🕇The Other Cross🕇

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? 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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43

As we move through Holy Week: from Palm Sunday and the Triumphal Entry to Maunday Thursday; the eve of the Last Supper, Good Friday; Jesus arrest, trial and crucifixion, culminating on Resurrection Sunday....I decided to share with you something I think on often:  

The other cross.

Three crosses are recorded on the hill.  There may have been more.  But Scripture records two criminals, on either side.

📖 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

I always picture the first on Jesus left;

The criminal who seems to acknowledged who Christ was 

📖 “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 

But he was joining  with the others who were below them jeering, mocking ridiculing...

he wanted....demanded Jesus save them.

📖 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19

There was NO humility, no remorse for the crimes which put him on that cross. 

The man on the second cross, the cross on Jesus's right, clearly understood who Jesus was:

knowing each of them deserved punishment for their crime, but Jesus had no offenses. He defended Jesus.

📖 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.”  

Another statement showing that he knew exactly who Jesus was;

He knew where Jesus was going and asked, not to join Him, but just to be remembered.

📖 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

This man's heart was humble...he did not demand anything of Jesus.

He asked only to be remembered and in that humility He was saved! 

Was he wisked off the cross and up to heaven physically?....no his body still suffered the consequences of his earthy choices. BUT in the moment his body died, I believe his spirit was in heaven. And it was soon...because Jesus said 

📖 "Today...you will be with Me in paradise"!!

The right hand seems to hold importance in scripture, this is why I picture this man on Jesus's right;

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. 

📖 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."Matthrw 26:64

When He tells the parable of the sheep and goats.

📖 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Matthew 25:32-33

📖 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Both men, the one on the right and the one on the left, could have had the same experience, but they didn't have the same condition of the heart.

What about us?  What do we sound like with Jesus?

Do we demand He fix things?  Make things better? How WE want them to be? Be angry at Him for the condition of our heart and the consequences of our choices?

Or do we humbly seek His presence and praise Him for who He is, honor His sacrifice and submit ourselves to Him?

📖“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven Matthew 7:21

We can acknowledge Christ, say we are a believer...but if we have nothing to show for it...our fruits are not of God....aren't we just like that man on the left?

When we complain, grumble, mock others we are doing the same to Christ.

If we claim to be a Christian...then we MUST behave like one.  In our actions and our words and our heart!

Having faith must LOOK like it...trust, perseverance, patience.

Look like the faith on "the other cross"

📖  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26

Christ sees our hearts...knows us intimately, 

What does He require of us...

📖 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8

If we are walking humbly in step with our Lord and Savior....we shall be with Him in paradise when our day comes!

🙏My prayer for you today is that you not only walk with Him humbly through this Holy Week, but that it is your life long journey.💗