JESUS - LORD AND SAVIOR - Jesus Completed His Mission

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, . . . Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him. . . . With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.” (Mark 15:27-38)
  Passage: Luke 23:32-43

         God loves people. All people. Period. He loved Judas. He loved Pilate. He loved Caiaphas. He loved the two men who were crucified on either side of Him. Those two men were close enough and conscious enough for Jesus to hear them throw insults at Him along with others who had rejected Jesus. They were also close enough to hear what Jesus said and to watch how Jesus took His crucifixion willingly. For one of the thieves, it changed his life and his eternity.
         That thief listened as Jesus quoted Psalm 22. That Psalm written by David nearly 1000 years earlier, described in detail the exact things the thief saw happening to Jesus. He heard Jesus quote the Psalm which gives praise to God and predicts the salvation of people. He heard Jesus cry out, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” At some point in time, that thief, believed that Jesus is Lord and King and the Messiah. He then asked Jesus to remember Him and Jesus promised Him eternal life. Max Lucado writes, “No one else would have given the thief on the cross a prayer. But in the end, that is all he had. And in the end, that’s all it took. No wonder they call Jesus Savior.” Jesus changes lives!

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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)