May 9, 2019 (Thursday)
All those who crucified or assented to the crucifixion of Jesus were on His mind and he prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That was the first of seven sayings of Jesus from the Cross. The seven words were:
“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43
“Woman, behold thy Son.” — John 19:26
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” — Mark 15:34
“I thirst.” — John 19:28
“It is finished.” — John 19:30
“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” — Luke 23:46
The thieves who were crucified with Jesus were on His mind that day and when one of them asked to be remembered by Jesus, He said, “Today you shall be with me in Paradise.”
His mother was on His mind when he asked her to accept the help of her nephew, John, who was asked by Jesus to take care of His mother, Mary, was on His mind.
His Father was on His mind as He called out to Him in His suffering.
Every person there that day was on His mind as he gave Himself as the one and only sacrifice that would avail for the forgiveness of sin. “It is finished” means the redemptive plan of God for all mankind was accomplished in Christ.
You and I were on His mind, for He had said, “And I, if I be lifted up (on the Cross), will draw all men to myself.” “All Men” meant all people of all time, and that certainly includes you and me.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
John 3:16 is pivotal for our understanding of God’s love for us. God loves us and gave His Son for our Redemption so that whosoever believes shall have everlasting life. The “Whoever” of John 3:16 includes you and me. When He was on the Cross, we were on His mind.
When He Was On the Cross, I Was On His Mind
Songwriters: Ronald Payne / Ronny Hinson
I’m not on an ego trip
I’m nothing on my own
I made mistakes I often slip
Just common flesh and bones
But I’ll prove someday just why I say
I’m of a special kind
For when he was on the cross
I was on his mind.
The look of love was on his face
Thorns were on his head
The blood was on his scarlet robe
Stained a crimson red
Though his eyes were on the crowd that day
He looked ahead in time
For when he was on the cross
I was on his mind.
He knew me, yet he loved me
He whose glory makes the heavens shine
So unworthy of such mercy
Yet when he was on the cross
I was on his mind.
Yet when he was on the cross
I was on his mind.
(John Starnes and the Jacksonville choir substituted a first verse
and added the chorus of “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” at the end.)
He walked the streets to Calvary,
The rugged cross he bore.
Crowds stood by and watched this man,
They had heard Him preach before
And though I’m never worthy
Of such love I never found,
When He was on the Cross,
I was on His mind.
No one ever cared for me like Jesus
There’s no other friend so kind as He,
No one else could take my sin and darkness from me,
Oh, how much He cares for me.