"A Place Called Calvary”

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Luke 23:33

This was the appointed time; this was the appointed place; this was the long-awaited, appointed, pivotal moment that had been repeatedly foretold in the holy record of Old Testament Scripture (i.e. the Law and the Prophets) that once completed would alter the future destiny of all mankind and the future course of the whole realm of the universe as well.

Relating to the former point, Galatians 4:4-5 accurately explained, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

And, subsequently detailing the critical aspect of the latter point, we read in 1 John 3:8b, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Also, referring to this pending surety, the Lord Jesus had earlier emphasized in John 12:31-33, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. He said, signifying what death he should die.”

However, here in this inspired, snapshot historical, narrative account found in the Gospel of Luke this level of “exacting” background detail is now placed before our view.

But alternatively, we are provided with a more personable, highly sensory account of familiar human responses and interaction details that were purposely intended to engage our minds, our emotions, and our very souls.

If we are truly attentive to the vividly graphic nature of the events of Calvary that are explicitly described for us in the holy record, we cannot but help be emotionally moved (i.e. sorrowfully gasp and cringe in horror) by the raw nature of inflicted inhuman brutality and unjust cruelty perpetrated against the innocent person of the Son of God.

But, again we should remember that what eventually happened to Him was of no surprise to the Suffering Savior.

On many occasions during His earlier ministry years, the Lord had repeatedly stressed to His Disciples the eventuality of this appoint moment. In such passages as Mark 9:31-32, He fully disclosed: “The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.”

But too, if our hearts have not been deeply hardened by our repeated unresponsive, overexposures to the wooing message of the Gospel; or alternatively “dulled” by being covered with callous layers of the spiritual scar tissue of unbelieving indifference caused by our brash rejection of beckoning call of conviction by the Holy Spirit, then we will yet responsively feel the pricking/convicting sting of these Spirit-breathed, soul-pounding, powerful words that timelessly detail the wonderful redemptive sacrifice made by the Lord Jesus.

This was the very means God used to provide for us an “saving” alternative to remaining on the natural path of the “broad way” that will end in our eternal condemnation. Addressing this distinct point, 2 Corinthians 5:19 explained: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.”

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The Book of Rememberance

“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16

March 6, 2018

WBS-2017

33) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35) And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36) And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37) And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38) And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

FRAGMENTS-BSA 2018

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