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Lessons On The Cross – Don't Be A Judas
While many church leaders are promoting Christendom as a means to foster economic enrichment (hint: economic justice) it would be wise to find out what the bible tells us. We only have to look at the cross to find true direction in regards to Christ's attitude towards this world's suffering and inequality.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross he was between to thieves who were also being crucified. All three were in the same predicament which is where many of us find ourselves today. People always feel as they are being crucified by our circumstances and would love to be relieved of all our suffering and struggles.
But notice what Jesus does on the cross to help with everyone's struggles and sufferings while they all hung on their separate crosses together....absolutely nothing! The one thief is calling out to Jesus to show everyone a demonstration of his power and deity by freeing himself from all his suffering on the cross. Jesus makes no effort to respond to the taunts and demands of this skeptical thief.
The other thief responds to the taunting thief by pointing out that Jesus is blameless and undeserving of his punishment while they are not. He then asks Jesus to be included in Christ's kingdom when they both die. Jesus then responds by acknowledging that request made by the one thief will be granted.
Notice that Jesus did not promise anyone that their suffering will be ended or that they will all be taken down from their cross to live a life of pleasure as the one taunting thief wanted. Jesus did not try to lure anyone into believing in him by making any promises that ended their own suffering on the cross. Instead, he just acknowledged the faithful request of the one humble thief that he will be with Christ in heaven.
Also notice that Jesus Christ didn't reward the one thief for his belief in Jesus Christ by promising him that he'll be spared his suffering on the cross so he could be taken down to be a witness to others to believe in Jesus Christ also.
Too many preachers and church leaders are acting like the taunting thief and promising others that their suffering will end as a demonstration of Jesus Christ's deity, godly love, and godly nature. Jesus was on the cross to bear the penalty for all of our sins and not to be used as a lure to get people to believe that they'll soon receive some sort of relief from their own suffering in this world.
The taunting thief wanted a demonstration and reward for his belief, in this world, but not in the next! While the other thief didn't ask for any earthly reward or demonstration but only asked to be in Christ's kingdom upon his death. Believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be included in Christ's kingdom after your death. Then tell others of the saving grace of Jesus Christ as he extends this request to all who ask him. But please don't be a Judas and use Christ as a lure to gain the riches of this world for yourself or others.
Satan as the serpent lured Eve into eating the forbidden fruit by promising her that she would become a God. Now Christ's church is luring people into believing that they, the church, has become a God (hint: a God to our liking) and will distribute all the pleasures of the flesh equally, either directly or through the government! (hint: a one world government that will usher in the Antichrist – Read the Book of Revelation!)
God Bless
note:
Even though Jesus Christ acknowledged the request of the one thief the other thief didn't make the same request. Instead the taunting thief would rather die a sinner than feel like a fool for believing in Jesus Christ who ignored his taunts for a demonstration. The thief wanted a demonstration first (hint: like the unbelievers today who want economic justice) before he would believe. Jesus provided that demonstration 3 days later when he was resurrected from the dead.
While many church leaders are promoting Christendom as a means to foster economic enrichment (hint: economic justice) it would be wise to find out what the bible tells us. We only have to look at the cross to find true direction in regards to Christ's attitude towards this world's suffering and inequality.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross he was between to thieves who were also being crucified. All three were in the same predicament which is where many of us find ourselves today. People always feel as they are being crucified by our circumstances and would love to be relieved of all our suffering and struggles.
But notice what Jesus does on the cross to help with everyone's struggles and sufferings while they all hung on their separate crosses together....absolutely nothing! The one thief is calling out to Jesus to show everyone a demonstration of his power and deity by freeing himself from all his suffering on the cross. Jesus makes no effort to respond to the taunts and demands of this skeptical thief.
The other thief responds to the taunting thief by pointing out that Jesus is blameless and undeserving of his punishment while they are not. He then asks Jesus to be included in Christ's kingdom when they both die. Jesus then responds by acknowledging that request made by the one thief will be granted.
Notice that Jesus did not promise anyone that their suffering will be ended or that they will all be taken down from their cross to live a life of pleasure as the one taunting thief wanted. Jesus did not try to lure anyone into believing in him by making any promises that ended their own suffering on the cross. Instead, he just acknowledged the faithful request of the one humble thief that he will be with Christ in heaven.
Also notice that Jesus Christ didn't reward the one thief for his belief in Jesus Christ by promising him that he'll be spared his suffering on the cross so he could be taken down to be a witness to others to believe in Jesus Christ also.
Too many preachers and church leaders are acting like the taunting thief and promising others that their suffering will end as a demonstration of Jesus Christ's deity, godly love, and godly nature. Jesus was on the cross to bear the penalty for all of our sins and not to be used as a lure to get people to believe that they'll soon receive some sort of relief from their own suffering in this world.
The taunting thief wanted a demonstration and reward for his belief, in this world, but not in the next! While the other thief didn't ask for any earthly reward or demonstration but only asked to be in Christ's kingdom upon his death. Believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be included in Christ's kingdom after your death. Then tell others of the saving grace of Jesus Christ as he extends this request to all who ask him. But please don't be a Judas and use Christ as a lure to gain the riches of this world for yourself or others.
Satan as the serpent lured Eve into eating the forbidden fruit by promising her that she would become a God. Now Christ's church is luring people into believing that they, the church, has become a God (hint: a God to our liking) and will distribute all the pleasures of the flesh equally, either directly or through the government! (hint: a one world government that will usher in the Antichrist – Read the Book of Revelation!)
God Bless
note:
Even though Jesus Christ acknowledged the request of the one thief the other thief didn't make the same request. Instead the taunting thief would rather die a sinner than feel like a fool for believing in Jesus Christ who ignored his taunts for a demonstration. The thief wanted a demonstration first (hint: like the unbelievers today who want economic justice) before he would believe. Jesus provided that demonstration 3 days later when he was resurrected from the dead.
