Sharon RP Church
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This is a text that absolutely requires us to stand up and do something with it. Either we walk away from this and say, -I need this Priestly King Who was willing to die for me- - or we say, -I am in control of my own life.- The question we should be asking ourselves is, -Did Jesus die for me--- It was because of our sin that He died and experienced the displeasure of His Father. And His death caused open access to be given us to God. --Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God, as the Scriptures say, Who dies to take away our sins-- Do you believe that He died for YOU-- Are you ready to exclaim, -Worthy is the Lamb--
Throughout the ages, evil people have conspired against Christ -Psalm 2-. Here the Pharisees attempt to ensnare the Son of God Himself, Who reacted in calm meekness- but they are outmaneuvered and forced to leave the scene, convicted of their spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to Jehovah. Without a legal court proceeding against the woman whom they brought to Jesus, He alone had the legitimate right to sentence her- but He had not come to earth at this time to be a civil or ecclesiastical judge and hand down condemnations. He is the same One Who kept His strength under control even on the cross as He suffered the Father's wrath, so that we who were justly guilty might not be condemned.
Throughout the entire Gospel of Mark, Jesus has been talking about the coming of His Kingdom. Now it looks like that has failed. But the irony is that when He seemed to be defeated, He was actually receiving His crown. Even when He was mocked and ridiculed and tortured, He was really the true King. And the cross was not the end of the story- He did not fail in His mission- He fulfilled His mission. He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and He made us kings and priests. He came to seek and save the lost, and that is why He died for us. --Are we still trying to be -good enough,- or are we placing our trust in His already-finished work of redemption-- We have been bought with the price of Jesus' blood, and we are members of His royal household. Our King lives today, and we are His sons and daughters if we have faith in Him alone-
These words of Jesus - -Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise- - leap out as us because He is speaking these words of life as He Himself is dying. Here we see several striking contrasts. --1- In the midst of the wicked lies, blasphemy, and mockery from those who were around the cross that day, Jesus speaks His word of truth and leaves no room for ambiguity. --2- In the midst of the supernatural darkness over this place of death and hopelessness, Jesus offers a message of immediate hope and everlasting life to the repentant thief that would be fulfilled that very same day. --3- In the midst of the pain, shame, and suffering of the cross - and while Jesus is also experiencing the wrath of God for sin - He gives assurance to the penitent thief of rest and joy with Him in Paradise, because He won the victory that day over all the powers of hell. --Are these words like heavenly music to our ears--
We don't know the end of the story, but God does. In this passage of Mark's Gospel, this was no accidental happening to Jesus. God's plan was for Him to die for us. He was still at work here. And even though everything in this narrative seemed to go wrong, Jesus still had all the power. He was slaughtered so that we can have peace with God. He willingly suffered for us and defeated the powers of this world. We need to remember that He is our King, He reigns, He has a plan for us, and He wants us to cling to Him more. We rejoice in the King of kings Who was the Lamb slain to take away our sins, even though it happened by wicked and unjust means.
