Today’s Scriptures
Luke 23:32-43
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
36 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.” —Luke 23:32-43
First, see the
Most of those present were blaspheming and abusing Jesus verbally.
For Jesus to save, He could not save Our consistent, unwavering faith in the face of difficulty will draw others to Jesus.
James 1:5-8
A life marked by
, trusts; even when everyone else seems to unite in .
Next, see the seeker vs.40-42
Here we see the ABCs of placing one’s trust in Jesus as Savior.
A.
you are a sinner.
B.that Jesus is the only way to Salvation.
C.on Jesus to save you. When we
Jesus as Lord, our hearts change.
Lastly, see the
The ignorance of the crowd revolved around
Jesus was, not the fact that they were executing an man.
We ask Jesus to save us from
torment, which He does, but fail to see that He also saved us from our guilt and shame.
When Jesus said “It is finished” , He meant the work of God for salvation was complete. The penalty for all sin was paid, past, present and future, but to receive that forgiveness is up to us.
Discuss in a Life Group
Peter denied he even knew Jesus. Have you ever found yourself joining the crowd and mocking or, more subtly, denying Jesus?
Is it hard to verbalize your faith in Jesus in a hostile environment? Why or why not?
Discuss the change in the repentant thief. Why do you think this occurred?
Did Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness in verse 34 save those present? What was he asking God to do?
Discuss the similarities, if any, between Jesus’ temptation from Satan in the desert and the call for Jesus to save Himself on the cross? See Matthew 4:1-11
Discuss the commonality and the differences between the unrepentant thief and the repentant thief. Do you see yourself in either of these men?
How does the thief’s conversion on the cross refute works salvation?
Have you called on Jesus to “remember you”? If not, do it today!
Pray Together
Pray for each other and record any prayer requests here.