Never Too Late

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

25-30 They nailed him up at nine o’clock in the morning. The charge against him—the king of the jews—was scrawled across a sign. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

-Mark 15:25-30 The Message

Verse 25: Now, it was the third hour when they crucified Him.

Verse 26: The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Verse 27: And they *crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 

Verse 28: [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”]

Verse 29: Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days,

Verse 30: save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”

Verse 25 study: Crucifixions are feared and shameful. It is cruel. The person executed was forced to carry their own cross to the longest route to the crucifixion site to warn bystanders. There were different methods of crucifixions and shapes for crosses. Jesus was nailed to the cross. Sometimes, condemned men were tied to their crosses with ropes. Death came by suffocation, no matter which one it was, ropes or nails. The weight of the body and strength made breathing difficult.

Verse 26 study: A sign stated that condemned man’s crime was often placed on a cross as a warning. Jesus was never found guilty; the only accusation placed on his sign was a “crime” of being King of the Jews.

Verse 27 study: Luke recorded one of the robbers repenting before death, and Jesus promised that criminal that he would be with him in Paradise (Luke 27:39-47).

This verse shows it is not too late to get people to Jesus. So what plans do you have to get people to Jesus?

Father, as we see in verse 27, a robber repented to Jesus as he was dying. The robber gets to spend Paradise with Jesus all because he repented before Jesus died. This tells us that it is not too late to get people to Jesus. I pray we will continue to work to get people to you and get them saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen!