The defense of the guilty for the innocent

Lisa Wilmore

Passage of Scripture to Ponder: There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do…” (Luke 23:32-34NKJV).

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:35-43 NKJV).

Dear Hearts,

Bless God for His tender mercies and love for us! He is beyond phenomenal, and He deserves our utmost praise. Truly, we bless Him for Jesus, our Savior, the Eternal, Everlasting, and Endless Redeemer, Protector, and Deliverer-the innocent One.

Last week’s article dealt with “When the Noise Is Too Loud to Ignore.” Sometimes, the noisy crowd can convince you to yield, even when you know it is not the right thing to do. This week’s message centers around the communication between the criminals on the cross and Jesus. In fact, the guilty criminal defends an innocent Jesus. If it were modern times, when Jesus was being tried by Pilate and the crowd, it would have been a legal act to give Him a defense attorney. However, He stood alone, with no one to share all the great things He had done.

While Jesus hung on the old rugged cross, a criminal defended Him in the presence of the other criminal, who, according to Scripture, blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us” (vs. 39). Immediately, the other criminal became Jesus’s “defense attorney.” The guilty defended the innocent. He declared to his counterpart that Jesus had done no wrong. He emphasized that they were guilty and deserved their punishment, but Jesus was innocent. After his discourse with the guilty, he turned to the innocent One, Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord, and petitioned Him to remember him in His Kingdom (vs. 42).

Yes, my friends, the guilty defended the innocent. Have you defended the “Innocent One” lately? Jesus, who knew no sin but bore our sins so that we might be saved and remembered in His Kingdom. The defense of the guilty for the Innocent-“Jesus did not wrong.”
Jesus Saves!

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