Tears at the Cross

³² Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.^[q] 33 When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ Jesus kept saying, “Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing.”^[r] Then they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice.  Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. The leaders were mocking him by saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah^[s] of God, the chosen one!”  ³⁶ The soldiers also made fun of Jesus^[t] by coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷ saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”³⁸ There was also an inscription over him written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:^[u] “This is the King of the Jews.”   ³⁹ Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting^[v] him, “You are the Messiah,^[w] aren’t you? Save yourself…and us!”  ⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him, “Aren’t you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty? ⁴¹ We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he went on to plead, “Jesus, remember me when you come into^[x] your kingdom!” ⁴³ Jesus^[y] told him, “I tell you^[z] with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  ⁴⁴ It was already about noon,^[aa] and the whole land^[ab] became dark until three in the afternoon^[ac] 45 because the sun had stopped shining, and the curtain^[ad] in the sanctuary was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”^[ae] After he said this, he breathed his last.-   Luke 23: 32-46

His name was Chuck, and he was one of my professors at Duke.   He was different than most of my professors.  While many of the male faculty came in a class wearing a suit or tie, Chuck came into class wearing blue jeans.  Instead of wearing loafers or dress shoes,  Chuck (a native of the Lone Star state) wore cowboy boots to class in a day and place when they were not as fashionable as they are today.   

It is not those things that stand out most when I think about that former professor in my early days of learning about  ministry.    What I remember the most about Professor Chuck is that everytime he would talk about the crucifixion of Christ on the cross he would start to cry.   That tall, lanky Texan was not one who would cry with frequency in that class of would-be pastors.  However, everytime he would talk about the death of Christ Jesus he would be brought to tears as he remembered again that Christ Jesus died not only for the sins of the whole world, but also for  the sins of Chuck.  

We hear of death too often when we hear the daily news.  We are saddened to hear of the student that is killed in a car wreck or the young person who died too young of a dreaded disease.  We mourn the death of national celebrities and sports figures.    Yet,  let the people who claim faith in Christ never forget that during this week in a place far away and in a time long ago that Christ Jesus died for you.    That is a fact that brought Chuck to tears.  How about you?   Have a blessed holy week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 Prayer:   O God, I give you thanks for your wondrous love that was shown in the life and death of Jesus Christ.  Help me to live more like Christ and allow him to live in me.  Amen.