Luke 21:34:
"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."
Friends. Let us not forget. Let us take heed. Let us remember what Christ did on that Holy Friday for us. Let us at each moment today not forget the number of times he was wiped and beaten, that we would praise him for each drop of blood He shed, and that we would above all thank Him for His mercy on us. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Friends He was innocent, and we are guilty. He was sinless and we are sinful. This spotless victim was and is the sacrifice for us and for our salvation. Let that rock our souls and minds each day.
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 wine 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."
Friends I've written on this a few weeks ago as linked above. Again we see: innocent.
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" 48 And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
The last thing He said on the cross: Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.
Friends isn't that where He is calling us? In his last exhortation He reminds us: take heed, be watchful and what is the last thing He does: surrenders His spirit to God.
Friends we are called to a life of surrender. A life of trading my will, your will for His will. A life of trusting Him to guide us and keep us. And friends: where God leads you might not be pretty, it might be painful, it might be heartbreaking, but He will never leave you. And Christ, who we remember His passion today, His blood shed tore the veil in two. He was innocent. Let that not become commonplace to us, let that not become just a nice story. That Jesus died for you and for me should be the foundation of everything we are. That Jesus died for you and for me should guide everything we do. That Jesus died for you and for me should change us in such a way that we change the world. And what does He tell us as His parting thought to his exhortation in verse 34: But watch at all times, praying you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.
Friends. Don't stop watching. Don't stop praying.
Pray that you may have the strength to endure this life and to stand before the Son of man.
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