Three Men on The Cross: The proud, the humble, the Blameless
Three on the cross
There were two straight-up, flat-out, bona fide sinners on either side of Jesus that great and terrible day.
The mocking man
The first man mocked Jesus saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!” Luke 23:39
He didn’t care for Jesus, showed no remorse. Maybe he just wanted out of his bad situation and didn’t really believe Jesus could save him anyways. (This man represents a huge chunk of us.)
The humble man
The second man recognized that he deserved this punishment of death, saying, “We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong. And he’s getting the same punishment as us.” Luke 23:41
In one last sentence, the second man confessed his short falls and sins, recognized Jesus is Lord of all, the pure and spotless Lamb of God. He didn’t jump through a single religious hoop or appeasement. He didn’t do any good thing to earn his way. Nope.
He just turned to Jesus, a Man beaten beyond resemblance of human, a Man about to die any second. And showing great faith in what’s to come, he said, “Please remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:39-43
He asked a dying Man to remember him when He came into power. That’s faith.
The Innocent Man
This is the most comforting story in the Bible to me. That even in someone’s last breath, they can come to faith!
I can’t read this story and not cry. It destroys all religiosity. It makes it all about our faith through God’s grace that saves us. Because look and see!
Here’s how Jesus replies to a murderer hanging next to him: “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
After Jesus died and was buried in a tomb, He rose from the dead in three days. He conquered death and hell and eternity without any of the goodness of God.
Proof of God’s Redeeming Love
Jesus giving up his life for the ones he loves… even when they were angry and hateful… that is more than enough evidence of God’s true merciful heart and goodness towards us.
You’re always welcome to press hard and research and interview experts and find out what’s really true. Lee Strobel did just that and was shocked at what he discovered. He eventually wrote A Case for Christ with his findings when his initial goal was to try to debunk Jesus. The movie about his story was quite good.
The sheer number of ancient prophecies that Jesus fulfilled about the Messiah is a total wonder. This article by Jonathan Bernis of Fellowship of Israel does an amazing job at introducing some of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled and explaining the unimaginable mathematical probability of one man fulfilling just 8 of them… but Jesus fulfilled them ALL. It’s staggering and jaw-dropping!
There are also countless testimonies of Jesus healing people to this day. Some modern miracles are documented in the film, I am Living Proof. It’s powerful to see the transformation, healing, hope, and freedom Jesus can bring in just one encounter!
I too am living proof of God’s saving grace, healing power, and unconditional love. I know I wouldn’t still be here if it weren’t for Jesus.
The Holy Invitation
Jesus invites you to turn to Him today. Turn to Him like the second man on the cross, with simple faith. That man acknowledged that he earned the punishment of death and he also recognized Jesus was full of grace and asked Jesus to remember him. And by this one move towards God with his last sentence, that man was assured by Jesus that he’d be with him that very day in paradise.
I’ve lost enough loved ones to know that we never know when our last breath will be. We never know when a conversation might be our last on earth. Make the most of your days. Life’s too short to live anymore of it without Jesus by your side.
If you need Jesus to wash you clean and set you free, ask Him this very day, this very moment.
The prayer that makes you clean:
Jesus. Forgive me. I have fallen short and messed it up.
Today, I surrender my own control over my life, and I need you to be Lord of my life. You call the shots now.
I believe that you took my place on the cross, died, and then conquered death, raised to life on the 3rd day.
So now I also die to myself and my sinful ways. And I trust you to raise me to new life, to be a new creation, to make me clean.
Jesus, you are Lord! You’re the pure and spotless Lamb of God. You’re the One who loves me unconditionally.
If you have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life today and asked Him to make you clean, let someone know. Seek out people who can walk with you and help you learn more about Jesus.
Salvation isn’t just a one-off event of surrendering your life to Christ. It’s a lifetime of the ups and downs of walking with Christ, surrendering over and over as we fall more in love with Him.
May Peace Himself be with you today and always.
