 This Sunday I will be preaching on the cross. Alister McGrath made this observation about the cross, "the cross is a lens through which we know God, ourselves and the world". When a person honestly considers the cross and what happened there he is driven to a decision. Either what happened at the cross was a divine act prompted by God or it was a terrible accident. The response of the two criminals on the crosses beside Jesus illustrate this in a powerful way.
One thief was not convinced. He saw Jesus as he saw himself, a loser, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing divine here, so he just joined in the chorus of hate filled screams. He went with the crowd and in the process loss his own soul in a Christless eternity. The other thief was different. He saw something in Christ that moved him to compassion and humility. There is no doubt in my mind that the Spirit of God was leading this man to an understanding of Jesus as Lord. He even calls Jesus Lord at one point. What was the difference? These two men,who had so much in common, arrived at totally different conclusions about Christ. Their response to the work of God meant the difference between heaven and hell. Which side of the cross are you on? 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. |
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