The Choice

Jesus' 2nd statement on the cross has always been one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Two wretched criminals hung beside Jesus on crosses which they deserved.. which I deserved. One continues to inexplicably taunt the One who shares his horrific punishment. But the other, O what hope has that other penitent thief give so many lost and sin sick souls. The other initially joined in the with the rabble in tormenting Jesus, but unlike his comrade, this thief begins to carefully observe this One called "The King of the Jews." And since our Faithful Lord never ever turns away a seeking heart, the 2nd thief somehow recognizes in the demeanor, the words, the very presence of Jesus, that this is the Son of God. I can only imagine what kind of depraved life he has led, perhaps a murdered, a thief, a scoffer, a hater. A life without any redeeming value perhaps, and yet here, at the last possible second, God chooses to answer his desperate, last second plea as he recognizes his own deplorable condition. He rebukes the other thief, saying "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." (Lk23:40-41) Then he turns to Jesus and asks "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Lk23:42) Can you imagine a more plaintive and tentative plea? He doesn't even dare ask for salvation but just perhaps to be remembered... perhaps some crumb from the banquet table of the Saviour. I'm sure he knew how utterly undeserving he was and how outrageous was his request. Dying a horrific, painful death on a cross, forsaken, guilty, helpless...could there be a more vivid portrait of hopelessness?

And then these incredible words from the lips of the Perfect Sinless One dying beside him on the cross: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise." (Lk23:43) From godforsaken to God-taken; from defeat to victory; from utter hopelessness to a living hope; from hell to heaven. Oswald Sanders writes: "The thief asked only a place in Christ's memory. He was granted a place in His kingdom." Reminds me of Eph.3:20--He is the One who does abundantly more than all we ask or imagine!

Surely there could be no clearer depiction of the choice facing every single human being on the planet--depend upon yourself and die in your sins or turn to the Saviour and accept His gift of salvation. The stark eternal choice confronts each of us--will we choose to look to the One on the center cross and live... or die? From William Olney:

They stood there grimly upon Calvary;

Each bore a victim suffering bodily.

But in the attitude of soul we see

A strange unlikeness in the suffering three.

Behold, upon the centre cross is He

Who, to atone for sin, hung on the Tree.

Of His own will He died for rebel's guilt,

Though by man's cruel hands His blood was spilt;

Pardon for all believers did Christ win,

Since upon Calvary He died for sin.

Now see upon the left a sufferer

Who even to the last did curse and swear.

Write underneath the picture of his cross,

He died in sin bringing eternal loss.

Now turn you to the sufferer on the right.

How different the picture, and how bright!

He owns his sin, laments his evil ways,

Then turns him to the centre cross and prays.

Christ pardons him. The thief now dead to sin.

Enters, with Him, the Golden Gates within.

Reader, he sure since Christ for sinners died,

Thou canst find pardon through the Crucified.