What Jesus Did : Luke 23:32-34 - The Gamble
by Phil Ware
The Gamble - Luke 23:32-34
There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. Jesus and the two criminals were led to a place called "The Skull." There the soldiers nailed Jesus to his cross. They also nailed the criminals to their crosses. They put one criminal beside Jesus on the right, and they put the other criminal beside Jesus on the left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people {that are killing me}. They don't know what they are doing." The soldiers gambled with dice to decide who would get Jesus' clothes. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
The obvious gamble in this story occurs with the soldiers trying to win a game of chance and get the clothes of the crucified Jesus. In another sense, however, three other implicit "gambles" take place in this passage. First, the "gamble" made by the crowd, epitomized by crucifying Jesus between two criminals—that Jesus is not the Son of God, but a criminal worthy of crucifixion. Second, the "gamble" of Jesus, epitomized by Jesus' words of forgiveness toward those who hate him and kill him—that his sacrificial and forgiving death would somehow touch our hearts and win us to himself. Third, what we do with this story is our "gamble." Do we believe that Jesus is God's Son, our Savior, God's Messiah, and our Lord? If we do, then we will base the rest of our life on this conviction. But having heard this story, having been brought to the Cross of Jesus, we are forced to make a choice; we are forced to "gamble" our life on either following Jesus or rejecting him. There is no middle ground.
Today's Prayer
Father, I believe that your love and grace have been powerfully demonstrated by Jesus' death on the Cross. I gladly entrust my life to this love and grace, believing that Jesus is your Son, the Messiah of Israel's hopes, my Savior, and the Lord of all. I do not consider the investment of my life in this story to be a gamble, but the basis of my confident hope for a bright future with you. In Jesus' name I offer my thanks and praise for this indescribable gift. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The soldiers led Jesus away {to be killed}. At that same time, there was a man coming into the city from the fields. His name was Simon. Simon was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced Simon to carry Jesus' cross and walk behind Jesus. Many, many people followed Jesus. Some of the women were sad and crying. They felt sorry for Jesus. But Jesus turned and said to the women, "Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children too! The time is coming when people will say, 'Happy are the women that cannot have babies! Happy are the women that have no children to care for.' Then the people will say to the mountain, 'Fall on us!' The people will say to the hills, 'Cover us!' If people act like this now when life is good, what will happen when bad times come? " There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. Jesus and the two criminals were led to a place called "The Skull." There the soldiers nailed Jesus to his cross. They also nailed the criminals to their crosses. They put one criminal beside Jesus on the right, and they put the other criminal beside Jesus on the left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people {that are killing me}. They don't know what they are doing. " The soldiers gambled with dice to decide who would get Jesus' clothes. The people stood there watching {Jesus}. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, "If he is God's Chosen One, the Christ, then let him save himself. He saved other people, didn't he?" Even the soldiers laughed at Jesus and teased him. They came to Jesus and offered him some wine. The soldiers said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" (At the top of the cross these words were written: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.") One of the criminals began to shout very bad things at Jesus: "Aren't you the Christ ? Then save yourself! And save us too!" But the other criminal stopped him. He said, "You should fear God! All of us will die soon! You and I are guilty; we should bekilled because we did wrong. But this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong!" Then this criminal said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!" Then Jesus said to him, "Listen! What I say is true: Today you will be with me in Paradise !"-- Luke 23:26-43 (ERV)
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