Kevin Harvey

Meditation for today
Who do you see, and which one are you?

Today were going to go back and look at the passage where Christ was crucified... We are going to look at it and consider the various people that were around and witnessing the crucifixion. And we're gonna use our imaginations, and scriptures to help enlighten us as to what they saw, and where they stood with regards to who that man hanging on the cross was. To Jesus is...

Luke Ch 23 vs 32-56

Here we are first introduced tioL Two criminals That were lead with him to be put to death. We know the story well, but do we really?.

Its very easy to glance over it and not give it much thought. The Scriptures does not give the detail of every moment by moment. It states that the criminals were crucified with Him, One on the right at the other on the left. 34 then Jesus said, "father forgive them for they do not know what they do".

How much time do you think it past in these two opening sentences.?„,„

What do you think was going on in the mind of the two thieves?

,„, 34B. And they divide his garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on.

Who are these people? „„,
Whet do we know about them? 

Ifs easy to picture of the scene like the movies do and indeed like it is portrayed in the Scriptures here. That everyone's yelling and screaming and sneering and demanding his death.

Some of the people that were there other than the two thieves were,Rulers, every day people. Soldiers, reluctant followers. Jesus mother, Women that were true followers. One of Jesus disciples John was there. And we know there was a Pharisee watching from a far off. They were probably A fair amount of religious leaders Pharisees and rulers that were there.

What was going in the mind of everyone was there, caught up in the frenzy. And the massive historical event that we still remember and speak about today.! 2000 years later.

If you were there, what would be going on in your mind. Which one of those people would you have been?,,,,
The two thieves....
Rulers....
Soldiers....
Curious onlookers.../Reluctant followers...
The women disciples...
Jesus mother....
John the disciple....
The whole crowd...
Jesus acquaintances and the woman who followed him from Galilee standing at a distance...
Joseph of Arimathea. A member of the Sanhedrin,,, good and righteous who had not consented to their decision and deed.

What was going on in the minds of everyone of these people we see here?„„

What kind of inward struggle and conflicts were they going through?„„

I like imagine what was going on and everyone's heart. But most of all I like to think what was going on in the hearts of the ones who had very little time to ponder who this Jesus was before them.

Who is this Jesus?,„,

And what kind of person would I be now?„„ in other words what will I do with this truth/experience/person/situation?

And of course the two people that most qualify, are the two thieves on the cross! Everything is condensed into those few hours they have with the Christ. Everything is heightened and more important, decision making is let's say a little bit critical at this juncture!

I assumed they heard rumours about the Messiah that was coming to town.... Maybe they heard about the miracles... Maybe they didn't _..

We know that they weren't the most upstanding citizens.... and we know how people like that, think about godly matters.... They couldn't care... Right? After all, they are thieves and criminals. Scum/low lifes right?

They're hanging on the cross, I'm sure its quite excruciating. But nothing like joining the crowds in mocking the innocent one!. Might as well get a few last Dibs in before you depart this world.

Maybe one of the thieves, blamed the religious leaders. Maybe they blame their parents. Maybe they were so poor they had to steal, we don't know. But it's fair to assume, that they are just like anyone else, just like you or me. With feelings and with emotions and with regrets and with all the frailty that comes along with being a human being.

But as they stood there watching Christ witnessing everything that's going on. Pondering everything that they may or may not know of the Messiah of the Christ of this man before them. They each made a critical decision, that would go on into eternity. One continued in disbelief and in ridiculing the Messiah, and the other one/,,, thought long and hard„ he looked at Jesus and had a realization.
​
He probably didn't know everything.