Church of the Nazarene (Mission Valley, Mt.)
MOVEMENT
  • Only King Forever
  • All Heaven Declares

      • Luke 9:18–20NLT

  • What A Beautiful Name
  • Luke 23:39–49 NLT
    39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. 47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
    In the Gospel for Others it is OUTSIDERS who make a favorable decisions about Christ! (At least in the scenes at the cross)!

    Different Scenes Where We Encounter a Decision Being Made About Christ

    Luke 9:18–20 NLT
    18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.” 20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”
    During Jesus’ life everyone who encountered Him had to make a decision about who they believed he was. It is no different at the Cross and the events leading up to the cross. Let’s look at some.
    ​
    Luke 22:66–23:2 NLT
    66 At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, 67 and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?” But he replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. 68 And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.” 70 They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And he replied, “You say that I am.” 71 “Why do we need other witnesses?” they said. “We ourselves heard him say it.” 1 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 They began to state their case: “This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”
    1. His claims are considered blasphemous (lying about the this of God) by the Sanhedrin. They also claim Jesus to be leading a political rebellion. This is so they can have him condemned to death.
    This is AFTER he is mocked by the guards and disowned/denied by Peter
    ​
    Luke 23:3–7 NLT
    3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” 5 Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes—all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!” 6 “Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. 7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
    2. Pilate tries Jesus and cannot condemn him. IN fact, he specifically declares Jesus to be NOT GUILTY (or another way of saying this, righteous according to the political laws). The people still press Pilate, and out of fear he decides to abdicate his responsibilities to Herod.
    ​
    Luke 23:8–12 NLT
    8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
    3. Herod wanted Jesus to perform a sign and questioned Jesus, but Jesus would not answer. All the while the Chief Priests and teachers of the law were shouting their accusations against Jesus. Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus (again) and sent him back to Pilate (thus trying to dodge a decision they must make…)
    ​
    Luke 23:13–25 NLT
    13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” 18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” 23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
    ​
    4. Jesus is sent back to Pilate to make the final decision. Pilate, again highlights that both he and Herod saw NOTHING wrong with Jesus. He is INNOCENT. Pilate decides that he will punish Jesus and release him. But the crowd of Chief Priests and teachers of the law (and maybe others) still shouted for Jesus to be sentenced to death. In fact, they begged and convinced Pilate to release Barabbas - a KNOWN INSURRECTIONIST - one who is ACTUALLY GUILTY of the crime they were placing on Jesus. Barabbas was released and Jesus was sentenced to be crucified. Pilate AGAIN reminded the crowd that Jesus is INNOCENT! In a HUGE miscarriage of justice Pilate agreed to release Barabbas and sentence Jesus to death. Jesus, the innocent man LITERALLY and IN ALL ACTUALITY took the place of the condemned man, Barabbas.
    2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
    21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
    ​
    Notice the times Jesus is declared innocent...
    Luke 23:4 NLT
    4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
    Luke 23:13–15 NLT
    13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
    Luke 23:20–22 NLT
    20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
    Luke 23:32–38 NLT
    32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
    5. Jesus is led out to be crucified. Here he is mocked and treated as a criminal. Most likely the cross he is carrying is the one intended for Barabbas. Yet, in this passage Jesus declares HIS verdict towards those who are doing this to him.
    Luke 23:34 NLT
    34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
    The verdict is one that declares we are GUILTY! Yet, we are not held responsible for that Guilt! Notice the difference. Jesus does not declare them/us to be innocent. Yet, he takes our place on the cross so that, in the midst of our guilty, we are FORGIVEN. HE took the punishment prepared for us in order to forgive us. We are NOT innocent, but we are FORGIVEN! PRAISE GOD!

