When Jesus hung on the cross, dying for the sins of the entire world, one of the criminals beside Him said, “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!'” (Luke 23:39) Here, this criminal’s thoughts were like so many of our own – it was all about him…He really didn’t believe in Jesus, he simply wanted his life to be spared and to come off the cross on which he was hanged. It was all about me, myself, and I, and yet this criminal was being punished for what he had done.
Jesus on the other hand, was being crucified for what He had NOT done. Like Pilate himself said, “Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no guilt in this man.'” (Luke 23:4) However, Jesus even while hanging on a cross for what He had not done wasn’t thinking about Himself, He was thinking only of others. His first recorded words at Calvary are: “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'” (Luke 23:34) Forgive even the ones who had unjustly mocked Him, beat Him, and crucified Him??? Yes – forgive even those who had condemned and crucified the Son of God!
The common criminal who hung beside Him mockingly urged Jesus “Save yourself….” And, Jesus could have done that if He had wanted to. Like the words in a song, “He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free…” He had the power and ability to remove Himself from that cruel undeserving punishment, but if He had – He would have condemned us all to eternal Hell. If He had saved Himself, He wouldn’t have paid the penalty for our sins, and we would be left with no hope, no grace, and no possibility of salvation. He died an undeserved, cruel, agonizing death for US…and for the entire world. That indeed is the greatest story of undeserved love and mercy ever recorded in all of history.
When we stop to consider what Jesus suffered for OUR SINS, and then we turn and think so lightly of disobeying His commandments, not pleasing Him, and seeking our own desires over His, that is the greatest height of selfishness, pride, and arrogance known to man. For us to look lightly at pleasing our Savior, no matter WHAT it costs us, is so wicked and so wrong. We should desire NOTHING more greater and more truly than to LOVE, HONOR, and OBEY Him EVERY MOMENT of EVERY DAY!!
He DIED for us so we might LIVE for Him! Think about that the next time it “costs” you to please Him!
