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Three Crosses, Two Thieves, One Christ.
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“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 answered, 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 deeds; nut this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:39-41 (NAS95)
The Four Gospels of the New Testament never cease to amaze me. They are four accounts of the life of Christ, written by four different authors, from four different perspectives. I must admit sometimes, I wish they’d come out with a gospel that meshed all four together, in-sync, so to speak.
Before we go further, let me point out for those vacationing off the planet that yesterday was Easter Sunday. Now just because it’s Monday doesn’t mean we push aside the cross and march on with no spiritual emphasis until Christmas. Shame on us if we do! There is daily wisdom still emanating from a hill far away and a time long ago.
Go with me to ancient Jerusalem. Look toward the top of Mount Calvary. You see the silhouette of three crosses. There upon those crosses hang two thieves and one Christ. Here is where our Four Gospels teach us some valuable information. All four mention Christ and his two companions. Matthew and Mark record the two criminals hurling insults at Christ. John only mentions them in passing.
Ah, but Luke tell us the rest of the story! In the midst of angry men and violent actions, one criminal rises to defend the Messiah, confessing his own sin and justification of punishment. Do you understand the monumental significance of this passage? Can you grasp the question that looms in the air, waiting to be asked? What happened between the gospels of Matthew and Mark, and then Luke?
What occurred to make an insult-spewing criminal one minute, beg to be remembered in Paradise the next? Was it the look in Christ’s eyes? Was it the way Jesus pleaded with His Father to forgive those around Him? Why did one criminal recognize what the other refused to see?
There is only one answer. They both encountered Christ at the cross, but only one of them took the meeting to heart. Only one recognized his sin and bowed his head willingly before a crucified King. Only one placed his fate in the other’s nail-scarred hands. Only one.
I cannot explain the awesomeness I feel reading this turn of events. It tells me so much about a man and a Messiah. However, there is one point I’d like to leave with you. I offer you this, that each one of us is representative of the thief on His right or the thief on His left. On our best day, we are still sinners, deserving of any punishment God cares to send our way. On His worse day, Jesus begged for our forgiveness and taking our punishment on Himself. On that hill, one chose to believe, the other chose to belittle.
So from one thief to another, which one are you?
Barbara
PS: As to not leave you on a bitter note, please note, that Jesus offered the one who chose wisely, Paradise on that very day. The entire purpose of Calvary was for us to encounter Christ, realize we are loved, forgiven and desired by a Holy God. But it is our choice.
If you are a thief who received Paradise, praise God and continue to celebrate the resurrection power that abides within you! Tell another thief the Good News and share Paradise!
If you are the other one, it is not too late. You are one prayer of confession away from Paradise. Please, please don’t let the sun go down without asking Jesus Christ to come into your life. It is the only request you will ever make of Him, where the answer can never be no!
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