The prophet Isaiah, when he foresaw the suffering of the Messiah, said, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked." (Isaiah 53:9a) In today's passage we find Isaiah's prediction coming true as Jesus hangs on a cross between two men who are guilty of the crimes for which they were sentenced to death. He has been "assigned a grave with the wicked" in that He is receiving the same treatment as those who are sinners.
"They crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left." (Mark 15:27) The gospel writer Luke describes for us the conversion of one of the rebels. "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: 'Aren't You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43)
The picture of Jesus hanging on a cross between two criminals, with a hand outstretched toward each of them, is an illustration of what Jesus has always done: Jesus reaches out for the lost. It's also an illustration of what man has always done: some accept Him, some reject Him. The one rebel admitted and repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, to the saving of his soul. The other crucifixion victim retained his rebellious attitude and, as far as we know, perished in his sins.
This scene also illustrates for us the fact that salvation is by faith and not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) The rebel who comes to faith while on the cross can do nothing for Jesus. He's going to die this day and be buried. He can perform no good deeds or acts of penitence. Yet because of his faith, Jesus says to him, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." Good works will naturally follow spiritual conversion (if a person continues to live on this earth) but good works do not save souls. Faith in Christ saves souls.
The one unrepentant rebel is not the only person who mocks Jesus as He hangs on the cross. "Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, 'So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save Yourself!' In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. 'He saved others,' they said, 'but He can't save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.'" (Mark 15:29-32) Matthew adds that the religious leaders said this, "He trusts in God, let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" (Matthew 27:43) The suffering of the Messiah was revealed to King David, who wrote in Psalm 22, "All who see Me mock Me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads, 'He trusts in the Lord,' they say, 'let the Lord rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him.'" (Psalm 22:7-8)
As Jesus hangs in agony, enduring insults, He realizes that the hatred toward Him is really directed toward God. Though they may not know it, those who are rejecting Him are rejecting the God who told them through the prophets how to recognize the Messiah. They are rejecting the Lord's authority over their lives. They are rejecting the idea of submitting themselves to the Lord's will. This is the same thing that is happening today when unbelievers mock us for our faith. It's not really us they are rejecting, but the gospel message and the idea that anyone has authority over them. King David, in another Messianic psalm, understood this. David knew it would be for His righteousness, and because of their own rebellious hearts, that some would hate Jesus. David said in the voice of the Messiah, "Zeal for Your house consumes Me, and the insults of those who insult You fall on Me." (Psalm 69:9) Jesus previously told His disciples, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9) When the enemies of Jesus revile Him and spit in His face they are spitting in the face of Almighty God. Something in their spirits rebels against God and so they are unable to recognize the Lordship of Jesus over their lives.
Let us not belong to those "who shrink back and are destroyed", but let us belong to those "who have faith and are saved". (Hebrews 10:39)
The link for our worship song for today is below.
Jesus Saves
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