April 10:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS ABANDONMENT.
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"--Matthew 27:46

Throughout my life, I was assured of the ever-present help of my parents.  I was on a personal retreat, with other ministers, in one of the National Parks of the United States.  Something went terribly wrong, and I experienced food or water poisoning that turned life-threatening within two hours.  After the paramedics came to that beautiful and remote hotel, they told me that I had to remain there for a few days to regain my strength.  Everyone in my group was leaving and I would have to stay there alone.  Within a few minutes, my parents had packed and were on their way to me and stayed with me until I was strong enough to travel.  I never felt abandoned by them, not even in the darkest and most difficult circumstances.

As close as our human relationships may be, it is impossible for us to fully understand the intimacy that exists between Jesus and His Heavenly Father.  This is why the crucifixion narrative, found in Matthew 27:46, in which Jesus asks why God had abandoned Him, seems such a mystery to us.  About the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.), which was the time of the evening sacrifice, Jesus cried out the words recorded in Psalm 22:1.  I am absolutely amazed that He who was called Immanuel (Matthew 22:1), "God with us," was now agonizing about why God had abandoned Him.  The "El" in Immanu-El, is the same God as in "Eli, Eli...My God, My God" (Matthew 27:46).  It is striking that Jesus had such a deep awareness of the loss of God's intimate presence in His hour of darkness, that He called Him "God" (the only time in Matthew), instead of "Father" as He regularly did.  Furthermore, I am amazed that Jesus, in His time of utter distress and in the midst of His desolation, used the first-person possessive pronoun, "my God," still holding on to His trust in God.  Jesus was the Sin Bearer, the Representative and Substitute of the human race.  He felt the abandonment of His Father as our sin was placed upon Him.  If you ever wonder if God has forsaken you due to wrong choices and sin, remember that Jesus was abandoned in your place so that you may never be.  God will never cast you out!  He will never leave you, nor forsake you!

My Response:___________________________________________________________

April 9:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS PROMPTNESS.
"Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him."--Luke 15:22

Something that touches my heart, in the parable of the prodigal son and the loving father (Luke 15:11-32), is the immediacy with which the father covers the son's shamefulness.  He doesn't say "I told you so," nor does he expect to hear a list of deeds the son plans to do to atone for himself.  No!  The father gives the order to act swiftly and immediately: "Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him" (verse 22).  Wouldn't you do the same for your wayward child?

Likewise, during His dialogue with the real-life prodigal (Luke 23:40-43), Jesus answers with the eagerness of a parent responding to a desperate child.  But, unlike the father of the prodigal, Jesus couldn't run to meet the evildoer and embrace him; He could only speak to him because His hands and feet were nailed to the cross.  This undeserving son had requested Jesus to remember him in His kingdom (Luke 23:42).  In today's devotional, we will look at the two other words in Jesus' answer: "today," and "paradise."  "Truly I say to you, today..." (verse 43).  Jesus didn't want this man to wait until His Coming to find out what his fate would be.  The evildoer could have the assurance of salvation that day. at that very instant.  No anxiety or uncertainty; just assurance.  Can you imagine that?  In Luke, the word today highlights the immediacy of the assurance of salvation (see Luke 4:21; 19:9).  Jesus was saying: "Quickly, bring out the robe of My righteousness and put it on him!  Today!"  And what was this immediate assurance about? "...with Me you will be in paradise" (verse 43). *  Paradise!  The place where God had created His children!  The same place they had lost beck in Genesis 3!  This is the only instance that Jesus utters the word paradise (same Greek word as in Genesis 2 and 3 in the LXX).  At this very moment, Jesus was opening up a way back home for His children.  Neither He nor the thief would go to paradise that day, but the thief was given the ultimate assurance.  Jesus was responding immediately, promising paradise to His undeserving son!  If you utter the same prayer, making the request that the thief made, you will receive the same assurance.  And you will receive it today!

My Response:_______________________________________________________
* J.D. Douglas, New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, 4th rev. ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1993).

April 8:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS QUALIFICATION.
"Truly to you I say today with Me you will be in paradise."--Luke 23:43*


A preacher was accompanying a celebrity on a trip to the Middle East.  On arrival, the security was tight as the bodyguards surrounded the luminary.  At one point the preacher had fallen behind and tried to rejoin the group.  He explained to the guards that he was part of the group, but to no avail.  Then, from a distance, the celebrity noticed that the preacher was missing and turned around, announcing in a loud voice, "He is with me!"  Immediately the tight circle of security parted, and the preacher was able to walk in, just because he was with him.

