The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 23:36-43, “The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,
37 and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!’
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, ‘Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, ‘Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’
42 And he was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!’
43 And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.’”

Human personalities in biblical days were very much like they are today. People laughed and cried, agreed and disagreed, fussed and argued, and loved and forgave one another. The verses above reveal an argument, a repentance, and a forgiveness all in the midst of an execution!

Executions in biblical times were viewed by many of the people as entertainment. It was to them like a circus or a concert would be to us. But the execution on a cross was anything but a hearty event. Ultimately, the accused, having been found guilty, were stripped naked, nailed, hands and feet, to a cross and left to die. Failing to die as quickly as the authorities desired, their legs were broken, disenabling the victim to be able to erect his body, so as to breathe.

Around the foot of the cross, the family and friends of the victim gathered to mourn their loved one’s dying, while others filled the air with cheers and mockery. As if that were not sufficient, there was a cry to Jesus from one of the victims saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But, the other dying thief rebuked him saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation…this man has done nothing wrong.”

Jesus then said to this second thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke, the writer of this book, was a Gentile, writing to the Greeks. He was a physician, possibly previously owned by a high-ranking Roman official to attend his family. Luke came to faith in Jesus and traveled extensively thereafter with the Apostle Paul.

The Grecian ideal of a perfect man differed signifigently from that of the Romans. The Romans were concerned with governing; the Greeks emphasized wisdom and beauty and with education that elevated and ostensibly perfected mankind.

Time and space prevent all that could be said here, but the vital question is: have you trusted Jesus like the repentant thief, and are you growing into the likeness of the One who died on that cross for you? I pray daily that you come to know Him!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom