A lesson from the crucifixion of Jesus
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? 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, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43.
The above passage of scripture is Luke’s account of a conversation that went on between the two men who were crucified with Jesus and Jesus.
We see in those two criminals the choice every man and woman upon hearing about Jesus must make.
One man doubting that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah said to him if you are the Christ, “Save yourself and us!” in other words prove it by getting yourself and us down from these crosses.
This man wanted tangible proof that Jesus was who he claimed to be. He was thinking in terms of this life. Asking to escape death by Jesus getting them off the cross. This in this man’s mind would prove Jesus was the Messiah.
What this man didn’t realize that accepting Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ is an act of faith which the other criminal did.
The other criminal said,
“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.’”
This man did what all people everywhere must do. He accepted by faith that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. He then confessed his sins. Admitting he was “getting what his deeds deserved”.
Then he asked Jesus to simply “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
To which Jesus replied
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In other words that man had his sins forgiven and got into heaven.
This is the message Christians everywhere want the world to hear.
The apostle Paul writes,
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Sin is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. We all sin. We all fall short of God’s what God wants us to be. Thus the need to ask God’s forgiveness and help in living a life that is as close to what he wants for you as is humanly possible.
Will you confess your sins directly to God today and accept Christ into you life?
Please think about it.
