Day 2
The Two Criminals
Granted, the Easter story centres around the cross, more specifically, the cross of Jesus Christ, where we find the Son of God and Son of Man dying in our place, taking our sin and our mistakes, the punishment we deserved so we can live in freedom. However, today my mind is taken to the two other crosses that stood either side of Jesus, where two convicted criminals hung and received their punishment.
The two criminals had two very different responses to Jesus and in turn represent two responses that we can so easily have when faced with problems and challenging circumstances.
My question for us today, is which response will we choose?
Will we choose the response of the first dying criminal - who was angry and questioned Jesus, questioning His ability to save - taking an entitled approach? You see, I’m sure the first criminal was looking for an escape and a quick way out of his punishment, a way to cheat death.
He clearly felt that if he was sharing this tragic end with the Messiah then he deserved to be saved. He even thinks he can tell Jesus what to do… “save yourself and save us! “
This can be a reflection of our reactions to challenges and circumstances happening to us. We start to question God asking, What kind of God are you? If you are God, then surely You can and will save me from this situation.
How many times do we find ourselves telling God what to do, thinking we know best?
Rather than realising that God is God and our submission to His will and way is actually the best thing we can do.
I want to encourage you today to take the response of criminal number two and use it to model your lives on.
Firstly, we must realise that Jesus chose His punishment for us and secondly, there is nothing in this life that we can do that will grant us immunity from the consequences of our sinful nature. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved.
The beauty of Jesus’ response to the second criminal, in that moment, was only by the grace of God and His mercy that he was saved. We too are only saved by His grace. Be encouraged today to have the attitude of the second criminal - to firstly recognise who Jesus is and then to acknowledge Him in everything we do. To seek His grace and His love in all things so that in every situation we can trust that Jesus will bring us through it and that ultimately we will spend eternity with Him.
The two criminals had two very different responses to Jesus and in turn represent two responses that we can so easily have when faced with problems and challenging circumstances.
My question for us today, is which response will we choose?
Will we choose the response of the first dying criminal - who was angry and questioned Jesus, questioning His ability to save - taking an entitled approach? You see, I’m sure the first criminal was looking for an escape and a quick way out of his punishment, a way to cheat death.
He clearly felt that if he was sharing this tragic end with the Messiah then he deserved to be saved. He even thinks he can tell Jesus what to do… “save yourself and save us! “
This can be a reflection of our reactions to challenges and circumstances happening to us. We start to question God asking, What kind of God are you? If you are God, then surely You can and will save me from this situation.
How many times do we find ourselves telling God what to do, thinking we know best?
Rather than realising that God is God and our submission to His will and way is actually the best thing we can do.
I want to encourage you today to take the response of criminal number two and use it to model your lives on.
Firstly, we must realise that Jesus chose His punishment for us and secondly, there is nothing in this life that we can do that will grant us immunity from the consequences of our sinful nature. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved.
The beauty of Jesus’ response to the second criminal, in that moment, was only by the grace of God and His mercy that he was saved. We too are only saved by His grace. Be encouraged today to have the attitude of the second criminal - to firstly recognise who Jesus is and then to acknowledge Him in everything we do. To seek His grace and His love in all things so that in every situation we can trust that Jesus will bring us through it and that ultimately we will spend eternity with Him.
Verses For The Day
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”