Luke 23
Luke 23:
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Stop for a moment, if you would, and consider this question. Why 3 crosses? Why would God allow the spectacle of his Son’s death, the greatest event in recorded history, to take place between the crosses of 2 other men? Why was Jesus Christ not lifted up alone as He suffered? Given the innocence of His soul, the uniqueness of His life, and the Holy paternity of Jesus, why would God will it that He be crucified with 2 men who (unlike Jesus) were guilty and deserving of their punishment according to the law? The answer to these questions can be found in the scriptural account of what took place between Christ and these 2 convicts on that mountain outside Jerusalem some 2000 years ago.
For the sake of argument, let us take Christ at His word (according to first-hand accounts given in the Scriptures by men who walked, talked, ate, and worked with Him) and accept that His death was the only means by which every person’s sentence of eternal death could be transformed into eternal life. This alone does not explain the need or reason for the 2 (and only 2) other men crucified alongside Christ. Even if we accept that salvation was accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross and forever sealed by his resurrection 3 days later, we are still left with the 2 men that fate (God) saw fit to place on either side of Christ. The fact that there were 2 convicts serving their sentences alongside Christ indicates dichotomy, an either-or situation; a “crossroads”, if you will. Aside from the number 2, additional clues that we have in regard to the significance of these 2 convicts are found in the similarities and distinctions that are drawn between these 2 men in the Scriptures (John 19; Luke 23, Mark 15, Matthew 27).
Similarities
- They were both condemned to death.
- They were both deserving (guilty as charged) of their sentence.
- They were both aware of who Christ claimed to be and were witnesses to his suffering and death. They both participated with the crowd in mocking and rejecting Christ.
Differences
- They were not together on 1 side, behind, or in front of Christ, but 1 on either side with Christ in the middle. (As described by in the above accounts.)
- Only 1 accepted his punishment as just. (Mark 15)
- Only 1 believed Christ’s punishment as unjust. (Mark 15)
- Only 1 repented of his part in the mocking and rejection of Christ and voiced this change of heart to Christ by believing Christ was who He said he was (God’s son, the Messiah ) and requesting that Christ (as God’s Son) grant him forgiveness and a place in heaven (Christs’ future kingdom). (Mark 15)
It is important that we understand that we, as human beings, share in the above similarities. The Scriptures clearly state this:
- Condemnation: And it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27); for the wages of sin is death…(Romans 6:23);
- Guilt: …they are all under sin; As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. (Romans 3:9,10); …and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
- The Cause of Christ’s Suffering and Death: But he was wounded for our transgressions (crimes), he was bruised for our iniquities (sins): the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we hare healed. (Isaiah 5:10); Jesus our Lord…Who was delivered for our offences (crimes) and raised again for our justification (pardon). (Romans 5:25).
The other important information that we have in regard to identifying who (and / or what) these 2 convicts symbolize is found in the Scriptural accounts of God’s position on man’s fate in the next life. Interestingly enough, the Scriptures clearly show that God describes only 2 fates for human beings in the next life
1. Eternal Damnation:
…and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth (stays) on him. (John 3:36)
…this is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
Then shall he say unto them on the left hand (refers to those at the judgment who Christ does not recognize as His own), Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment. (Matthew 23:41, 46)
…he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)
2. Eternal Salvation:
Verily, verily (Truly, truly) I say unto you, he that believeth on me shall have everlasting life. (John 6:47)
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn (damn) the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17,18)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…And the city had no need of the sun, nether of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb (Jesus) is the light thereof…And there shall in no wise enter anything that defileth(pollutes)…but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:1, 23, 27)
According to the facts we’ve encountered, reasoning and understanding allow us to draw these conclusions about who and what the 2 convicts represent:
There are only 2 kinds of people in this world.
There is only 1 meaningful difference between these 2 kinds of people, and that difference is where they stand in relationship to Christ and his death and resurrection.
There are only 2 positions that one can hold in regard to Christ and those 2 positions correspond to the 2 fates that await every person in the next life.
Eternal Salvation – Represented by the convict who:
- Accepted his guilt and turned his heart from disbelief to faith
- Confessed this change of heart in his own words and professed his belief directly to Jesus by asking to partake of the salvation Christ offered.
Eternal Damnation – Represented by the convict who:
- Refused to be penitent and contrite concerning his state
- Refused to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the 1 and only source of redemption.
If we accept the metaphor shown by the 3 crosses, we arrive at a very personal and difficult question…
Which of these 2 convicts am I?
As human beings we, like the 2 convicts, hang upon the cross of mortality with a choice to make; the time we have been given to make this choice grows shorter with every hour, every minute, every second. Having heard the story of Jesus and knowing who (God’s Son) and what (the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world) He claimed to be, we must choose to receive or reject, accept or deny, to look upon Him with a heart of faith or to harden our hearts in disbelief. Choosing not to decide is still making a choice, a choice that we are only given so long to make. Would you follow the penitent convict’s example and admit your condition as a sinner in need of a savior? Would you believe upon the name of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, and would you confess your need and profess your faith to Him in your own words? If you will, He has promised to receive you and to speak for you before the Father at the last day – a promise He earned the right to offer and keep with His own life and blood, and with His resurrection. Will you not ask of Him? Can you not trust in Him? If not Him, then who? If not now, then when?
Consider these words, spoken by Jesus himself and recorded in the Scriptures by His disciple John (Chapters 6 & 14):
…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Pilate sayeth unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? (Matthew 27:22)This question that Pilate voiced in the judgment hall 2000 years ago rings out across the centuries that have passed. We each must answer for ourselves. What will you do with Jesus Christ?
If you would come to Him, simply follow the example of the penitent convict –
Confess your guilt before God and your need of a savior; believe with your heart that Jesus was who He said He was, and that He alone can provide salvation based on His blood shed for your transgressions, His having been crucified for your sins and raised for your justification.
Call to Christ (through prayer in your own words) your need and your desire to be pardoned through His sacrifice on the cross; voice to him your faith that He (through His resurrection) has the power to save and keep your immortal soul.
Remember, He has promised that He will receive all who choose to come to Him.
wisdomspout 