TWO CRIMINALS, AND JESUS IN THEIR MIDST

“They crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst” (John 19:18).

On a small hill outside the city of Jerusalem great crowds had gathered to see three condemned criminals die. But we are not concerned with that crowd now.

Nearby is a centurion of the Roman army, with a squad of soldiers, who is in charge of the execution. There are a few women nearby, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and some other women who followed Jesus from Galilee. But we are not concerned with them now. We are not thinking about those who love Jesus and those who hate Him. We are not concerned with them either.

Instead, we face two men nailed to crosses on either side, and Jesus on a cross between them. The two men on either side of Jesus are condemned to death by crucifixion. Both of them will die before the sun goes down. Let us take a few moments to think about these two men, nailed to crosses, on either side of Jesus.

These two dying criminals have broken man’s law and are guilty. But they have a far more serious problem than that. They are sinners facing God. The Bible makes that clear, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Some people have committed outward sins, like murder, adultery, or stealing. Others have committed sin in their hearts by hatred, lust and covetousness. But everyone has committed sin. Everyone is a sinner by nature and by practice. The Bible says, “There  is none righteous, no, not one… They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable” (Romans 3:10, 12).

These two men, who are condemned sinners, represent the entire human race of sinners. Let us not deceive ourselves. We are all sinners. And since we are all sinners, we are all condemned by our sins. So these two thieves represent all of us, and all mankind. There are only two religions in the world. These two represent the two religions. You may say: But there are a lot more than two religions’. No, there’s only two really. When you break it down in simple terms there are only two, those who want to get heaven by themselves, and there are those who will get to heaven by someone else. These two thieves represent all human beings in their death.

A very famous verse in the word of God is found in the book of Ephesians, chapter 2 and verses 8 and 9. It simply says this: “By grace are ye saved through faith” – it’s very complicated, isn’t it? What’s this word ‘grace’? What’s ‘faith’? Listen! “By grace” – do you know what grace is? An old man was once asked what grace was and he answered like this: ‘It’s something for nothing’. Something for nothing! Another old man beside him who was an old Christian turned to him and said: ‘That’s good my friend, but it’s much more than that. It’s not just something for nothing, it’s everything for nothing!’.

There are three biblical truths. The first is this: that I can do nothing for my salvation. The second is this: that God did not require me to do anything for my salvation. The third is this: that God had done everything for my salvation! It has taken me longer than 45 years to work that out. I can’t do anything, but God doesn’t want me to do anything because God has done everything! What He wants me to do is He wants me to come to Him and let Him do everything! Just like that thief on the cross who couldn’t do anything, I came to Him 45 years back and let Him do everything! Yes, I am enjoying Him.

Jesus, there in their midst shows that He is approachable. He is available to save us. He is between two thieves. That means He has humbled Himself. He has come down from Heaven and has made Himself a part of mankind. He is there to receive all who trust Him. The Bible says, “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews 7:25). Anyone can come to Jesus by faith and be saved by Him. But time is running out for these men. In a little while their last opportunity to be forgiven and saved will be gone.

Both of them are equally guilty. Both of them are condemned. Both of them are dying in their sins. There is not a word that one of them is better than the other. Both of them are sinners, condemned to Hell. The Bible tells us that both of these thieves mocked Christ, and railed against Him earlier in the day (Matthew 27:39-44). Mark tells us, “They that were crucified with him reviled him” – shouting insults at Him (Mark 15:32). These two men were both hardened sinners. There was no difference between them. They were both lost sinners.

When one of these criminals was railing an accusation against the Lord, one of them changed his mind and decided: “I’ve made a mistake here, calling Him names and accusing Him”. He said, in verse Lk.24: 40, But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?”

This brings out the simple truth, 1. If you don’t fear God, you will not bother about eternity. You will be thinking about the prosperity in this world only. 2. You will always try to find fault with others. 3. You will always rebel against God’s children.

This man now has a very simple faith, produced in his heart by the Holy Spirit. And he says to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  This shows that he trusted Jesus. It was a very simple thing. He held nothing back. He trusted Jesus, and Jesus saved him. And Jesus says to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  When one of these thieves was railing an accusation against the Lord, one of them changed his mind and decided: ‘I’ve made a mistake here, calling Him names and accusing Him’.  It’s interesting that that man on the cross, that thief, he didn’t ask Christ to save him from death.  Then the Saviour cried to him, “Today you will be with me in ‘Paradise’” He realized, being with Jesus is more than anything in this world! Do you?

Can I ask you, Sir, Madam, “Do you not fear God?” Banish the thought that God is some Santa Claus that sits up there; that God is some Moses figure with a long beard down to His toes like a grandfather! Listen! God is Almighty! God is sovereign, God is holy, God is angry against sin. He’s angry against this sinful world. He’s angry against sinful individuals. He is angry against us! If you’re not saved today, He is angry against you! Do you not fear that? Do you not fear, when you reject Christ? Do you not fear God? Do you not fear what He can do, and what He will do, if you reject Him?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, have mercy on me. Make me repent as the thief who is enjoying his life in Paradise. Give me a heart to fear Thee, LORD. In Jesus Name,  Amen.