In the most basic terms, sin is rejecting the authority of God. Why is sin such a problem? Why did Jesus have to die?

God is merciful, but God is Holy and God is perfectly just. No sin will go unpunished; but God’s wrath against our sin, against us, was poured out against his own Son. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

V38. It was customary for the charges against the condemned criminal to be written and placed on the cross. (John 19:19-22)

No charges could be brought against Jesus because he is righteous, but Pilate had to write something.

It’s ironic that the sign which was intended to mock was factually correct. “This is Jesus of Nazareth; The King of the Jews.”

V39. In Matthew’s account we’re told that both of the criminals openly mocked Jesus, but now God had mercy on one of them.

V40. What the world lacks is a proper fear of God. God’s word tells us many times to fear God.

Job 28:28, Matthew 10:28, Exodus 20:20, Leviticus 25:17,

1 Samuel 12:24, Psalm 33:8, Psalm 34:9, 111:10, 115:13, 128:1, Proverbs 1:7, 3:7, 8:13, 9:10, 14:26, 15:33, 19:23, 23:17, 31:30, 1 Peter 2:17 - And there are more

This criminal had recognized the authority of his creator and that his sin condemned him V41.

He looked again to Jesus. “…this man has done nothing wrong.” “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This man saw his only hope.

Jesus spared this humble man who had nothing to offer. 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [1]

The last sentences of this poor man speak to everyone.  40 … “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly…

While we should all have a healthy fear of God, that fear is eclipsed by God’s love for us. Our fear now should be for those who don’t fear Him: friends, family. (Matthew 7:13)

Jesus didn’t die on the cross to save us from any issues we might face in this world.
He died on the cross to save us from sin and death and from the wrath of God.

If you are enjoying the peace of the knowledge of your salvation and are secure in the love of God, then fear for the lost. They’re standing at the edge of the abyss and they can’t see the danger.

Pray for them. Speak to them. Plead with them.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 23:26–43.