Day 26 - Luke 23:26-43

On Easter Sunday, I was talking with some people and we ended up discussing some of the musicals that we had seen. It was interesting to hear where people had seen them and which ones they enjoyed the most. After that conversation, I think I'm going to try to see The Lion King and Wicked some day.

For myself, I've always been a fan of Les Miserables, which I saw for the first time in London with some friends in high school. It takes a lot to make me cry, but there's something about the story of Jean Valjean that makes it hard to keep my eyes dry. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the story begins with Jean Valjean stealing bread for his family and then spending the next 19 years in jail. When he is released a Bishop takes him in, but then Valjean steals some silver from the bishop and runs away in the night. Valjean is caught by the police and brought to the Bishop, but instead of accusing him of the theft, the Bishop tells the police that the silver was a gift and gives Valjean two more candlesticks, as well. (There's much more to the story, but that's all I'll go into now.)

When I read today's passage about the crucifixion, this story came to mind again. One of the robbers being crucified with Jesus said, "we are punished justly ... But this man has done nothing wrong" and "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This man, like Valjean, was guilty of a crime and deserved punishment. Although Jesus was also being punished, it was not for his own sins, but for the sins of others. He took the punishment upon himself, so that while that criminal by his side would still suffer death in this world, he would "be with [Jesus] in paradise." Instead of accusing the criminal of his wrongdoings, he offered him eternal life.

There was one more thing that the Bishop told Jean Valjean before they parted ways. He told him to become an honest man and help other people. This seems like the only proper response when a person has received grace: to give grace to others. The criminals crucified with Jesus did not have much chance to respond to the grace that Jesus offered to them, but we do. As we look upon the cross and realize that our punishment has been paid for and our sins are forgiven, how will we respond? I pray that we will be able to live out the full life that Christ came to offer us, and that we will respond to the grace we've received with grace given to others.