AT CALVARY: PARABLE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE
TEXT: LUKE 23: 33-43; JOHN 19: 28-31
Some anointed words, unparalleled in the history of man, flowed out on Mt. Calvary on that day preceding the Jewish Sabbath which happened to also be a special Sabbath, being the Passover. Those words transfigured that day from being a “Bad and Dark Friday” to a “Good Friday.” They proceeded from the bruised and weakened, loving lips of no one else but the suffering-redeemer Jesus, nailed on the cross.
Suffice us to dwell today on just one of the “Saving Words” from this great Redeemer and Friend. Read with me Lk. 23: 39-43: 39One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." 42And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" 43Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."
It was really a “bad Friday” as insults upon insults, injury upon injuries was inflicted on that “Lamb of God” as he hung on the cross. It was not the nails that held him there on the cross. Nay, it was not the nails. Neither was it “weakness and helplessness,” that held him on the cross. It was not those arrows of “Killing words” fired at him by the leading priests and religious leaders. Neither was it Pilate’s order to crucify him, as carried out by the soldiers. Nay, it was none of those. It was LOVE. It was E.L.W.A. – Eternal Love Winning All.
Thank God for those “Saving words” from “that man of Calvary” that transfigured that day from a “Bad and Dark Friday” into a “Good Friday.” Look at the ‘Calvary Scene’ again. What do you see? Three crosses!? Three crosses with three people nailed thereon, one on each cross? Three pairs of hands outstretched? What a parable! Beyond this scene is the “Parable of the Great Divide.”
The parable of the great divide: 1. the middle cross and the other two crosses. 2. the middle cross and the cross to its left and right.
1. The middle cross and the other two crosses. To the casual passerby, on each of the crosses hang “criminals.” But nay! On the two crosses hang real criminals. On the middle cross hangs “he that was numbered among criminals.” Is.53: 9, 12. To the leading priests and religious leaders, they got rid of those rebels at last. But nay! On the two crosses hang the rebels; on the middle cross hangs the “ransom” for mankind. Look at that cross at the middle again. Notice the inscription: “JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Notice the crown of thorns - put on him by the soldiers to mock him. Take another look at that middle cross again. It was the centre of attraction and rejection on that “Good Friday.” It has remained a centre of attraction and rejection till date. It will ever remain both a centre of attraction and rejection till the resurrected LORD returns. So, it was both a centre of attraction and rejection to the two thieves crucified with him - one on his left side, and the other on his right. So it was also for all those present at the crucifixion. That is “The Great Divide.” – The cross at the centre! Are you attracted?
2. The middle cross and the cross to its left and right. While on the cross, Jesus’ hands were outstretched, perhaps, symbolically to the crosses by his left and right. The two thieves symbolically may represent the world – condemned sinners. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! The two thieves may also symbolically represent i) the Jews, and ii) the rest of the world – the Gentiles. Note that both thieves ridiculed Jesus initially with the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders, Mt. 27:41-44, 44Even the bandits who had been crucified with him insulted him in the same way. But, with further exposure and interaction with that middle cross, the Great Divide took place: the thief on Jesus’ left side kept to his self-righteousness; the thief on Jesus’ right side was attracted and broken in repentance. Read Lk. 23: 39-43 again (see above).
Let’s ponder on the steps the repentant thief took in response to him being attracted, by the cross, to Jesus. a) He rebuked his fellow convict for his hardened heart and failure to be attracted to that middle cross, v. 40. b) He confessed his sin and being condemned rightly, v.41.”Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." c) He acknowledged and confessed that Jesus was innocent of any sin talk less of being crucified, v.41. d) He made a model prayer, v.32. e) He displayed a transforming faith in Jesus, v.42. f) He recognised Jesus as a King, v.42. g) His penitent prayer received such an immediate answer from the Saviour, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me." v. 43.
What a “Saving Words!” “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Has any man ever spoken so authoritatively and prophetically! Marvel of all marvels! Good coming out of a bad situation! The cross brought us forgiveness. Then it brought us salvation. Thank God for those “Saving Words” from Jesus on the cross.
Ponder on that “Great Divide” again. Two condemned sinners were exposed to it. One rejected it; the other was attracted by it and he responded to it in faith. Check up on their fate: they both came with the same fate to the place of the skull called Golgotha or Calvary, condemned. Check up on their fear: one kept pointing accusing finger rather than feeling guilty of his deeds; the other feared God, and, rather than point accusing finger, acknowledged and confessed his sins. Check up on their faith: one demonstrated a scornful and hardened heart; the other modelled a repentant and believing faith in the Saviour. Check up on their future: one got no response to his scoffing from Jesus. His scoffing led him to hell; the other got a reassuring bright future from Jesus. Just like that, he became the first recipient of salvation through the cross!
The two thieves were nailed to cross. One died, and in hell he ended. One died, and in paradise he ended. That is the “Great Divide” that the cross brings – that old rugged cross! What is your response to the cross? Have you been attracted to it? It is one thing the world had found difficult to ignore because it remains the “Great Divide.” You dear not scorn it. Let your heart be attracted to it today.
O HAPPY DAY
1. O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
Refrain
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed
my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed
my sins away.
2. O happy bond, that seals my vows
To Him Who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.
3. ’Tis done: the great transaction’s done!
I am the Lord’s and He is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on;
Charmed to confess the voice divine.
4. Now rest, my long divided heart,
Fixed on this blissful center, rest.
Here have I found a nobler part;
Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.
5. High heaven, that heard the solemn vow,
That vow renewed shall daily hear,
Till in life’s latest hour I bow
And bless in death a bond so dear.
REDEEMED
1. Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
Refrain
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
2. Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
3. I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
4. I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
