THE MINORITY VOICE

LUKE 23:35-48 NKJ 
35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." 
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." 
38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: 
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 
39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 
43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." 

OBSERVATION:

Have you ever had the feeling that the whole world was against you? Certainly, that idea is a bit dramatic, but it's not a good warm feeling. Jesus can understand. 

He was being sneered at by the Jewish rulers. They were mocking Him and challenging Him to prove that He was who He claimed to be.   

The Roman soldiers, known for their cruelty, also mocked Him. These were the ones who had physically nailed Him to the cross. Now they were questioning His legitimacy. 

And the story does not stop there. One of the two thieves crucified beside Him railed on Him, challenging His claims as the Messiah.   

But there was one lone voice of those gathered around the cross. The other thief recognized that he was guilty, but Jesus had done no wrong.   

Maybe it was the way Jesus handled the cross that spoke to this man. Maybe he had known about Jesus prior to the crucifixion. But regardless, this common thief had a revelation that Jesus was much more than a fellow sufferer. He saw Jesus as Lord and King and asked for mercy when Jesus would assume the throne in His kingdom.   

Ironically, this man was the only one that Jesus responded to. The man with the minority voice won a major victory.  

APPLICATION: 

I am amazed at the self-control of Jesus. People were hurling insults, but He never responded.   

He did and still does respond to humility and a sincere faith. And in the day we are living, humility and a sincere faith in the Lord Jesus will put us in the minority.  

With the secular world increasing in hostility and the religious world not acting with a significantly better attitude, any voice of humility and faith will stand out, not in volume but in its impact. Heaven still responds to this voice, not the voices of the mockers and scorners.  

So, take up the minority voice of humility before God and of your faith in Him. And welcome to the winning side. 

PRAYER: 

Dear Lord, I acknowledge I am nothing apart from You but amazingly blessed connected to You.  You are my Lord and King.