The Crucifixion Luke 23:26-43 ---- Forgiveness & Choices

What are we to do when others mock, reject, or even sabotage us? If you were Jesus, would you come down from the cross to prove to the mockers that you are the Son of God? For immediate gratification or instigation, we tend to forget the original purpose and values to prove a point.  If we respond anger for anger, a tooth for a tooth, we will escalate the quarrels. Martin Luther said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." 

That is the power of Jesus' love. Love forgives, accepts, and restores.

We all are faced with a choice of how to deal with Jesus' offering of salvation? What will you decide?

Lessons:

• 1 Be Not a Busybody unless You really want to help
  • Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country was curious about the commotion and went forward to find out; only to be forced to carry the cross for Jesus.
  • From a different perspective, it was an honor and a service to Jesus.
  • Do we carry the cross of Jesus?
    • Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (NASB)
  • Always look at the situations from at least two points, a yin-yang, of view.
• 2 Seeing Things with Yin-Yang Points of View, the positives and the opposing views.
  • The women were crying for Jesus. But Jesus was concerned about their children's future. Jesus had to pray for their children's future.
• 3 Forgiveness is the Foundation to Love and Reconciliation of Relationship
  • Jesus responded to their mockings with forgiveness
  • How to forgive? For they know not what they do. They were thinking that they were doing a good thing! Even when they were selfish, they did not understand that by their selfishness, they missed out on better things and lives.
• 4 Selflessness of Jesus
  • If Jesus saved Himself and came down from the cross, then we could not be saved!
• 5 Jesus did not live in poverty
  • His garment was valuable for others to bid for. It could be sewed by the ladies for Him.
• 6 We have to decide what we are to do with Jesus' offering of Salvation.
  • Do we reject it as one of the criminals
  • Or do we receive it as the other?
  • Do we believe what Jesus said?