Something that struck me today as we were reflecting on the last utterances of Jesus from the cross…
There’s no indication that the Man had eaten.
He’s likely dizzy from the blood loss of the scourging alone. ¹
He struggles to carry the implement of His torture, weighing upwards of 175 lbs (79kg), for more than 650 yards (600m). ²
When He finally gets to the hill, He’s rewarded with nails driven through His flesh to fix Him to the cross. ³
He’s struggling to breath from the asphyxiation the cross was designed to produce.
He’s being humiliated, openly mocked even by both of the thieves He’s being crucified between. ⁴
But somewhere along the way, one thief has a change of heart. ⁵
Bloodied, beaten and dying, what does our Lord think?
One more.
Hallelujah.
In His state, Jesus makes the time for a thief, a “convicted felon” as someone put it today, to accept his repentance and to assure his salvation because the condemned man simply believed Jesus was a King not of this world. (Luke 23:39)
Jesus makes time for him in the midst of all He was going through to minister to him and say, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” ⁶
To His dying breath, Jesus used every ounce of strength He had to do His Father’s will.
This illuminates John 13:1,
“[…] Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” -John 13:1
He loved them to end with everything that He had -love that reconciled them to the Father.
That’s the standard.
This is a Perfect Picture of what it looks like to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁷
My Lord and My God.
What excuse do I possibly have for not loving to the very end, especially since I “have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin”?! (Hebrews 12:4)
The calling is indeed high. So, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12)
When I am tired, hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and beat down ⁸, by His grace I aim to be like my Savior and think, “One more.”
¹ Matthew 27:26, John 19:1
² Matthew 27:29
³ John 20:25
⁴ Matthew 27:44
⁵ Luke 23:38-42
⁶ Luke 23:43
⁷ Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:29-31
⁸ 2 Corinthians 4:7