Bringing the Text to Life
At a Glance
He wasn't a Christian. He didn't need to die. When his ISIS executioners asked him about his faith, he aligned himself with his Christian friends. And with them, he, too, died. This is the inspirational story of an African man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time when ISIS rounded up a group of Coptic Christians last year in Libya and beheaded them all.
Editors' Pick
For material based on today's epistle text, see "Assisted Living," November 25, 2001, at HomileticsOnline.com.
The people who crucified Jesus did not know what they were doing.
Although they attempted to anger him, Jesus responded with forgiveness.
Although they mocked him with a sign that said, "King of the Jews," Jesus showed that he was the king of all God's people, the Messiah.
Although they challenged him to save himself, he saved the criminal next to him.
So says our text, Luke 23:33-43.
Jesus turned evil into good. And he continues to do the same today.
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