The Luminous Podcast

Luke 23:33-43 (NRSV)

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved

Selah

others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Here in Luke, we see Jesus presenting an example of how beautiful the Good News really is. His two "phrases" from the cross in Luke reveal the contrast of being spiritually asleep and being awake. The first (Luke 23:34) "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing!" The second (Luke 23:43) "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Implying mercy on an already sentenced thief... as if to say, “you are guilty and are paying for your crime, AND with your belief you will be with me on the other side of all this.” While one thief says, “are you not the Messiah, help yourself and us...”

“We have been given God in our souls and Christ in our flesh. We have the power to believe where others deny, to hope where others despair, to love where others hurt.” -Brennan Manning

1. To be asleep: mocking, cynical, disbelief, certainty.

2. To be awake: humbled, desperate, belief, curious.

Curiosity overcomes fear even more than courage does.

Asking questions was central to Jesus’ life and teachings.

—Jesus posed 307 questions.

—Jesus was asked 183 questions.

—Jesus only answered around 8 of those questions... and in a classic Jesus way.

He seemed to be about a faith that explores questions with curiosity rather than defending answers.

Let these words from Brennan Manning resonate: “Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will all be part of our journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever.” -Brennan Manning