Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 6

 

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39–43 ESV).

 

As I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, today we take up the two thieves that were crucified on either side of Jesus. These two thieves, often called the "Good Thief" and the "Bad Thief," are not named in the New Testament but are identified in early Christian tradition—specifically the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus—as Dismas (or Dysmas) and Gestas (or Gesmas). Dismas asked for forgiveness and was promised paradise, while Gestas mocked Jesus, dying without grace. St. Gregory the Great, who lived from approximately 540 to March 12, 604 was a pivotal figure in early medieval history, and served as the 64th Pope of the Catholic Church from 590 to 604. In his work, Moralia in Job, he wrote:

 

“On the cross nails had fastened his hands and feet, and nothing remained free from torture, but his heart and tongue. By the inspiration of God, the thief offered to Him the whole which he found free, that as it is written, With the heart he might believe unto righteousness, with the mouth he might confess unto salvation. (Romans 10:10.) But the three virtues which the Apostle speaks of, (1 Corinthians 13:13.) the thief suddenly filled with grace both received and preserved on the cross. He had faith, for example, who believed that God would reign whom he saw dying equally with himself. He had hope who asked for an entrance into His kingdom. He preserved charity also zealously in his death, who for his iniquity reproved his brother and fellow-thief, dying for a like crime to his own.”

 

As we journey through this Lenten season, I pray that we would understand the wholeness of this work of Christ. Nothing needs to be added; it is a completed work. No wonder Jesus told the “good thief” his entrance into paradise would be “that day.” Anatoly of Optina relates a story that when the thief of the Gospel came to the gates of the Kingdom, the Archangel with the flaming sword wanted to chase him away, but he showed him the Cross. Immediately the fire-bearing Archangel himself withdrew and permitted the thief to enter. This was not the wooden cross on which he died; but the Cross of the Lord Jesus. We need no other identification or authentication than that! What will your confession be at that moment? Only faith in Jesus will gain us an open door!     

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 5

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:32–38 ESV).

 

In today’s devotional I’ve chosen St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) to quote as we make our way to the Cross. He is renowned as one of the greatest preachers in Christian history, earning the moniker "golden-mouthed" (Chrysostom) for his immense eloquence. A Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople, he is best known for his powerful sermons, commitment to serving the poor, and for composing the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom used in Eastern Christianity. His preaching on the Cross and the love of God expressed in the Cross is incredibly impactful as we consider our own response to Calvary:

 

“But we are able to see Christ’s inexpressible love for man not only from the cross itself but also from the words which He spoke while upon the cross. At the very time when He was nailed and they were mocking Him, deriding Him and spitting upon Him, He said: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)… At the same time that they were saying, “If You are the Son of God save Yourself,” He was accomplishing everything necessary to save these same ones who were reproaching Him. …He did forgive them, if they wished to repent, because if He had not forgiven them this sin, Paul would not have become an apostle;’ if He had not forgiven them this sin, the three thousand and the five thousand, and the many other thousands, would not have immediately believed.”

 

St. John Chrysostom famously declared the Cross a triumphant weapon and symbol of salvation, noting it turned the earth into heaven and served as a "trophy against the devil". He emphasized it as the ultimate proof of God's love and the source of human resurrection, transforming a symbol of death into a crown.

 

While there is much more to be seen in our reading today and we will look further at the two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus tomorrow; however, for today, I hope you will focus your attention on that center cross. There Jesus, the King of all kings proffered all that was necessary for every person ever created to be forgiven. It was a complete and perfect sacrifice. He paid the debt we could never pay and died the death we deserved!

 

Turn aside, even for just a moment, and recognize how great a love the Father has for you. The Apostle Paul said it this way:

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:6–9 ESV).

  

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 4

 

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV).

