Thief On The Cross

The Crucifixion

Jesus had been unjustly tried and convicted of blasphemy. He was sentenced to scourging and crucifixion. He had done nothing wrong. He was without sin. However they illegally tried him and through a mob mentality convinced Pilot to crucify him. He was strategically placed between two known criminals. Though the Romans were trying to further mock Jesus claim to be the King of the Jews by putting him between two criminals, they were fulfilling the prophesy of Isaiah

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[a] and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[b] because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Though the Romans were trying to further mock Jesus claim to be the King of the Jews by putting him between two criminals, they were fulfilling the prophesy of Isaiah

The soldiers were casting lots for Jesus clothing

The Soldiers had no regard for who Jesus was. They were only interested in what they could get from him. Outer garments were hard to come by and rather than tearing it into pieces they cast lots to see who would receive it. The soldiers were ruthless men that didn’t believe they needed a savior. They were sold out to Rome and dominated everyone that stood in opposition of Rome. They saw the Jews as a weak nation with a weak God. This is why we see them mocking Jesus.

There are people today that mock Jesus. They view Christians as weak people that use religion as a crutch. They don’t need Jesus or church in their lives. They just live their lives the way they want to. Often times they take what they want with no regard for others.

The people stood by looking on.

These were general observers watching what was happening they did not want to get involved with what was going on, but just observed. They probably went home and talked about how terrible it was that a man was treated that way. They did nothing to help Jesus or stop others from abusing him. They simply observed in silence.

There are people today that see terrible things happen and do nothing about it. When we see families breaking up in our community we just say that it is a shame. When we see alcoholism and drugs in our backyards we turn a blind eye as if nothing is happening for fear of retribution. We see kids neglected by parents and say what we would do but do nothing about it. Folks this is not what Christianity is about. We have a God that expects us to make a difference. We are to be the light of the world. We are to shine the light of God into the darkness of the world. We do not hide our light under a basket!

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We must be a people of prayer and action!

The rulers were sneering at Him

The rulers were the ones who illegally tried Jesus. They had witnessed him do the miracles to save people. They referenced it in their comments. “He saved others; let Him save himself.” I find this puzzling in that they were witnesses to the miracles of Jesus but did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. They wanted to see one more miracle. They wanted to see Jesus come down off of the cross. Praise God He didn’t.

Can’t we get like that sometimes in our lives. God has been so good to us so may times and yet we want just one more miracle. I’m sure we are all alike in that we have been in situations beyond our control. We don’t know what to do so we turn to God. He hears our prayers and answers. Then something else comes into our lives and we question God!

Folks we must believe that we serve a god that is bigger than us! We must believe in a God that spoke the universe into existence. We must believe in a God that has defeated sin and brought salvation. We must believe n a God where all things are possible.

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let’s not sneer at Jesus, but have faith in him instead!

The Criminal was hurling insults at Him

One of the criminals was suffering for the things he had done. In his pain he was lashing out toward Jesus. He was telling Jesus if you are who you say you are then stop the pain that I am in. This was a man who lived a difficult life and was paying the penalty for the decisions he had made. He wasn’t remorseful for what he had done, he just wanted to get out of the punishment.

There are people today that are hurting for very legitimate reasons. They perhaps have had personal tragedy in their life. Or maybe they were taken advantage of and lost everything they owned. Or maybe they have a sick family member that has not been made well. They are angry and they project their anger on God. God loves you and has not done this to you!

Forgive Them

With all this going on, Jesus utters the words “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” The word forgive hear is aphiemi which means to leave alone. Jesus was asking the Father to not bring judgement and harm to those that were doing this to him. He was telling the Father to leave the people alone because they did not know what they were doing.

This reality dawned on me. Jesus earthly mother stood and watched the murder of her son on a cross and she could do nothing about it. However Jesus Father stood by and watched his Son be murdered. A Fathers heart is to protect their child. Can you imagine what God the Father could have done had Jesus not uttered those words! Instead God in his righteousness who must punish sin channeled all that wrath on His son.

How do we know this? Because the next way Jesus refers to his Father “God”. He says “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” This is the only time in Scripture he calls God “God”. Every other time he refers to him as Father.

Jesus is willing to take the punishment for all those that have been fore-mentioned. He is also taking the punishment for the sins of all who are willing to place their faith and trust in Him as Savior.

Because God is holy he must judge sin. That judgement was placed on his only begotten son.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus is taking our sin upon himself, so we can be reconciled to the Father.

The Thief On the Cross

The thief is so moved by what he has observed that it instantly changes his life. We see the other criminal hurling insults at Jesus. But the other criminal rebukes him. Listen to what he says. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

These words are chilling. He ask the other criminal if he feared God. This is a sobering question. Many of the sins and mistakes we make are because we do not fear God. This thief recognizes that his life is about to end and he comes to the realization that there is a God and he is about to meet Him. This sparks instant fear because he knows that his life has been one of utter sin. How do we know this? He says we are justly being punished for what they have done. That they are getting what they deserve.

The only innocent man on that crucifixion hill is the one who is being abused and mocked. Yet He is the only one who says “forgive them”! This includes the criminal on the cross. How can a innocent man endure so much and still say forgive them. This criminal recognized Jesus as the Son of God. How do we know?

Because he said “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He knew that his only hope for eternal life was Jesus. His entire life was a waste and he just now recognizes it. He places his faith in the mercy and grace that he heard Jesus utter while on the cross.

I believe that we also have to come to this point in our own lives. We must realize that our hope for eternal life is empty apart from Jesus. We must hear and understand the same message the criminal on the cross heard. We must come to the realization that we are a sinner. We must believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Their is no other hope for eternal life apart from what Christ has done.

All of us will face God one day. Let us heed teh question that was asked by the thief on the cross. Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

Maybe your here today and you have never recieved what Jesus offers. Salvation can be yours today!

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