Sermons

So where was Jesus? The angels didn’t tell them that. They would have to find out for themselves.
And where should they look? Not among the dead. Among the living, then. And they took off running.

Like many people, I have voicemails and videos I will never erase. They are the only way I will ever see or hear again the voice of people I love who have died.

We usually treat the two criminals in this story as a contrasting pair. One takes out his pain and anger on an innocent bystander, Jesus. The other rebukes him and speaks politely.

“Not a very effective one.” As the rulers put it, “He saved others; why can’t He save Himself?” Where’s the power and glory now, Jesus? Why can’t You get down off that cross?

They might have realized they were killing an innocent man. They had no idea they were killing the Son of Man—the Son of God—God Himself. How do you measure that?

Simon didn’t know then that the real substitution was the other way around. Jesus was taking Simon’s place—bearing the weight of Simon’s sin and wrongdoing, all his shame and guilt and brokenness.

I wonder what Barabbas thought when the jailer came to open his cell.
Did he think he was going to the cross? Did he struggle?
How long was it before he truly believed he was going free?

Cowardice is a sin— Jesus knows exactly what is in our hearts, and loves us just the same. His own courageous love drove Him to lay down His life for us, going as far as death on a cross.

What a good thing, when we are in deep trouble, God pays attention. He involves Himself. He focuses His wisdom and concern on us, and stretches out His hand to pull us out.