 

Continuing our walk to Calvary, I would not do well to omit a brief look at today’s reading. John Calvin emphasized that these verses highlight the stark contrast between human wisdom and divine salvation through the cross. He reminds us that the early disciples focused on how God deliberately uses the "foolishness" of a crucified Savior to destroy human pride and demonstrate true power. In fact, Calvin issued a warning against “… letting preaching eloquence obscure the cross,” stating we must not let it "lead Christians to be taken up with an outward glitter of words... or cover over the cross of Christ with its empty show as with a veil".

 

The sterility of a message of the cross as mere doctrine denies the active, saving power of God, which seems foolish only to those who are perishing. God’s methods are purposefully designed to humble human intellect, as even the "foolishness" of God surpasses human wisdom (cf. v. 25). One of the central themes for the Reformers was that because salvation is entirely God's work through the cross, "no human being might boast in the presence of God" (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:29).

 

The Apostle Paul says the message of a crucified Messiah is a "stumbling block.” He uses the Greek word σκάνδαλον (skandalon), which literally translates “a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare.” This ought to give us pause when we use methods that do not directly point to the horror of the Cross. Jesus, the King of kings, the Creator of all things, the Lord above all, was executed in man’s most detestable way; and, He was innocent of any sin or transgression. It cannot be understood by anyone without faith as anything but foolishness. We cannot mask the true nature of Jesus’ sacrifice with any sort of human explanation. Only the declaration of the Scripture in all of its simplicity will do:

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6–10 ESV).

 

No wonder the reformers utilized our reading to support Sola Fide (faith alone) and Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone), reinforcing that salvation is not attained through human philosophical wisdom; it can only be given by God, Himself! Thank God for such a gift!

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 3

 

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:16–21 ESV).

 

It is essential to understand which came first of grace and free will. Reformers, following Paul in our reading today, emphasize that believers are a "new creation" in Christ, having transitioned from a worldly view to a spiritual one. Central to this is the doctrine of justification, where Christ takes on human sin in His death on the cross, allowing believers to receive his righteousness. It is a foundational text for the ministry of reconciliation, emphasizing the imputation of righteousness and God's initiative in reconciliation. In a famous sermon on Romans 8 that John Calvin later quoted, Augustine once preached:

 

“Yes, you act and are acted upon. And if you are acted upon by one who is good, then you act well. The Spirit of God who acts upon you is the helper of those who act. The name ‘helper’ indicates that you also do something… Grace does not destroy the will but rather restores it” (Sermon 156, on Romans 8:12–17, discussed memorably in Calvin’s Institutes II.V.15).

 

I have often used this principle when I teach people the difference between “I’ve got to do…” and “I get to do…” the will of God. Augustine again wrote: "To will is of nature, but to will aright is of grace". He emphasized that grace is essential for salvation and precedes all human initiative. The cross made this a possibility. Without the atonement Jesus made and thereby imputing His righteousness on to us, we would be as lost as Adam and Eve were after eating the forbidden fruit.

 

Still today we find ourselves wandering  through this great creation of our heavenly Father sewing together fig leaves to cover our nakedness and not realizing we have Jesus’ robe of righteousness that covers completely and perfectly. Listen to Augustine again: "O Lord, everything good in me is due to you. The rest is my fault …No greater gift has been bestowed by God". Dwell on that as we continue our walk to Calvary!

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 2

 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:1–9 ESV).

 

It is easy to be lulled into complacency when we think of the Cross of Christ. However, the Reformers, particularly Martin Luther, thought much differently. He viewed our reading today as a critical defense of justification by faith alone, highlighting that the Spirit is received through hearing the Gospel, not by works of the law. Luther argued that believers are justified through faith and that true spiritual life begins and continues by trusting in Christ’s finished work in His death on the cross. In his Lectures on Galatians (1535), he wrote:

 

“Therefore a man becomes a Christian, not by working but by listening. And so anyone who wants to exert himself toward righteousness must first exert himself in listening to the Gospel. Now when he has heard and accepted this, let him joyfully give thanks to God, and then let him exert himself in good works that are commanded in the Law; thus the Law and works will follow hearing with faith.”

