As I read the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. I noticed that the two thieves that were crucified with Jesus are similar to the people of the world.
The two things that those thieves had, as they were hanging on the cross were, 1. They were criminals 2. They were going to die.
How are these two things similar to people in the world today? 1. We are all criminals in God’s world because of our sins. 2. We are also going to die one day too, it doesn’t matter who we are.
The only One that was different from the two criminals on the cross was Jesus. He committed no crime, He had no sin and yet he was on the cross being crucified to die as well.
How was Jesus sinless? He was the Son of God that came down from Heaven, born as a man through the Virgin Mary, to do the Heavenly Father’s will, which was and still is, that anyone who believes in the Son will not perish, but have Everlasting Life.
What do we believe Jesus for? We believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. He was the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God that was offered up for our sins.
Now going back to the criminals, that were being crucified with Jesus. They both were on the cross because they have committed crimes and we, also are criminals because we have sins. The price of sin, in God’s Law is death. Meaning, the soul that sins will die. So we all are like those two criminals, we have sins and we are going to die. But, there is also God’s Love and Mercy there as well, hanging there for us to receive and be able to escape death and punishment for our sins.
This part here is the critical part for the criminals. How each one responds to God concerning their sins will determine their Eternity.
First criminal, hanging on the cross because of his crimes, insulted Jesus, mocked him, arrogant about his sins, unrepentance, blaming God for his own problems.
The Second thief, acknowledges his crimes, humbled about his sins, rebukes the criminal that had the same crime as he did and humbly asks Jesus to forgive him and take him to Heaven as well. Jesus hanging on the cross, never responded to the first criminal. However, to the second criminal, He responded and promised him, that today he will be with him in Heaven.
Similarly, we criminals (sinners) are going to die one day and how we respond to God with our sins will determine our Eternity.
Will you respond like the first thief on the cross, who was arrogant of his sins, insulting God and even blaming God for his predicament?
Or, will you respond like the second thief, who humbled himself before God, acknowledged his sins and asked for forgiveness and a place in Heaven?
As we see in the story, the second criminal was the one that Jesus responded to and promised him a place in Heaven.
I pray that you will see that God loves you and He does not want you to perish. That is why he sent his Son Jesus, to forgive you of your sins, if you believe in him.
Even as we celebrate Easter or Resurrection Sunday. This is not just a reminder that Christ rose from the grave on the third day, but that we too, who have believed in him, will also be resurrected to him, when he returns again on the clouds of Heaven with his Mighty Angels.