Most of the time when we think of the cross of Calvary, we are pretty much focused on the cross that held Jesus. However, there wasn’t just one cross that day, not only a solitary death by crucifixion. I have always wondered why there were two other crosses next to Jesus on the hill called Golgotha that day? I missed the reason that Jesus was placed in the center, between two thieves sentenced to death for their crimes against society.
Well, didn’t miss it physically, but as I was reading through Luke 23:32-43 I wondered if there was a significant reason for the 2 extra crosses, one on each side. As I read, God showed me a different meaning.
In verse 39, "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ’aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’" Hanging between the earth and the sky, with insults flying from the passers by, even one of the men being crucified with Him is hurling insults in his direction. Have you ever been amazed at the depths to which human beings can sink?
This is the cross of rebellion!
The dude on the cross next to Jesus refused to acknowledge who Jesus truly was. He didn’t say, “hey Jesus, I believe in you and who you are, save all of us.” If he did, well, you can probably imagine what would have happened…but he didn’t.
Jesus said in John 8:24 "If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." Guess what, that dude probably died in his rebellious sins.
On the other cross, there isn’t any reason to believe that this guy was any better a person than the thief that hung on the opposite side of Jesus. Actually, according to Mathew they were both yelling insults at Jesus. It was about that time that Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
After that, the thief on the other cross changed his mind and responded, "’Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ’since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ’Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’"
This is the cross of repentance. While the first criminal died in his sin, the second criminal died to his sin. Based on Jesus response to this man, the dark past of this criminal was forgiven. "Jesus answered him, ’I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’"
You know, it is easy to get confused about what it is that gives us an opportunity for a relationship with God. Sometimes we give in to the thought that if only we can keep our nose clean and be good boys and girls, God will love us. Other times we hope that our family connections will endear us to God. "Grandpa was a preacher so I hope to get into heaven," is a very common way of thinking. At times probably all of us fall into the trap of believing that by doing good things God will take notice of us and let us into heaven.
But….
The criminal on the cross of repentance reminds us that it’s not who we are or what we’ve been like that gets us into heaven. We are given passage into heaven based on how we are related to Jesus Christ the Son of God. No other standard is applied. Trust in Jesus and you get to go to heaven. Reject or ignore him, and the wrath of God remains on you. That’s it, plain and simple!
Even though, most of this writing was about the cross on the left and the right, don’t forget the cross in the middle. While the one cross is the cross of rebellion and the other the cross of repentance, it is the cross of Jesus that is the cross of redemption.
In John 10:17-18 Jesus said, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again."
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
2 Corinthians. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Are you among those who can identify with the cross of rejection? Maybe you’ve never been openly belligerent toward Jesus, but you have never submitted to His Lordship. The cost of facing death without a relationship with Jesus Christ is dreadful.
My inside job for this writing is, which response to Jesus have you chosen….. rejection or repentance.
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