Luke 23:39 One of the criminals (malefactors) who hung there hurled
insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40But
the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said,
"since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we
are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
paradise."
The Cross of Rejection
The One died with sin in him and on him represented by the man in Luke 23:39; (Pamoja na adhabu ya maovu yake hakutaka kusurrender kwa Yesu, na Yesu hakuwa na haja nae isipokuwa alisema tu Ee Mungu wasamehe kwa sababu hawajui walitendalo). This man on another side of Jesus our Lord was a victim who was scoffing at him. "And one of the malefactors railed on him saying, Art not thou the Christ? Save thyself and us" (Lk. 23:39). Jesus had only done good throughout his sojourn upon this earth (Acts 10:38). He had done nothing to deserve the venom that was being spewed from the mouth of this hostile malefactor. The sarcasm in the words of this dying impenitent man depicts the enmity of many toward Jesus today. It reflects the impudence of infidelity. This ingrate did not plead for mercy, but rather he chose to blaspheme the precious Son of God in his dying breath. For one to die in this condition is a tragedy indescribable of human lips. It is difficult to imagine a creature of God Almighty denying creator at any time, but to express his rejection in the moments of death is incredible. It is on this cross that many others have perished and are perishing today.