    There are 2 Positive Responses at the Cross

    The thief
    The Centurion
    Please note, again, Luke’s Gospel is the Gospel for everyone. It is the Gospel that includes outsiders and welcomes them into the Family/Kingdom of God through the work of Jesus Christ. It should NOT surprise us that OUTSIDERS are included in the work done at the cross and that OUTSIDERS provide a positive response towards Jesus.
    Both OUTSIDERS declare Jesus to be innocent. This recognizes that what he said was true. This recognizes that what was done to him was a miscarriage of “justice.” This recognizes that Jesus is who he claimed to be.
    Luke 23:39–43 NLT
    39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
    While one criminal continued to insult Jesus, the other criminal recognized the innocence of this man. This criminal, along ith Pilate and Herod, declares Jesus innocent. He was taking the place of Barabbas, but not because he deserved it. This criminal also recognizes, that if Jesus is innocent, he is not lying about being the King of the Jews. You see, if Jesus is innocent, then what he said about himself and his kingdom must be true. This criminal recognizes that. Therefore, he asks, boldly to be remembered by Jesus when his Kingdom comes to power.
    This is interesting. Like the prodigal returned, this man does not ask for special treatment - just to be remembered. But, Jesus offers him the whole kit and kaboodle! He is promised PARADISE!
    This promise is NOT because of anything he did. It is because he was led to BELIEVE the claims of Jesus and to TRUST THEM!
    Luke 23:47 NLT
    47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
    I find the Centurion to be interesting. He had to carry out the death sentence - whether he agreed to or not. That was his occupation. He had, most likely, witnessed hundreds of crucifixions and carried out many during his career.
    Yet, somehow there was something different about Jesus. Maybe it was his silence when questioned. Maybe it was his offer of forgiveness towards those who put Him on the cross. Maybe it was the promise of Paradise for those who normally wouldn’t deserve such a thing. Maybe it was his lack of struggle with death and simply a prayer that God would receive His Spirit. Yet, for whatever reason, the Centurion declares a couple of things about Jesus.
    He praises God!
    This is dependent upon what he says about Jesus. He praises God because this “criminal” is not who EVERYONE else said he was - this “criminal” is who HE SAID HE IS. If that is the case GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING GOOD!
    He declares Jesus righteous (right according to the law) = INNOCENT.
    Like Pilate, Herod, and the thief, the Centurion joins the list of persons, who upon seeing Jesus declare him innocent.
    Again, to declare Jesus innocent is to declare him to be who he said he was. Therefore, if Jesus is innocent, His claims about himself and about God MUST ALSO BE TRUE - if not, he would be guilty of what others were trying to convict him of (blasphemy = lying about/abusing the things of God).
    It is the OUTSIDERS who declare Jesus innocent and grasp at some sort of faith in who he is.

    What is Our Decision About Jesus?

    We are ALL faced with a decision we MUST make about Jesus. He is either innocent or he is guilty. He is either the savior of the world, God’s Messiah, the promised King to usher in God’s reign, or he is a liar, a fraud, a criminal.
    Those who witnessed Jesus’ death intimately declared Jesus to be who he said he is. They placed their faith and trust in Jesus because they believed His message to be true and they witnessed the Power of His messaged lived out even as Jesus was dying.
    Good for them!
    But what about YOU? Who do YOU say this Jesus is.
    I asked on Facebook this week why people believe, or disbelieve, the claims of Jesus. As of yet, no one has answered why they do not believe. But, those who answered that they do believe highlighted that it began with faith in the the truth of the claims of Jesus and then seeing those truths lived out, and worked out in their lives and the lives of others.
    Yet, the fact of the matter is, the choice is YOURS! The message of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, is for YOU too. But, YOU must declare and make YOUR OWN PERSONAL DECISION with this message.
    It is not enough if your parents claimed this message
    It is not enough if the person sitting next to you claims this message
    Like the Centurion and the thief, we are at the place of the cross and the question is WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE ONE ON THE MIDDLE CROSS?
    Romans 10:9 NLT
    9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
    And, the message cannot be partly accepted. We cannot claim part of Jesus as a good guy, but dismiss his claims of divinity and kingly reign. IF HE IS INNOCENT of the charges against Him, we must accept that he is more than a “good teacher” we must accept it ALL - lock, stock, and barrel!
    C.S. Lewis stated this clearly… “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
    Jesus is either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord.
    What do YOU say about him!
    The ONLY answer that has the assurance of eternal life, and a change for this life, is that Jesus is Lord. He cannot be partly accepted, or partly believed. He is all believed or not at all believed. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or your Lord.
    So, what do YOU say?
    2 Corinthians 6:1–2 NLT
    1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
    Make your decision today!
    Live according to the decision you have already made TODAY!
    Do not make empty the Good News of Jesus Christ that OUTSIDERS like YOU and ME have been accepted in to what God is doing through Jesus Christ because of our faith in Jesus Christ and the transformation in our lives this faith has brought about.

      • Luke 23:39–49NLT

      • Luke 9:18–20NLT

      • Luke 22:66–23:2NLT

      • Luke 23:3–7NLT

      • Luke 23:8–12NLT

      • Luke 23:13–25NLT

      • Luke 23:4NLT

      • Luke 23:13–15NLT

      • Luke 23:20–22NLT

      • Luke 23:32–38NLT

      • Luke 23:34NLT

      • Luke 23:39–43NLT

      • Luke 23:47NLT

  • Come As You Are
Church of the Nazarene (Mission Valley, Mt.)
pablonazarene@ronan.net
(406) 675-0081
15 members • 2 followers