Word@Work Luke349 - Luke 23:48-49
Published: Wed, 05/04/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
WHEN ALL HOPE FADES
Luke 23:48-49 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (NIV)
The death of Jesus stunned those left around the cross at the end. What were the crowd to do now? All hope had gone. There was no point staying there, so they went back into the city. But before leaving, they beat their breasts. Culturally, death was greeted with loud wailing which expressed the personal loss of the loved one. But 'beating the breast' was more than that; it was a public loud sign of hopelessness, dismay, remorse and repentance. They had failed Jesus and knew that regret was not enough.
Somehow the crowd had understood that the death of Jesus Christ was about them too. Those who had shouted, "Crucify Him!", then heard the centurion pronounce Him 'not guilty' (Luke 23:47). So, when the crowd felt guilty, they were right. It was for their sins that the Lamb of God was slain. Isaiah 53:5 puts it like this, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
But if they had believed the words of Jesus and the numerous prophecies in the Old Testament, they would have been full of hope - looking forward to His resurrection. But that was the problem: they did not believe Him, and so they were hopeless. That is the real reason why so many feel hopeless today. They do not know that the love of Jesus is still burning towards them; that the power of Jesus is close at hand; and that the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus is free to all who 'beat their breasts' (despair of themselves) and put their trust in Him. There cannot be any hope in following even the wisest of dead leaders, because our future is always limited by how much we can achieve. However there is abundant hope in following the risen Jesus. His sacrifice for our sins is far greater than anything we can do, and also gives us access to His living love and power, now and for ever. If you know it, rejoice ... and tell others ... it is the best news in the world (www.crosscheck.org.uk).
Prayer: Glorious Lord. Thank You that all those who trust in the risen Jesus can be confident of His powerful, loving presence and merciful forgiveness. Please forgive me when I fail to see beyond the low horizon of my own ability to fix the past and control the future. I know that only Jesus can do both these things and in Him I have hope. Please help me to keep looking to Jesus today and every day, repenting of my sins and expecting His mercy and forgiveness. And help me not to keep this good news to myself, when so many are lost in their hopelessness, even though they distract themselves with many diversions. May my life and words bring hope to others, as they announce Jesus as the Hope of the world. In His Name. Amen.
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The death of Jesus stunned those left around the cross at the end. What were the crowd to do now? All hope had gone. There was no point staying there, so they went back into the city. But before leaving, they beat their breasts. Culturally, death was greeted with loud wailing which expressed the personal loss of the loved one. But 'beating the breast' was more than that; it was a public loud sign of hopelessness, dismay, remorse and repentance. They had failed Jesus and knew that regret was not enough.
Somehow the crowd had understood that the death of Jesus Christ was about them too. Those who had shouted, "Crucify Him!", then heard the centurion pronounce Him 'not guilty' (Luke 23:47). So, when the crowd felt guilty, they were right. It was for their sins that the Lamb of God was slain. Isaiah 53:5 puts it like this, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
But if they had believed the words of Jesus and the numerous prophecies in the Old Testament, they would have been full of hope - looking forward to His resurrection. But that was the problem: they did not believe Him, and so they were hopeless. That is the real reason why so many feel hopeless today. They do not know that the love of Jesus is still burning towards them; that the power of Jesus is close at hand; and that the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus is free to all who 'beat their breasts' (despair of themselves) and put their trust in Him. There cannot be any hope in following even the wisest of dead leaders, because our future is always limited by how much we can achieve. However there is abundant hope in following the risen Jesus. His sacrifice for our sins is far greater than anything we can do, and also gives us access to His living love and power, now and for ever. If you know it, rejoice ... and tell others ... it is the best news in the world (www.crosscheck.org.uk).
Prayer: Glorious Lord. Thank You that all those who trust in the risen Jesus can be confident of His powerful, loving presence and merciful forgiveness. Please forgive me when I fail to see beyond the low horizon of my own ability to fix the past and control the future. I know that only Jesus can do both these things and in Him I have hope. Please help me to keep looking to Jesus today and every day, repenting of my sins and expecting His mercy and forgiveness. And help me not to keep this good news to myself, when so many are lost in their hopelessness, even though they distract themselves with many diversions. May my life and words bring hope to others, as they announce Jesus as the Hope of the world. In His Name. Amen.
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