WORD FOUR: Save Yourself And Us

WORD FOUR: Save Yourself And Us

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

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Image: The Crucifixion, St. Louis Art Museum slam.org Accessed 18 February 2026

SEVEN WORDS TO JESUS; Word Four: Save Yourself and Us

By Gail K. Kachnycz 3 March 2026

And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his

left. Mark 15:27 KJV

Then there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the

left. Matthew 27:38

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ?

Save Yourself and us!” But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God,

since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are

receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this Man has done nothing wrong."Luke 23:39-41 NASB2020

     Matthew and Mark specify that Jesus was crucified with other condemned men, one on either side.

The King James Version (KJV) uses the word “thieves” to describe them, but the modern translations

use the more accurate terms “criminals” or “rebels.” Since I am no expert in Greek, I asked our pastor

to supply and define the Greek words that were used. The Gospel of Luke uses the word “kakourgos,”

which means criminal or evil-doer. Matthew and Mark use the word “leisteis,” which means robber,

brigand, or insurrectionist. The Oxford Dictionary provides these definitions:

Robber: a person who takes property unlawfully by force or threat of force

Brigand: a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.

Insurrectionist: a person who is engaged in violent uprising against an authority or government.

Thief: a person who steals another person’s property, especially by stealth and without using force

or violence. [emphasis added]

     With the proper translation and definition, it makes more sense that crucifixion was the punishment.

Rome would certainly eliminate anyone who threatened the safety on their system of roads, or dared to

overthrow their rule. 

     It is quite possible that the two men being executed were comrades in arms, part of the same gang

of brigands or fighters trying to undermine Roman authority. Whatever their crimes, they were violent

men. In extreme pain, one chose verbal abuse as a way to attack even in his final hours. The other

recognized that he had lived by the sword and was therefore dying by the “sword,” that is, the rightful

punishment for the violence he had inflicted on others. 

     The abusive brigand challenged Jesus: “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” In times of

pain and crisis, do we sometimes question God? If God really cared, He would smooth our path and

relieve our suffering. If God doesn’t help, He must not love us. If God is love, why does He allow

innocent babies to be born with birth defects or get cancer? If God is all-powerful, why does He allow

natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes? Why doesn’t He prevent them and save us? Why do bad

things happen, especially to people who trust Him, if God could change them?

     There is no easy answer. In the foundation essays for this blog, I state that Christian scholars have

addressed this better than I ever could. The book by the late Dr. James Dobson,

When God Doesn’t Make Sense, is recommended. Deeper Questions 4 June 2025

     Because Jesus did not step down from the cross, He can enter our suffering and say, “I understand

your pain.”

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who

has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of

grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Hebrews 4:15 & 16 NIV

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WORD THREE: See and Believe

WORD THREE: See and Believe

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

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Image: Amazing Love, www.heartlight.org Accessed 18 February 2026

SEVEN WORDS TO JESUS; Word Three: See and Believe

By Gail K. Kachnycz 24 February 2026

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! Let this Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Mark 15:31-32a NASB2020

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him and saying,

“He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the

cross, and we will believe in Him. HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE

TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ “ Matthew 27: 41-43

     The chief priests were there as Jesus was crucified. They ridiculed Him along with the general crowd.

They felt that their goal of silencing Him was achieved. They truly believed they were punishing a

blasphemer and protecting the purity of the Jewish religion and tradition. They taunted Him, fulfilling

Psalm 22:7-8 

All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 

“He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” NKJV

     The Gospel of Matthew notes that they mocked Him for being “the King of Israel,” and saying,

“I am the Son of God.” Since they were well versed with the Scriptures, they thought they knew what

the King of Israel would do and say, and Jesus did not fit their description. They wanted Jesus to behave

as they thought a king or messiah should, to show regal power according to their definition.

  “I’ll believe it when I see it.” How often have we said that to ourselves? How often have we said

that to God? God, if You would only…

…heal my loved one…provide the finances I need…get me out of this crisis…

…then I will believe in You.

     Maybe the prayer is framed as “either/or:”

…either heal my loved one or take them to heaven…either restore this relationship or help me separate

and start over…

     We want God to do something specific, the answer we want or the positive outcome according to our

definition. But God is not like that. He is not, “either/or.” God thinks and acts outside the box!

