The Gospel of Luke 23:39 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (Luke 23:39 KJV).

This verse highlights one of the two criminals crucified next to our Lord Jesus Christ. This criminal representing a hardened heart, mocked the Lord. Even while dying on a cross, he focuses on self-preservation and demands proof of the Lord Jesus' power rather than seek spiritual truth and the Lord’s comforting love. Sadly, this shows how human nature, in numbness of sin, can reject God even in moments of extreme suffering. It shows that even his proximity to our Lord could not lead him to faith. This reminds us that faith is a matter of the heart that seeks God.

This criminal is an example of one who is already so near to the Savior physically, yet so far spiritually. It is a saddest missed opportunity. If only he sought God’s kingdom and the Lord’s message of truth, perhaps he could have taken advantage of this greatest moment set up for him. Instead of parroting the mocking of the crowd and the religious leaders, he could have gone rest in the Lord’s presence, which is the lesson we must all learn from this passage.

Yes, the Lord allowed Himself to be forsaken so you and I are forgiven and saved by grace through His sacrifice. The criminal reviled the Lord Jesus contemptuously saying: “save your-self and “us.” Yet, the irony of truth is, the Lord was in the state of saving him and the world. This man should have kept his mouth shut and listen. Our Lord Jesus reminds, as it is written: “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12:47 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
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