Thieves on Crosses

Luke 23:39-43 “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘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.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Two men hung on crosses, one on either side of Jesus. Thieves. Criminals. Men who were sentenced to die a horrible death. They were being punished justly, getting what their deeds deserved.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” These men hung where each one of us belong. “For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).” We have all sinned, and so we deserve to die.

What was different about this day’s crucifixions from all the thousands of other days was that this time Jesus was there. And because he was there, for the first time mankind was given a choice. One thief chose to accept Jesus, and the other chose to reject him. One chose hope and eternal life, and the other chose destruction.

The same choice is ours today. We have been given these two thieves as our examples, and we get to choose the one whose fate we will share.

Have you accepted Jesus? Have you come to him, acknowledging that your sins deserve a death sentence, but believing that he alone can give you eternal life with him? Let your choice be life, and he will give it to you abundantly.

Brenda