     It is hard to trust the Lord when we don’t know what the outcome will be, or when the worst- case

scenario is unfolding in front of us. I think God understands that. He just asks us to take one step of faith

at a time and trust that He has our best interests at heart. It is probably something we would never think

of.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9 NKJV

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are those who have

not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NKJV  

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WORD TWO: Come Down From the Cross, Save Yourself

WORD TWO: Come Down From the Cross, Save Yourself

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

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Image: Jesus Christ Cleanses the Temple; ar.inspiredpencil.com accessed 18 February 2026

Seven Words to Jesus; Word Two: Come Down from the Cross, Save Yourself

 By Gail K. Kachnycz on 16 February 2026 

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” 

Mark 15:29 & 30 NIV 

 This reaction was foretold in Psalm 22 

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. Psalm 22:7 NIV 

     Crucifixion is an agonizing death. The crowd that had shouted “Crucify Him!” wanted to justify their actions, to convince themselves that Jesus deserved this punishment. To distance themselves from the suffering, they dehumanized Him with ridicule. 

     The image of Christ on the cross is difficult to observe. We want to look away. We want to say, “Come down from the cross.” We don’t want to admit that our sin requires this sacrifice. Can’t we save ourselves? Certainly we are good enough. There are others who have done much worse than we have. We want to emphasize God’s love and grace, without acknowledging His absolute holiness and our need for mercy. Even an unkind thought on our part creates a chasm between us and God. 

 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 NKJV 

 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NKJV 

During Lent, let us acknowledge our need for a Savior, and give thanks that God has provided a way for our sins to be forgiven and the right relationship with God restored. 

 Before GRACE, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense 

 we need MERCY: My Execution Replaced at the Cross by Yeshua 

For prayerful consideration: 

 * Where am I trying to “save myself”? For example, trying to restore relationships with my own wisdom or work in ministry of service in my own strength? 

* Am I harboring sins such as bitterness or resentment?

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WORD ONE: Let Us Cast Lots for His Garment

WORD ONE: Let Us Cast Lots for His Garment

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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Image: Cruciformed #6: "The Gamble" from www.heartlight.org accessed 10 February 2026

Seven Words TO Jesus at the Cross; Word One: Let Us Cast Lots for His Garment

By Gail K. Kachnycz 29 January 2026; revised 10 February 2026

     During Lent, the posts on A Map Through The Valley will be brief meditations on the Seven Words

to Jesus. For the scripture content, an updated version will be used, following the chronological order

compiled by A.T. Robertson D.D., LLD, Litt.D. in A Harmony of the Gospels. Suggested scripture

readings for each wekk will be listed in the post.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts: a part to each soldier, and the tunic also; but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be.” This happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: THEY DIVIDED MY GARMENTS AMONG THEMSELVES, AND THEY CAST LOTS FOR MY CLOTHING.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. John 19:23 & 24 NASB2020 [refers to Psalm 22:18]

The soldiers were just following orders. They had probably crucified many others before Jesus. One

way to become hardened to this task was to de-humanize the condemned one, to create distance mentally

and emotionally. Part of the process was to strip Jesus of His clothing, removing any shred of dignity that

remained. 

     The seamless garment is identified, but what other clothing would have been typical apparel? A brief

internet search identified the usual ensemble included the following (for more information, the link is

below): Kuttoneth (tunic), Simlah/Kesut (cloak/mantle), girdle or belt, leather sandals, and a head

covering. Most of these items, especially the sandals and belt, would have been adjusted in size for the

person wearing them. The tunic and cloak were more loose and flowing, and therefore more useful for

anyone, regardless of size. Our senior pastor identified “chiton” as the specific Greek word used for the

item that was seamless. It was the tunic undergarment, worn next to the skin. Having watched my mother

knit mittens, I know that apparel can be made without seams, but it requires a special technique and

equipment. Clothing in ancient times required a lot of effort to produce, and was highly prized. One lucky

Roman received the garment as a perk of his job.

