Thursday, April 9, 2009
Maundy Thursday
Luke 23:39-42 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
THY KINGDOM COME
Pontius Pilate was sneering at the Jews and their leaders when he ordered the posted charge on the cross above Jesus' head to read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The Roman ruler of Judea certainly did not consider Jesus a king of any consequence. But the dying thief on the cross next to Jesus knew better. He cannot physically kneel, but with all his heart he acknowledges Jesus' kingship. And he recognizes that even death will not end Jesus' reign -- not the death of someone who trusts in Him -- certainly not the death of the Christ Himself.
For Jesus' rule, His kingship, His kingdom-reign, was established when on the cross He took on the devil, death and hell -- and was victorious.
When we pray "Thy kingdom come" we are praying that many, many more dying sinners would be led by the Spirit of God through the Gospel to trust in Jesus as their Savior and King.
When we pray "Thy kingdom come" we also pray that each of us continue to trust in Jesus our whole lives through -- until, like the believing man on the cross next to Jesus, we leave this life and pass through death into our Lord and Savior's eternal kingdom.
