Daily Devotions
John
John 19:17-42 "A LIFE-LONG MINISTRY TO SINNERS"
Day 309 – John 19
A LIFE-LONG MINISTRY TO SINNERS
Jesus had always been criticized by the self-righteous Jews for mingling with sinners. Luke noted the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes on one such occasion.
“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners
drew near to Him to hear Him. And the
Pharisees and scribes complained, saying,
‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.'”
Luke 15:1-2
Matthew also noted the same complaining spirit of the enemies of Jesus. He noted,
“Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table
in the house, that behold, many tax collectors
and sinners came and sat down with Him
and His disciples. And when the Pharisees
saw it, they said to His Disciples, ‘Why
does your Teacher eat with tax collectors
and sinners?'”
Matthew 9:10-11
All His life, Jesus had mingled with the sinners. He knew His Father’s heart of compassion and love. Again and again He would make His Mission clear to all who would hear Him.
“Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick …
For I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 9:12-13
FLANKED BY TWO SINNERS AT DEATH
John noted the scene at Golgotha, and wrote,
“And He bearing His cross, went out to a place
which is called the Place of a Skull, which is
called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified
Him, and two others with Him, one on either
side, and Jesus in the center.”
John 19:17-18
What a graphic picture that must have been to both the Jews and the Disciples. To the Jews, Jesus died as He had lived – among sinners! To the Disciples, Jesus died as he had chosen to live – among sinners, calling them ever so tenderly to repentance and to salvation in Him! God was still fully in charge of this grim situation at Golgotha! Did not Jesus say that He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Even in His dying moments, Jesus sought to present the Gospel of salvation.
A HEART TOO HARDENED TO BELIEVE
Luke told a tender story of salvation at Golgotha, the Place of a Skull.
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged
blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the
Christ, save Yourself and us.'”
Luke 23:39
The words of this hardened criminal were all too typical. He blasphemed, as he probably had, most of his life! Jesus had done nothing to him, and yet he blasphemed Him!
His words betrayed a deep streak of self-centeredness. He thought only of escape from his present predicament. He attempted to make use of the usual jibe that people bandied against Jesus. If indeed Jesus was the Christ, what was He doing there? Why did He seem powerless against the might of Rome? Why did He not use His power to be free from this torture and agony! Crucifixion had to be one of the worst forms of torture! He railed against Jesus even when he scarcely knew Him!
A HEART MOVED BY THE GENTLENESS OF JESUS
Luke mentioned another criminal that was crucified with Jesus. He wrote movingly,
“But the other, answering, rebuked him,
saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing
you are under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due
reward of our deeds; but this Man has done
nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus,
‘Lord, remember me when You come into
Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be
with Me in Paradise.'”
Luke 23:40-43
This criminal was moved, genuinely and deeply so. He had come across many different types of people in his life. He had seen the rich, the poor, the wicked, the hypocritical … and some not so bad! But he had never come across a Person like Jesus.
Was he there when Pilate tried and then sentenced Jesus? He surely was there as they made their way to Golgotha. He had heard Jesus speaking to the women, seeking to give them a word of consolation.
He must have heard how the hypocritical chief priests accused Jesus. Perhaps he also saw how the Romans treated Him. He was deeply impressed by Jesus. He had not cursed His enemies. Who was this Man, but the true King of Israel. He did not pretend to understand everything. But he had heard and seen enough. Would Jesus remember him when He came into His kingdom? Jesus’ answer confirmed who He was! He was indeed the King of the Jews! He had come to call sinners to repentance indeed!