Mark 15:27
27 They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.
The Life Application Study Bible brought today's message to my attention; do you remember how in Mark 10 (:35-45; TGN post from April 6-8 2010); when James and John asked that they might sit on the right and the left hand of Jesus? Here are the verses to refresh your memory:
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
Now we come to Mark 15:27 and see, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate His Kingdom through His giving up His Spirit to God, the places on His right and on His left were taken by dying men - criminals. When we get to the Gospel of Luke, we will dig in a little deeper to see that one of these criminals repented before His death, and Jesus promised that criminal that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:39-43). Now isn't that the character of God, to prepare the opportunity for even what we would label the worse of us, to repent and join Him in His Kingdom. Thank You LORD for not giving up on us.
As Jesus explained to James and John, a person who wants to be honored like Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as He Himself was doing. The way to the Kingdom is the way of the cross. If we want the glory of the Kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ. We must be willing to lay down our sins and our way; and live a life - every moment available, to prepare for our arrival in paradise. It's a wonderful journey of spiritual transformation; I encourage each and every one of us to allow it to take place; because it isn't finished until our last day on this earth.
PRAY WHAT COMES TO YOUR HEART AFTER RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN.
27 They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.
The Life Application Study Bible brought today's message to my attention; do you remember how in Mark 10 (:35-45; TGN post from April 6-8 2010); when James and John asked that they might sit on the right and the left hand of Jesus? Here are the verses to refresh your memory:
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
Now we come to Mark 15:27 and see, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate His Kingdom through His giving up His Spirit to God, the places on His right and on His left were taken by dying men - criminals. When we get to the Gospel of Luke, we will dig in a little deeper to see that one of these criminals repented before His death, and Jesus promised that criminal that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:39-43). Now isn't that the character of God, to prepare the opportunity for even what we would label the worse of us, to repent and join Him in His Kingdom. Thank You LORD for not giving up on us.
As Jesus explained to James and John, a person who wants to be honored like Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as He Himself was doing. The way to the Kingdom is the way of the cross. If we want the glory of the Kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ. We must be willing to lay down our sins and our way; and live a life - every moment available, to prepare for our arrival in paradise. It's a wonderful journey of spiritual transformation; I encourage each and every one of us to allow it to take place; because it isn't finished until our last day on this earth.
PRAY WHAT COMES TO YOUR HEART AFTER RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN.
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