Journey with me if you will to the Spring of AD 29. The day started early. It was about half past six on Friday morning. The purple robe was ripped off Jesus’ badly beaten body and a crown of thorns was placed on his head. He was clothed again with his own blood-stained, garment and led to the execution. The procession reached Golgotha around 9.00 AM. The terrible preparations were being made. The hammer, the nails and the pieces of the cross lay around ready to be used to crucify an
innocent man - the King of Kings.
Crucifixion was invented to make death as painful and lingering as human endurance could withstand. Jesus was stripped again except for a piece of fabric that was left for human decency. He was made to lie down on the cross as the soldiers drove nails through his palms and feet. He probably screamed out loudly in pain as the giant nails tore through his flesh but in the same breath he said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
It was the same kind of prayer he taught his disciples and us to pray when people hurt us “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
The cross was then lifted up and dropped into the ground and tamped around to stay firm and upright. It could not have been very high off the ground. It was low enough for the soldiers to break the legs of those who did not die quickly enough. Hanging low, Jesus’ sacred lips were within reach of the moistened sponge and spear that pierced his side. It was a merciful Jewish practice by the women of the city to give to the crucified victims a shot or two of strong wine mixed with myrrh to deaden their consciousness and help them cope with the excruciating pain. Jesus was thirsty but having tasted the liquid, he would not drink it.
Jesus’ cross was placed between the two thieves who were crucified with Him. Only one more thing remained. The plaque with title had to be affixed to the cross. It was customary to place a plaque on the cross which in essence was a short summary of the reason for the crucifixion. Pilate stated the reason. It said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The chief priests insisted do not write “The King of the Jews” but that he said, “I am King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” Even though the title was meant to ridicule Jesus rather than to compliment him, the wisdom of men was foolishness before God and they could not change the fact that He was born a King, He died as a King and will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
What about you my friends? Is he just the King of the Jews or is he the King and Savior of your life?
A lot of people walked past the cross that cruel afternoon and read the accusation on the plaque. They laughed, some spit and some cried out, “if he is the Christ, then let him save himself and come down from the cross.” The two thieves on either side of Jesus had comments too. The first thief said “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” All the thief wanted was to be saved from was the cross. He never thought beyond the things of this life. He was physically close to God but miles away in his heart. He was a man without any faith or religion. Most people in the world are like that. They seek to gain the world and in doing that lose their precious soul. They know of Jesus but do not know him as their personal Savior. Once in a while when they are up against the wall, they might call out for help. They call without expecting a miracle. They even place doubt on their requests when they say, Jesus, if you claim to be who you are, then prove yourself to me!
Dear ones, we must be careful and reverent when speaking with our creator. We are not even worthy to stand in his presence let alone cut deals with him. Sometimes we try to make him equal with us and sometimes even lower than us.
But the second thief had a completely different attitude. I wish we were all like him. He never asked to be delivered from the cross. He was willing to bear it and suffer. I believe we must be willing to bear our own cross and suffer as well if necessary. Instead of saying “if” you are God, he said “Lord” remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus hadn’t accomplished his atoning work as yet; but with his resurrection, he was going to open the doors of the Kingdom to broken and messed up people like the thief and us.
Think about this - The second thief did not want to come down from the cross and go back into the world to experience more of the same. He wasn’t thinking of this temporary earthly life. He wasn’t confused either by all the blasphemers that walked by and spit at Jesus and mocked his credibility. He heard his friend on the other side talk down to Jesus. He saw Jesus in a helpless position bleeding and dying on the cross. But with the eyes of faith he was able to filter through the lies and see the Kingdom that was coming. I am sure he read the plaque on the cross as well and believed that Jesus was a King. Do you have that faith my friends? Even when things are not going your way, can you fully trust Jesus to save you?
Unfortunately, like then and more so now, there are many people who walk past God and the message of the cross. We will always find people around us who will criticize our faith. Even those who are close to you may not help affirm your belief but as the writer of Hebrews says “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” More than coming down from the cross the second thief wanted to be with Jesus in paradise.
I wonder if that is how you feel today despite your difficulties in this life. It is quite possible that you are going through hell right now but victory comes only when we put our trust in the King of Kings. Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you need fear no evil, because God is with you. Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life when you trust him fully. We are to come into his presence with the simple plea “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
The two thieves never had to carry their cross but Jesus did. He did not have to do it either but he did it because he loved us. It was not just the cross that he carried that day but also the weight of your sins and mine. He carried them willingly and allowed himself to be crucified for us. And today, like the thieves, we too have the ability to make choices. We can be seemingly close to him but it does not mean that our hearts are close to his. We can focus on the struggles of this world and its successes and use God when we need him or we can push these aside and yearn to be a part of his eternal Kingdom. What we say to our God and what we ask him for is what we will get.
Friends, the second thief encourages us to come to God today with an attitude of repentance and faith- not desiring for any earthly blessing or anything other than to be in his eternal presence. If we do that with a simple child like faith, “I assure you that one day, we too will be with him in paradise forever.” Amen.
