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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
Nazareth was King o f the Jews. Many o f the Jews read the title and it set them to thinking, and doubtless led to the con version o f some. The chief priests read it too, and it set them to thinking also. Their thoughts were not pleasant, and they sought to have Pilate change the title. _But he, like many another, having yielded all the greater points, stands stubbornly and fast upon a minor point. But God was back of Pilate’s obstinacy and pettishness, and used it all to proclaim the real dignity and glory o f that One whom man’s malice had nailed to the cross. Saturday, March 18 . Luke 23 : 39 - 43 . At the beginning both robbers crucified with Jesus railed at Him (Matt. 27:44), but as the day rolled along the words and- wondrous bearing o f Jesus had touched the heart o f one o f them and he changed from ridicule to faith. The first evidence o f his repentance was the confession o f his own guilt and the justice o f his punishment (v. 41; cf. Luke 15:18, 19; Lev. 26:40, 41). A view o f Jesus’ holiness and love led him to see his own sinfulness. The second step he took was to. confess the sinlessness o f Jesus. Then he entered into a full faith in Jesus that expressed itself, in calling upon Him (cf. Rom. 10:13). He believed that Jesus was a king, and some day was com ing in His kingdom (v. 42, R. V .). Just at the hour when Jesus’ own disciples were giving up faith in His kingship the dying robber accepted it. O f all the persons at the cross, this dying robber had the most triumphant faith. The prayer he had just heard Jesus offer for His enemies (v. 34) encouragedrhim to think Jesus might have mercy upon him also. That prayer was brief, earnest, right to the point, believing. He got more than He asked. Jesus’ answered, “ Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” The best part o f this prom ise was not “thou shalt be in paradise,” but “ thou shalt be with me.” And he was to be there not after some long interval o f trial or purging or sleep, but “ today” (cf. Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:4, 6 , 8 , R. V .). The attempt to nullify the force o f “today”
by twisting the words about and connecting the “today” with the “I say” has no weight. To construct the sentence in that way not only violates the order o f the words as they are found in the Greek,'but it makes nonsense out o f the statement o f our Lord. O f course He was saying what He said today, but what He was saying was, “ Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” There is no length to which some men will not go in trying to support a theory. The Son o f Clod and the penitent robber went into Paradise that very day. Their bodies hung upon the cross but their spirits went into Paradise. This robber did not work for salvation, he could not, he never par took o f the Lord’s Supper, he \was not even baptized. He was saved by the simple _ faith that led to open confession. Sunday, March 19 . .Luke 23 : 44 - 49 . God testified to His displeasure at the enormous crime o f killing His Son by send ing a supernatural darkness over the whole land. This could not have been an eclipse, for an eclipse can only take place at the new moon and the moon was full at the Passover. This darkness and the accom panying phenomena filled the observers with awe and fear and led some to faith (vs. 47, 48; Matt. 27:54). A fearful terror must have overtaken the priests and scribes. But there are to be in the future phenomena events that will strike even greater terror to the hearts o f Christ’s enemies. However terrified the priests and scribes may have been they did not repent. Somewhere between three o’clock and the close o f the day at sunset Jesus died (Matt. 27:46 following). Just at this time (if this was Wednesday, as there seems conclusive prgof that it was, and not Friday as tradi tion has had it for some time) the paschal lamb which was the type o f the Lord Jesus the real Paschal Lamb, was slain in the temple. Our Lord’s last words were “ Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” No one took His life from Him, He laid it down o f Himself (cf. John 10:17, 18). Still another prophecy was fulfilled in this (Isa. 53:12). The veil of
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