Tuesday April 16th- Luke 23 from Intern Ryan Anderson

The Greatest of These is Love

“When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots” (Lk 23:33-34).

 Today is a particularly special day in my family. It’s my parents’ 25^th wedding anniversary today. April 16^th, 1988 was the day that Peter Anderson and Susan Menzel were joined in God’s design of marriage. So, love is on my mind today.

When you read this text, you may miss the love the first time. Jesus is surrounded by those who want Him dead, and are now accomplishing just that. He hangs on a cross in between two common criminals. And in front of him, they mock, jeer, and cast lots for his clothing.

Jesus had every right to call down curses from Heaven and rain burning sulfur upon these people. Unfortunately, if we rain burning sulfur on them, burning sulfur is heaped on our heads also. The Cross convicts us of our sin, just as much as it exposes the sin of the Pharisees and rulers of the people.

Yet, Jesus’ words are not words of rebuke, but words of love. He prays to His Father for forgiveness for those who killed Him. I think that two of the most powerful acts of love we can perform as humans are to pray for and forgive those who wrong us. Jesus does both on the Cross. We had wronged Him in a way that left us with nothing to give, but only judgment to receive. Instead, He takes it all on Himself and gives us the grace and forgiveness that He alone deserved.

May the God of all grace shower you in His love this day, for the sake of our Savior.