     The scene of the soldiers gambling at the foot of the cross is actually a beautiful picture of what

Christ’s death obtained for us. He endured death to give us eternal life. He suffered pain to bring us

healing. And He was stripped of His clothing to wrap us in a robe of righteousness. It is ours not by

chance, as the soldiers experienced, but by choice; the choice we make to acknowledge our sin and need

for a Savior, thereby receiving His forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Do we want a Robe of Righteousness?

There is no need to gamble; simply repent, request, receive and rejoice!

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with jewels. Isaiah 61:10 NKJV        

Ancient Israelite Fashion

  

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Cookies Without Sugar; Preparing for Lent

Cookies Without Sugar; Preparing for Lent

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

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Image: Healthy Oatmeal Cookies from The Big Man's World; accessed 10 February 2026

COOKIES WITHOUT SUGAR; PREPARING FOR LENT

     Before I continue with today's post, let me share the link for this recipe. The cookies look so delicious, and you probably have everything in your pantry right now. The cook recommends old fashioned rolled oats, rather than quick cooking oats, but these are easy to find in regular groceries if you check the labels. The recipe does not use refined sugar, eggs, or milk so it is good for people with allergies to those items. It does use peanut butter, so if nut allergies are a concern, sunflower butter can be used. Here's the link:

Big Man's Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Baked Oatmeal can also be made without refined sugar. Banana Baked Oatmeal 2/21/24

     Next week Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday. More traditional Christian denominations usually observe this season before Easter with some form of reflection on the sacrifice Jesus made to redeem us from our sins. Fasting, that is limiting food, can be a part of this practice. Some people avoid sweets or other pleasures. Although my church fellowship is non-denominational, since at least 2021 our leadership has encouraged some observance, possibly fasting, that will increase our time of prayer and focus on our relationship with Christ. In 2021, I decided that rather than to not do something (that is, not eat a meal or avoid sweets, etc) I would do something extra. At that time, my husband Mike had been on hospice status for a little over 2 years. For one hour daily, I spent time writing short devotionals related to chronic illness and care giving. Those essays were eventually developed into the content for the blog posts when A Map Through The Valley was launched in fall 2023.

     Lent culminates in the Passion Week, the week that begins on Palm Sunday and extends through Good Friday and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, many churches will have a special service that focuses on the Seven Words spoken by Jesus from the cross. During this season of Lent, it is my goal for the weekly blog posts to highlight the seven words spoken by others to Jesus on the cross. I am just beginning to write the essays, and it is quite a challenge. The Elders of my church will review what I am writing, so that I remain true to the Word. I hope these posts will provide encouragement as well as food for thought.

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Love Languages

Love Languages

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

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Image: Book Cover The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman 

Love Languages by Gail K. Kachnycz 3 February 2026

     February has arrived! In our culture, there is an emphasis on Valentine's Day, promoting everything from packs of cards for school age friends to romantic get-aways for couples. Although gift giving is one of the methods of expressing love, there are other ways that do not require a purchase. I took the survey in this book by Gary Chapman and learned that my love languages are gifts of service and words of affirmation. Do you know what your love languages are? I found it very helpful to know. In the context of caregiving, knowing the love language for your loved one can really help him or her feel cared for. There may need to be some adjustments. For example, if your loved one's language is physical touch, but the chronic illness is causing pain, touch may need to be modified, such as holding hands instead of embracing with a full hug. Quality time and attention may require extra patience to allow a person with impaired communication to express himself. Your own love language and that of your loved one may be different. It is important to show love in a way that is meaningful for them. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. John 16:27

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RECIPE: McCormick French Toast

RECIPE: McCormick French Toast

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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Image: McCormick French Toast Recipe accessed 21 January 2026

RECIPE: FRENCH TOAST by McCormick Kitchens accessed 21 January 2026

Winter isn’t over! Better keep that French Toast recipe handy. McCormick is a well-known spice company. Their recipe uses the classic vanilla and cinnamon. There are other warm spice combinations you might want to try. How about pumpkin spice? If you are topping the toast with apple compote, perhaps use apple pie spice for a doubly rich flavor. Check out what you have in your cabinet, or the baking section the next time you are in the grocery store. Bon Appetit! 

McCormick Easy French Toast Recipe

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