Page 25 - Living Light Spring 2024

Wednesday March 27 - A miscarriage of justice
“We are punished justly... But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:41
The story of Andrew Malkinson hit the headlines last year. He’d been wrongly imprisoned for 17 years for a crime that it was later proven he had not committed. By all accounts, the evidence presented to the court was unsatisfactory. Miscarriages of justice are sadly not unknown, and often have painful consequences.
One criminal executed alongside Jesus recognised the justice of his own sentence but the injustice of Jesus’ condemnation. We don’t know what this man knew of Jesus’ life and ministry, although the stories about Jesus may well have reached him even in prison. But he knew enough to recognise that Jesus had done nothing deserving of death.
Jesus’ followers gave those words a deeper meaning. Jesus was not only innocent of any capital crime but had led an unblemished, sinless life. Paul (2 Corinthians 5:21), Peter (1 Peter 2:22), John (1 John 3:5) and Hebrews (4:15) unite in proclaiming he was without sin. This claim is crucial to the story of the cross. A sacrifice had to be free from any blemish, and Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, was. Had he been guilty of any wrongdoing he would have been paying the penalty for his own sin. Yet, being free from sin, he could be a substitute for guilty sinners. Only if he was undeserving of ‘the tree’ himself could he bear the condemnation others deserved (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Thank God for the pure innocence of Jesus.
Today, Father, I am full of thanksgiving for Jesus bearing my sin and paying its price at Golgotha. Amen.
Thursday March 28 - Outrageous grace
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
paradise.” Luke 23:43
Many stumble over Jesus’ conversation with the criminal executed beside him. Why should this man, who was undoubtedly an outrageous sinner, be assured at the last moment that he’d be with Jesus in paradise that same day? Is this God’s justice at work?
The answer is yes! Look carefully at the conversation. Called criminals, we don’t know what crimes these two felons had committed; they were more likely violent terrorists than shoplifters! One insulted Jesus: “If you really are the claimed Messiah, get yourself out of this hole, and us with you.” He simply wanted to use God to rescue him, without showing any respect for God, his laws or his Son. The other had realised his position before a holy God, recognised God’s justice at work and admitted his sin. He also recognised the injustice of Christ’s execution and believed Jesus would shortly ascend his heavenly throne. He demanded nothing, simply asking for mercy. That’s all God asks. He looks with favour on those with humble and contrite spirits (Isaiah 66:2). In his own way, this criminal demonstrates repentance and faith. So, he’s admitted to paradise, figuratively the heavenly garden which is the entrance to the ruler’s palace.
Jesus died with the criminal on the cross; consequently this criminal was to live with Jesus in paradise. Here, as Psalm 85:10 puts it, ‘Righteousness and peace kiss each other’.
Lord, your outrageous grace grants mercy to the undeserving. May I believe that for myself and for others. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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