The shocking response of Jesus to the thief on the cross applies to each one of us.  The above rendition of Scripture reflects the original Greek word order.  Let's notice four elements in our text: "today," "you will be," "paradise," and "with Me."  In this devotional, we will look at the second and fourth elements, while tomorrow we will address the first and third.  You will be.  The assurance Jesus gives to the evildoer is in the second person singular and in the future tense, and it is a sure promise.  It's not you might be, but you will be.  This man was totally undeserving, yet there was a future for him.  His presence with Jesus in His kingdom was not a possibility but a reality.  This is the radical difference that separates the biblical gospel  from a pseudo gospel.  The false gospel offers the possibility of salvation; but the real gospel gives the assurance.  Yet this man does not qualify!  Why would he be there?  That's where the other element comes in. With Me.  In Greek, the weight of the content is in the middle of the sentence, and "with Me" is in that spot, at the very center.  Jesus was saying to him, "You will be in Paradise because you are with Me.  I am the One who qualifies!  And you get in with Me!"  If you know yourself unqualified for heaven, cling to this promise of Jesus to the thief on the cross.  I like to imagine myself one day walking the streets of gold, and other people objecting to me being there.  "What are you doing here?" they will wonder.  Well...I can't wait for Jesus to turn around and in a sweet but thunderous voice announce, "She is with Me!"

My Response:___________________________________________________________
* J.D. Douglas, The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, 4th rev. ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1993).

April 7:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS INHERITANCE.
"Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"--Luke 23:42

Have you ever seen a person suddenly become a millionaire?  It is hard to explain the emotions that instant wealth brings to a person.  I watched on TV as a woman won one million dollars and I witnessed the instantaneous flamboyant celebration that followed.  Can you imagine the thoughts and feelings of a person who goes from poor to rich in a matter of seconds?  But something even greater happened to the thief on the cross.

Just when we thought that the story of the prodigal son was only a parable (Luke 15:11-32), we find a real-life prodigal, an undeserving evildoer, who will request his share of the inheritance.  He is being crucified next to Jesus, and Luke records his shocking request: May I have part of the inheritance?  In other words: "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42).  On what basis should Jesus remember him in His kingdom, and give him an inheritance?  First of all, the criminal calls Christ by His name: Jesus.  He did not call Him "Rabbi" or "Lord" like most people did during His ministry.  He called Him "Jesus," a name that recalls "Yahweh saves" (see Matthew 1:21).  The second part of the request is, "remember me."  In the Jewish Scripture this type of request was usually addressed to Yahweh.  When the Lord remembered somebody, it was about acting on behalf of them within the framework of His covenant.  (see Judges 16:28; 1 Samuel 1:11).  This is about Jesus acting on his behalf.  Thirdly, the sentence "when You come in Your kingdom," shows that this criminal had come to believe that the Crucifixion was not the end of Jesus; there was His kingdom beyond the cross.  The charge against Jesus placed on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy.  But would Jesus even hear this prodigal son's shocking request for an inheritance?  Jesus answered: "Truly to you I say today with Me you will be in paradise" (Luke 23:43, Greek-English Interlinear NT).  On the spot, Jesus assured him of a heavenly inheritance, which at that moment He was securing for him.  We can live with the same assurance of eternal life, which is our inheritance in Christ! (Hebrews 9:15).

My Response:____________________________________________________________

April 6:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS REQUEST.
Jesus was saying, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."--Luke 23:34

Most people recognize the name of Nelson Mandela, who was president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and received numerous honors, including the Nobel Prize.  The world was stunned when, having been imprisoned for twenty-seven years for his objections to apartheid, he emerged from his cell with words of reconciliation and forgiveness instead of revenge.  Almost three decades of captivity and torture did not alter Mandela's focus on healing and peace.

