Encounters with Jesus : a tortured

12.09.2021

Sunday September 12, 2021

“Lord, remember me when you come to reign." Luke 23:42

Christians often say they want to see Jesus. In this line of a hymn, for example :

“Yes, in your magnificence, I will see you, divine King." (Collection To you the glory, n ° 386)

A man was able to contemplate Jesus, the King, for a few hours without interruption. But the circumstances were apparently not magnificent. He is one of the two criminals who were crucified at the same time as Jesus. What did this man see ? He saw Jesus undergo, like him, the dreadful death of the crucifixion. And he heard the leaders of the people laughing at Jesus, making fun of Jesus : He saved others ; may he save himself, if he is the Messiah chosen by God ! (Luke 23:35). Where is the glory and the magnificence that we sing about ?

They are there, in the very sufferings of Jesus. He was doing what he had come to do : take our sin upon himself by dying instead of us. After his death and resurrection, Jesus regained the glory he had always had. But his sufferings are also his glory : did he not himself see his death as a glorification ? (John 12.23)

The tortured received the promise of Jesus : Today you will be with me in paradise. So he was going to see him again, in the glory of eternity. We will also see him, our divine King, in his magnificence. Do you have this hope ? Is he also your King ?

Allan Kitt

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to Luke, chapter 23, verses 32 to 43.

Source (Live Today)