Daily Devotion for April 8, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPassionate Christ
Day 39

 

Between Thieves

 

They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. And the Writing was fulfilled that is saying, 'And with lawless ones he was numbered.'  Mark 15: 27-28

 

Mark, in his narrative, slips into the present tense as if to show the deed still in progress. Though he makes no mention of it, presumably the executioners were the soldiers sent on detail by the garrison in what was called a quaternion. In a bloody society, where justice was often both summary and swift, theirs was still a thankless task. As long as society decides that judicial execution is necessary, someone has to perform the deed.

 

Jesus was crucified between two ‘robbers.’ The word is, literally, ‘lawless men,’ which could mean that they had been convicted of insurrection, like Barabbas. Some commentators have even suggested that they were members of Barabbas’ lawless crew, and that Jesus was crucified where He was so that Pilate could make the point that this innocent man had taken Barabbas’ place. It would seem more likely that they were just ordinary criminals, paying for their offences. Nevertheless, Jesus did take Barabbas’ place, just as He took ours.

 

Even in the act of dying, Jesus fulfilled Scripture. Mark reminds his readers of the prophecy of Isaiah (53:12) that the Messiah would die ‘numbered among the transgressors.’ Jesus Himself had made mention of the very same passage in Luke 22:37 It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”  The crucifixion, therefore, is an object lesson in obedience and duty, but more than this: He did not die for duty’s sake alone, but for love. This is the love, broad and deep and high, passing human thought and fantasy, that brought a child to Bethlehem and a man to Calvary.

 

Prayer
Jesus, You took my place, I belonged on a cross with the “lawless men” You died with.  Instead, You took my place, because of Your love for me.  Help me never forget what I deserve and what You paid for me.  Amen

 

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