The Word of God, who had created the world, had become flesh and had come to His own in order to redeem them (John 1:1-14).  Now, hanging between two criminals, He was being crucified by those whom He had come to save (Luke 23:33-37).  The persistence of Jesus in His redemptive mission, in the midst of such dire circumstances, stands in contrast to the mockery, torture, and humiliation that His opponents are exerting on Him.  Practicing what He had taught His followers--to pray for the ones who mistreat us (Luke 6:28), Jesus turned to God with a request: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).  That Jesus would call God "Father" as He was being crucified, portrays the intimate relationship that Jesus maintained with His Father until the very end.  Jesus appealed to their ignorance, as He was becoming a guilt offering on their behalf (see Leviticus 5:17-19; Isaiah 53:10).  Jesus had a burden for the eternal salvation of His adversaries, not for His own suffering.  And He interceded not only for those who eagerly persecuted and killed Him, but also down the centuries for you and me, offering forgiveness for our sins.  Ellen White explains: "That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world.  It took in every sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time.  Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God.  To all, forgiveness is freely offered, 'Whosoever will' may have peace with God, and inherit eternal life." *  And that, my friend, is the extremely good news of the gospel!

My Response:_______________________________________________________
* Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1940), 736.

April 5:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS HUMANITY.
Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."--John 19:28


Twenty years ago, I was part of a group of ministers led by Dr. Kiemeney, who designed "CrossWords," a weekend evangelistic series for young adults.  The series was repeated in more than one geographical area, and it invigorated young adult ministers in the local churches involved.  I still remember the large banners announcing the event.  The series was based on the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross.  The tagline for CrossWords was: "A dying man's last words are revealing."

As He hung on the cross, Jesus knew that all Scripture was being fulfilled.  Aside from the spiritual burden that He was carrying, which we can't fully understand, Jesus also felt physical pain.  His dry mouth needing relief, He said: "I am thirsty" (John 19:28).  Someone gave Him vinegar with a sponge.  Even this very detail is fulfillment of prophecy, as recorded by the psalmist: "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:21).  John reports that the sponge was attached to a branch of hyssop, which I believe is a significant detail because at the time of the Exodus, the Israelites dipped twigs of hyssop in the blood of the Passover lamb to mark the lintels and doorposts of their houses (see Exodus 12:22).  Jesus is now dying as the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. At the time of the writing of John's Gospel, some early Christians became entangled in Gnosticism, which was a heretical teaching that Jesus was only a spirit without a real human body, and that He was human only in appearance and therefore couldn't experience physical suffering on the cross.  John's report that Jesus was thirsty highlights that He was fully human, as well as fully God.  We can trust Jesus to be compassionate with us because He became human.  The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus fully understands us: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15, 16).

My Response:______________________________________________________

April 4:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS INNOCENCE.
Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him."--John 19:6

The gospel is not about fairness but grace.  The One who was not guilty was condemned to die, and all of us who are guilty have been gifted with eternal life.  My friend Steve Trapero, who is a talented graphic designer, created for me a large poster entitled The Great Exchange.  On one side of it, one can see two hands bringing a gift-wrapped box that has a skull on it, symbolizing death.  On the other side, there are two nail-pierced hands bringing the gift of life: Romans 6:23 is written on that box.  The poster portrays the exchange.

The apostle Paul often discusses the fact that Jesus, being innocent, was condemned as guilty, and that the guilty ones are considered righteous in His name.  Such is the case in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  The four Gospels also allude to this paradox in the way the authors narrate the events surrounding the death of Jesus.  For example, one of the thieves on the cross clearly states that they are guilty but Jesus is innocent: "We indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41).  The Righteous One was condemned.  Another such striking contrast is made when Pilate, according to their custom to release a prisoner at Passover, offers to release Jesus, but the crowd chooses Barabas instead.  Barabas was a murderer and a rebel (see Luke 23:19; Mark 15:7).  And what I find extremely insightful is that Barabas means "son of Abba" or "son of the father."  This "son of the father" was guilty and should have been condemned, and yet he was released.  But the "Son of the Father," Jesus , who was innocent, was crucified instead.  Three times Pilate clearly stated that he found no guilt in Jesus (John 18:38; 19:4, 6), yet Jesus died in the place of the guilty.  If you know yourself guilty of condemnation, accept the paradox of the gospel and be set free.  We have His eternal life, because He died our death.  Thank you, Jesus!

My Response:__________________________________________________________

April 3:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS SUFFICIENCY.
The Lord turned and looked at Peter.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord..."you will deny me three times."--Luke 22:61

A couple of decades ago I used to belong to a vocal group called Opus 7, which was founded by a friend of mine, Dr. Ariel Quintana.  One of the songs we sang and recorded kept repeating a phrase that is more than appropriate for today's topic: "His arms are long enough to save you...His heart is big enough to love you...His grace is more than sufficient."  Is it really?  Is His sacrifice sufficient for the worst of the worst among us?  Murderers?  Terrorists?  Betrayers?

The juxtaposition of Peter and Judas has always caught my attention.  The betrayals of Peter and Judas are narrated back-to-back, as in one breath (see Matthew 26:67-27:10; Luke 22:47-62).  And yet, the end of each of their earthly stories is so different: Judas would hang himself, while Peter would become a powerful preacher of the gospel.  When Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, he felt remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver, and exclaimed: "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4).  Peter, when he remembered Jesus' prophecy about his own betrayal, "wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62).  Jesus extended grace to both of them, calling Judas "friend" (Matthew 26:50) and dealing tenderly with Peter (Luke 22:31-34, 61).  Both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus and both felt remorse; however, there was a huge difference between the two and where each of them ended up.  The main difference between the two was that Peter chose to believe that God's grace was enough, and that Jesus' blood was sufficient to cover his sin; as far as we know, Judas did not.  Do we believe that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient for our sin?  Yes, that sin that you are thinking about!  Yes!  His arms are long enough to reach us, and His blood is more than sufficient to cover us.  Jesus has supplied more than a sufficient ransom for each human being, because the provision of forgiveness precedes repentance and draws the sinner to ask for what is already offered freely.  Place your trust in His sufficiency and not in your insufficiency. When we accept His sacrifice, we know how our story ends.

My Response:___________________________________________________________

April 2:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS WASHING.
"If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."--John 13:8


I was touched by a video clip as a sermon illustration about grace.  Two young children start playing in the mud; at first, they have just a few stains on them, but eventually become covered with mud.  At that moment, the camera captures their frowning father coming towards them.  The children freeze, knowing that they are in trouble.  But the father with a hose in hand, starts washing the children with water.  They all have a great time, and the children end up clean.

Washing guest's feet was the task of the servants, and it was done before the meal, as visitors came in from walking the dusty roads.  At the last gathering of Jesus and His disciples, no one had performed that task.  When the meal was on its way, Jesus got up to wash the disciples' feet.  The timing of His action emphasizes the importance of what Jesus was about to teach them.  When Jesus got to Peter, the disciple was more than embarrassed: "He came to Simon Peter.  He said to Him, 'Lord, do You wash my feet?" (John 13:6).  In the original Greek, the words You and my are next to each other, highlighting the paradox.  Jesus responded: "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter" (verse 7).  In this explanation, Jesus revealed that He was not performing the function of a servant, but that this was an enacted parable of salvation.  There was a profound significance that they would only understand after His death and resurrection.  He was truly submitting Himself as the Servant, in order for them to be cleansed from their sins.  Peter objected: "Never shall You wash my feet" (verse 8).  This is when Jesus confirms that this is a symbol of something deeper: "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me" (verse 8).  He was the only One who could wash him clean.  Peter then said: "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head" (verse 9).  Both of Peter's responses are still used by people now, claiming that neither what Jesus did for us is unnecessary, or that what He did is not enough.  But Jesus has washed our sins away at the cross; and that was both necessary and sufficient!

My Response:________________________________________________________

April 1:  Believing His Salvation.

HIS SIGNAL.
"This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins."--Matthew 26:28

I was working at a church when I received an unexpected request.  A synagogue was inviting their Christian neighbors to help serve in their Passover celebration.  Soon I learned that several members of my church went every year to perform these duties and decided to join them.  It was a memorable experience for me.  I discovered that the festivities, when seen through Christian eyes, were truly pointing to the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for our redemption.

Jesus and His disciples were discussing how to prepare for the Passover (Matthew 26:17-19).  This was a memorial of redemption established when God delivered Israel out of slavery in Egypt.  The symbolic meal is explained in detail: "Go and take for yourselves lamb according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb.  You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.  For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you" (Exodus 12:21-23).  The blood on the doorposts would be the signal to pass over that house.  In subsequent years, as the Passover was celebrated, they were to recite the story, called the Haggadah, which contained many symbols, including bread and cups.  While eating, Jesus took bread and modified the Haggadah.  Instead of saying, "This is the bread of affliction," He said, "Take, eat; this is My body" (Matthew 26:26), and He took the cup and said, "This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (verse 28).  Jesus is our Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed for our redemption (see 1 Corinthians 5:7).  Unfortunately, many people live in fear of the judgment.  Whenever we become anxious about this topic, we should revisit the Passover story and ask God to remind us that we are covered by Jesus' blood!

My Response:_______________________________________________________