Can you even begin to imagine how much Jesus loves you? What words can we possibly use to describe His love? While we may not be able to fully comprehend our Lord’s love for mankind, we can see His love! All we need to do is look in faith to Calvary! There Jesus gave the greatest demonstration of His love for mankind in His suffering and death! It’s vital that we witness His Passion! We need to see the unimaginable price Jesus paid to redeem us. We can and should be certain in our hearts of His unfailing and eternal love for each of us!

We’ve heard the facts concerning Jesus’ death so many times that we may fail to remember just how profoundly immoral and wickedly He was treated by those He came to save. Pilate, around 8 am, ordered that Jesus be scourged, and handed Him over to be crucified. Those sentenced to crucifixion were often scourged to maximize the pain inflicted and hasten death. It wasn’t unusual for prisoners to die from the scourging or the blood loss that it caused, rather than the crucifixion itself.

Scourging was so brutal and so feared that it was forbidden by law to use on Roman citizens! Try and imagine what it was like for Jesus. The Romans attached pieces of metal,

bone, wire, or hardened clay to the strands of the whip so that it would rip the skin open. Under Roman law, there was no limit to the number of lashes that could be administered. It’s possible that Jesus was sentenced to 39 lashes!

The whip (or scourge) was designed to inflict the most possible pain, it literally tore the flesh off our Savior’s back! Deep gashes covered His back and His precious blood was flowing freely. Jesus willingly endured it for us! The soldiers … stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, parading Him around like a common criminal. At about 9 am, they put a crown of thorns on his head and a reed in His right hand.

They bowed before the Savior mocking Him, Hail, King of the Jews! To show their complete contempt for Him they spit on Him, they took the reed and struck Him on the head, driving the crown of thorns ever deeper into his skin. When they had finished tormenting the Lord of Glory, about 10 am, they led Him away to be crucified.

Once on the cross, they offered Him wine vinegar as prophecy foretold. It was a pain killer of sorts, a Jewish concoction designed to dull the senses and help relieve pain, but Jesus wouldn’t drink it! He wouldn’t even allow Himself this small bit of relief. They mocked Jesus, If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!

To further humiliate Jesus there was a written notice above him. Written on it was His crime, it read in full, this is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. It was written in Latin for legal purposes, Aramaic for the Jews, and Greek for everybody!

Jesus, the eternally blessed God, mankind’s Redeemer, was crucified (the most horrible form of death) between two criminals. One of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, if - You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. In his dying moments, he was cursing the Lord. That’s like a man dying in a desert from thirst and exposure, while right next to him is an oasis with water and shade that could save him! But he ignores it, looks the other way, and curses his misfortune!

Instead of asking for Jesus’ blessing and grace, he uses his dying breaths to curse the only One who could or even wanted to save him. The only One who truly loved him! Next to him, the other criminal said something you wouldn’t have expected! Both of the criminals had mocked Jesus at first, but now one believed! When he was given faith, if he was baptized, or, if he had ever seen the inside of a church – doesn’t matter, Jesus forgave him! He might have been a hardened criminal, but now, in faith, he reprimands the other for his shortsightedness and unbelief! Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence?

We’re getting exactly what we deserve, but Jesus hasn’t done anything wrong, He is innocent! Hanging next to Jesus, dying, and nothing would stop it, imagine his fear. Until just recently he had been a rank unbeliever, but now, in faith, he turns to Jesus and says, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Behold the Spirit’s miracle of faith that changes people completely! He now knew Jesus as his Savior!

Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. Jesus put all his fears to rest and gave that dying man perfect comfort and assurance! That’s the unconditional and undeserved love of God in Jesus freely given to all who ask! Imagine his joy, death no longer mattered, he would soon be with Jesus forever!

Our Lord, dying with the weight and punishment of mankind’s sins upon Him, suffering unimaginable pain and the horrors of hell, still took the time to assure that one man of his salvation. He mattered to Jesus - just like each of us! Jesus didn’t see him as a condemned criminal, but as a redeemed sinner, a dearly loved child, and heir of life eternal! Jesus sees us the same way! He has assured us of His unconditional love and forgiveness, He has guaranteed our salvation! Jesus says to you and me personally, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

In Jesus saving Name, Amen!