 

The Christian faith has a central event that connects heaven and earth. That event is the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul says, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul understood the significance of the cross as being the main thing. The cross shows victory, forgiveness, power, and freedom. The Galatians had lost sight of the cross, so Paul reminded them “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” He then asked, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?” (Galatians 3:1-2). The Galatians’ focus was on what they could do instead of what Christ had already done for them on the cross, and how the Holy Spirit could now guide them.

 

We must reassert our focus on what God has done on our behalf. The Gospel is of no effect if we are not both preaching it and listening to it. This is the only means of life!

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt. 1

 

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV).

 

We are but three weeks away from Easter. In these days I pray that looking through the lens of some of the great reformers we may be able to see the glory of this great gift God has given us through the work of Christ. The first of these takes us to our reading today and a quote from Thomas Brooks, who lived from 1608 to 1680. He was a prominent English non-conformist Puritan preacher and author known for his vivid, practical, and highly illustrative writing style. Often referred to as a "doctor of the soul," his works are celebrated for their deep spiritual insight and simple, accessible language that continues to influence Reformed thought today. He wrote in A String of Pearls the following:

 

“A believer’s inheritance, his glory, his happiness, his blessedness, shall be as fresh and flourishing after he hath been many thousand thousands of years in heaven as it was at his first entrance into it… There is a worm at the root of all earthly inheritances that will consume them in time. All earthly comforts and contents are but like a fair picture that is drawn upon the ice, which continues not; or like the morning cloud, that soon passes away. But a believer’s inheritance endures forever. When this world shall be no more , the inheritance of the saints shall be fresh, flourishing, and continuing.”

 

The Apostle Peter speaks of the things that await us as a result of our redemption as “things into which angels long to look” (v. 12). Can you imagine? That which is our gift because of the work of Christ are things the angels long to look at. These great celestial creatures who surround the throne of God have a desire to see these things because of their greatness. The Greek language is especially helpful here. Literally Peter writes the “eagerly peer into or study” the mysteries of the Gospel, specifically the salvation of humanity, the sufferings of Christ, and the subsequent glories. This signifies an intense angelic interest in God's grace, mercy, and wisdom in redemption, which they witness from an outside perspective. We have been given all of the benefits of that work of grace! That is the measure of God’s love toward us.

As your journey seems to be filled with difficulties and challenges, spend a moment and remember that which awaits you. It is so incredible, even the angels long to see it!

 

Joseph's Bones - Our Eternal Hope

 

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:22–26 ESV).

 

At the end of his life, Jospeh makes his brothers swear an oath to “carry” his bones with them when they leave Egypt and return to the land God had given them. For many readers of this story this verse (v. 25) is almost ignored. Yet it carries with it one of most incredible examples of Joseph’s faith which gave him his unshakeable hope in the future. In fact, in Reformed theology, this verse is interpreted as a profound demonstration of faith in God's covenant promises and a rejection of settling in Egypt. John Calvin commented that this act signaled that the "eternal covenant" did not die with Joseph. It highlights that Joseph's hope was not in his position or comfort in Egypt, but in the future, greater fulfillment of God’s plan.

 

According to D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, Joseph's direction to “carry his bones home” was an incredible declaration of faith in the promise of God. Even after living in the luxury of Egypt for years, Joseph’s heart was never truly there. His request to have his bones moved was a final, physical witness to his belief in God's promise to Abraham. Lloyd-Jones also emphasizes that Joseph died with absolute certainty that God would "visit" His people and deliver them, even if it took centuries. It highlights God’s sovereign governance. Joseph trusted that even though he died in a foreign land (Egypt), God’s plan to bring His people to the Promised Land remained certain.

 

What this means for us today is that whatever this world is, it is not our home. As much as we may have, or as little as we may have, it is merely temporary. We are being prepared to be taken to our eternal home by Jesus Himself.

NOTE: Full essay of this study is available by request (please email request to oldag71@yahoo.com).