The Two Criminals

Two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on His right and one on His left. One cried out with a bitter heart, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (Lk. 23:39b KJV) This bitter man ignored his own sin and challenged Jesus. He also ignored and rejected the sinless nature of Christ—placing himself outside of God’s blessing.

The second criminal responded differently. He said to his fellow criminal, “Do you not even fear God . . . we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (Lk. 23:40b,41b NKJV) This man understood and acknowledged his personal guilt—and he recognized the sinless nature of Jesus. Because the man understood, he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (v. 42 NKJV)

Everyone who hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ must respond the way one of these two criminals responded. We either reject or accept Christ and His righteousness. If we accept Jesus, we accept His ability to save us when we cannot save ourselves. Jesus said to the repentant criminal, “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (v. 43b NKJV)

Originally published March 22, 1991.
Picture: Cross on Cathedral spire, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

He Removed the Barrier

The veil was an important part of the temple, more than a simple furnishing. It divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies; it identified the difference between coming to God as opposed to coming into God’s Presence. As a barrier, the temple veil kept Old Testament priests from approaching God’s Presence carelessly. And as long as the veil remained, the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest. . . . (Heb. 9:8)

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn down the middle, from top to bottom. . . .(Mt. 27:51 NKJV)

Interesting. A tear in the veil from bottom to top would have indicated that men had begun the tear, but a tear from top to bottom indicated that God initiated the action.

Matthew included the information about the tear from the top because it was a sign from Heaven. It originated beyond the reach of people. Jesus’ death paid the penalty for Sin, and we're no longer separated by a barrier. We have access to God's presence.

Originally published April 3, 1992.
Picture: Flower in Hawaii, 20084. Photo by Patty.

His Perfect Obedience

Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience. He always!—always!—did His Father’s will.

Imagine. We might be willing to submit our will to another person’s will for an hour—or maybe an afternoon or a day. But even then, inside—in our heart of hearts—we wait for our time of servitude to end so we can relapse into our own ideas, our own agenda. A lifetime of submission? Impossible.

Yet that’s what Jesus did, how Jesus lived. Locked into an earthly body, He submitted to His Heavenly Father. Not because He had to, but because He wanted to. Love for His Father and for His Father’s people were His motivation. He didn’t forget—even on the cross when He cried, “Father, forgive them. . . .” (Lk. 23:34)

Jesus’ perfect obedience, even obedience to death on a cross, is our salvation. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ . . . for by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb. 10:10, 14)

Originally published March 26, 1993.
Picture: Roses, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

Outside the Camp

Lent is that time of year when much of Christendom focuses their attention on the cross of Jesus.

Although the cross is a familiar, loved symbol today, crucifixions were hardly lovely. We know from historical records that especially evil leaders arranged for public crucifixions. For the most part, however, they were conducted in secluded places away from the mainstreams of daily activity because they were so gruesome, abhorrent.

So just as the Old Testament scapegoat was taken outside the camp during the Exodus of the Israelites—bearing their collective and personal sin into the Wilderness (Lev. 16)—Jesus died outside the camp. We read, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. (Heb. 13:12 NIV)

The writer of Hebrews continues by offering an invitation, Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. (Heb. 13:13)

Originally published February 26, 1982.
Picture: Flower in Hawaii, 2004. Photo by Patty.

Spiritual Crosses

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24 NKV)

This is a difficult saying. We might want to follow Jesus, but we can’t carry a cross to Calvary the way He did.

The cross in this passage isn’t a literal cross. It refers to what happens when our will confronts or crosses God’s will. If we desire something contrary to God’s plan, we must set aside the desire. When we give it up, it becomes a spiritual cross.

Jesus carried a spiritual cross as well as the literal wood cross when He went to Calvary because He set aside His own desires. In Gethsemane, a place of intense spiritual battle and victory, He prayed, “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Mt. 26:39b) Before His death, He said, “For I have not come down from heaven to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Jn. 6:38)

We’ll not carry a literal cross—and we can’t even carry a spiritual cross on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. Then we are able to obey the difficult command, follow me.

Originally published January 25, 1985.