Love is Kind
Introduction
Going through a series but slowing down at 1 Cor 13
Last week – love is patient
This evening – love is kind
Looking at Luke 23 – the kindness of God in giving His Son to us
Titus 3:4-5
The Bible often speaks of God’s love and kindness
Referred to the loving kindness of God
This has appeared to men
It has been demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ
The kindness of God to mankind – we could never save ourselves
It is our faith in Him
We have been saved from sin, death and hell
Our righteousness is as filthy rags – it is of His righteousness
Jesus saved us
Can you say this?
We have also been regenerated and renewed in the Holy Spirit
We have been justified by grace
We have become heirs of eternal life
Love is kind
Not just on a horizontal level but on a vertical level
Phil 2:8
God so loves the world He gave His only begotten Son
Jesus’ words on the cross show such tenderness
Example of Hudson Taylor
God has given His only Son
Overview:
The kindness of Jesus to lamenting women
The kindness of Jesus to His enemies
The kindness of Jesus to a dying criminal
The kindness of Jesus to lamenting women (v28-31)
Who were these women? (v27)
Unlikely to be professional mourners
More likely genuine mourning
Women that have heard or seen the miracles of Jesus Christ
Women that have heard some of His teaching
Women that saw Jesus so marred and weak
They are overcome with emotion and weep
Jesus speaks to them – His last discourse
(Though there were later sayings on the cross)
He uses a tender term – daughter of Jerusalem
He says they do not need to weep for Him, but for themselves with what will happen in the future
He speaks kind words to them
He is concerned for them (not Himself)
He is burdened for his generation – there salvation and the judgment coming upon them
v28-29
Thinking of two events:
AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem
The final judgment
Weighty words
Weep for yourselves and the next generation
Jesus longed for the salvation of others
Rom 9 – Paul wished he could be accursed if it would save the brethren
Rom 10 – Paul’s prayer for Israel was their salvation
Do we desire the salvation of those around us?
Do we pray for our family?
Do we earnestly desire the salvation of others
The kindness of Jesus to His enemies (v34)
Jesus first and last words were prayer
He always (apart from one occasion on the cross) address God as Father
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do"
Few but powerful words
Jesus forgave sin
This is the only recorded occasion He prays to His Father to forgive people
Jesus is the mediator between God and man – He calls on His Father for the forgiveness of man
The rulers sneered (v35), the soldiers mocked (v36), the people ridiculed them
Yet Jesus prays for forgiveness, not vengeance
Forgiveness – letting go of the desire to see judgment done against another
These people did not deserve forgiveness
Yet Jesus desired the forgiveness of the people
This prayer was heard as many of the Sanhedrin were saved, as were at least 5,000 at Pentecost
These are very kind and loving words
Was is just men that crucified Jesus?
Isaiah 53:10
There was no other way that we could be forgiven
Sin must be punished and dealt with it
Quote from Charles Wesley
We do not deserve God’s forgiveness
Yet He dies for us
Yet He forgives us
The kindness of Jesus to a dying criminal (v39-43)
Jesus was crucified between two criminals
Isaiah 53:12
How would you feel to be identified with two criminals?
Jesus Christ gladly did this
Jesus last friend on earth – was a sinner
Jesus first friend in heaven – was the forgiven theif
Matt 27:44
Both thieves had been mocking Jesus but one comes under remarkable conviction
One thief blasphemes Jesus
The other thief goes against the tide and speaks for Jesus
He fear God
He sees Jesus has done nothing wrong
He asks Jesus to remember Him in heaven
Jesus gives a promise to the thief
"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (v43)
What glorious kind words
How Jesus loved this man who did not deserve salvation
Good deeds cannot get you into heaven
It is by grace, not of works, the gift of God
Application
We are to love our enemies and do good to them
We are to earnestly pray for the salvation of others
We are to show grace and mercy to those who do not deserve it
May we be known to be kind people
May we be kinder people