Which Thief Are You?

(Luke 23:39-43)

When pondering the Cross and that Good Friday scene, did you ever pause to wonder why God allowed His Son to be publically displayed not alone (for greater attention perhaps?) but with two others...common criminals? Do you think it was an accident, or could there have been some design--a plan? I don't pretend to know the answer unequivocally, so just consider it a question that can be asked, and an answer in search of meaning.

On that day,  it says,  that "one of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, saying, 'Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!'. But, said, the other, 'Don’t you fear God,'...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.'"

So, a portrait of two men whose lives were about to end. And two men faced with a choice for their last day on earth. And that choice is the choice of EVERY man or woman, and is the choice that will ultimately seal our destiny.

It's easy to understand how the one man could spit out insults. After all, he was about to die, and certainly if Jesus were truly the Messiah, he could save both of them this agonizing death. But he didn't appear interested in saving anyone that day, least of all himself, and this galled the man, and he was left in the end only with insults and derision--the natural consequences of the choices that led him there that day.

The other man was just as guilty as the first, and in just as much pain. But he chose "wisely" and, despite what appeared to be a man hanging there in weakness and defeat, he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

"Your kingdom"? What a surprising statement! What person there that day could have said as much? Even His own disciples had to be in some doubt. But somehow this man saw more, and made the good choice that sealed his fate, and to whom Jesus turned and said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

So, which thief are you? Where have you cast your lot? What have you done with the Man hung for you?

To me, this is the choice of every man, of every one who stands at the foot of the Cross...or, rather, who hangs on either side of the Man who knew no sin. You see, we cannot just be onlookers. No, God took care of that.We are not just part of the crowd.

We cannot walk away from our own mortality. We will all face death one day; and, in facing it, will live in eternity with one of the two choices made that day. Do we doubt and curse, or hope beyond hope in the one who, though not saving himself, could still save us?