The Three Crosses

Journey with me this morning -- back in time to a place called Calvary -- a hill just outside Jerusalem!  As we approach the hill -- we see three crude, wooden crosses!  On the two outside crosses are criminals -- hanging in intense agony as payment to society for their crimes!  But on the middle cross hangs an innocent Man!

Lets read about it in the Word of God:  Luke 23: 32-33; 39-43.  Two other men,  both criminals,  were also led out with Him to be executed.  When they came to the place called Calvary (The Skull), there they crucified Him, along with the criminals -- one on His right, the other on His left.

(skipping down to verse 39,  we continue reading ...)

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: -- "Aren't you the Christ? -- Save yourself & 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, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

We usually speak of just one cross -- the Old Rugged Cross -- but we must not forget that there were three crosses on Calvary's hill that day!  Three men died on that fateful day in history!

It was no mere accident that Jesus died between two thieves!  Even this detail of the Crucifixion was in accordance with the eternal plan of God Almighty.  -- God is trying to teach us some eternal truths!  God is seeking to reveal certain basic facts concerning His plan of salvation!

There were three crosses -- & three men who died that day at Calvary.  But what a tremendous difference in the death of these three men!  One thief died in sin! --The other thief died to sin!  But Christ -- on the middle cross -- died for sin! -- for the sins of the world!

One thief died as a condemned sinner.

The other thief died as a forgiven sinner.

Christ died as the Savior of sinners!

Lets take a good look at these three crosses on Calvary's hill -- & at what each cross teaches us today!

1.    The Cross of Redemption -- Christ Died for  Sin!

What a mighty difference there was between Christ & the two men who died by His side! --  Christ was innocent!  -- Christ was sinless!  The two thieves -- on the other hand -- were shameful -- & full of guilt!

So many people in that day gave testimony to the sinlessness of Christ! --  The Roman governor Pilate -- who conducted the trial -- said:  -- "I find no fault in Him at all!"  (John 18:38)  Pilate's wife -- who suffered a disturbing dream concerning Jesus -- sent word to her husband:  -- "Have nothing to do with that just Man!" (Matt. 27:19)  Judas -- who betrayed Jesus -- cried out saying: -- "I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood." (Matt. 27:4)  One of the men who died by His side said: -- "This Man has done nothing wrong."  Peter -- who walked close by Jesus' side for three years -- later testified: -- "He committed no sin, & no deceit was found in His mouth." (1 Peter 2:22)  Friend & foe alike testified to the spotless purity of the Man, Christ Jesus, Who hung on that middle Cross!

The two men who died by His side -- stood out in dire contrast to Jesus!  Matthew & Mark -- both state that these men were "robbers" -- or "thieves."  Luke refers to them as "malefactors" -- or "criminals."  One of the men himself confessed: -- "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve" (Luke 23:41).

There was another significant difference between Jesus on the middle Cross -- & the thieves -- one on either side: -- Jesus was divine! -- But the two thieves were human!  As mortal beings -- they were subject to death! -- Sooner or later -- they must die!  Perhaps -- because they were criminals -- they were dying before their time -- but even so -- they must die sometime!  As for Christ -- being God -- He was not subject to death!  He has no beginning -- nor has He an end; -- He is the eternal Son of God!  Birth & death have no control over Him!

But herein lies the marvel of the Incarnation & the Crucifixion.  God -- Who never dies & cannot die -- actually took upon Himself the form of a man -- for the express purpose of dying! -- What a staggering thought!  Jesus didn't have to die -- but He chose to die in our place!

That middle Cross did not belong to Jesus!  It really belonged to someone called Barabbas!  Who was Barabbas? -- He was a thief -- a murderer -- a rebel!  He was an ever greater sinner -- & he deserved more to die than did the two criminals on either side of Jesus!  But the mob had cried out for Barabbas to be released -- &  for Jesus to be crucified!  And so Barabbas went free -- while Christ went to the Cross!  Christ took Barabbas's place upon that middle Cross!

But more than that -- Christ took the place of every human being who has ever lived -- or ever will live! -- For in reality -- that middle Cross was your cross & my cross!  We deserved to die -- but Christ died for us!  He took upon Himself our sins -- our punishment -- our shame -- our death!  Jesus died in our place! -- He died for us!

Jesus Christ -- God's only Son -- died for all mankind!  The innocent for the guilty -- the sinless for the sinful -- the eternal for the mortal!  The Cross was an absolute necessity in order for salvation to be offered to you & me -- & for all mankind! -- Jesus died on that middle Cross as the Savior of sinners!  His was the Cross of Redemption; -- Christ died for sin!

2.    The Cross of Repentance -- One Thief Died to  Sin!

At first this thief joined in with the people -- & with his companion on the far side -- in mocking & ridiculing the Savior!  Both Matthew & Mark -- state very clearly that both men ridiculed Jesus (Mt. 27:44; Mk. 15:32).

But then something happened in the mind & in the heart of the one thief!  He closely watched the Savior -- & he listened to every word Jesus spoke!  He noticed that in spite of the jeering & cursing of the angry mob -- our Lord never once open His mouth to rebuke or to curse!  In patience -- Jesus -- on that middle cross bore it all!

The thief also noticed that Jesus thought -- not of Himself -- but of His dear mother -- & her welfare!  Then he heard Jesus call out: -- "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). -- This was too much for the thief at Jesus' side!  His heart was broken; -- he saw his own sin -- & the sinlessness of the Man on the middle Cross!  He realized that this was more than a mere man; -- or even a prophet; indeed, -- He was the Christ!

And so the one thief repented; -- he confessed his sinfulness!  He said to the other thief: -- "We are punished justly -- for we are getting what our deeds deserve. -- But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41).  The dying thief recognized his own guilt!  He not only repented -- but he turned to the Savior for mercy!  He said: -- "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom!"  The thief call Jesus "Lord" -- & prays, "remember me when you come into your kingdom."  And Jesus -- the Savior -- in spite of His agony & personal distress -- turned to this repentant thief in love -- saying: --"Today you will be with Me in Paradise!"  Oh, the depth of the Savior's love -- the marvel of His grace -- the greatness of His salvation!  "Today" -- is a present-tense salvation! -- "You will be with Me" -- is a perfect salvation!  -- "In Paradise" -- is a permanent salvation!  So the first thief died to sin -- & therefore died a sinner saved by grace!

That cross stands for the eternal truth that no matter how deep you or I have fallen into sin -- no matter when we turn to God in repentance -- God will always stand ready & willing to forgive -- & to redeem!  If there was hope for that wretched thief on the cross -- then dear friend -- there is hope for you & for me!

3.    The Cross of Retribution -- the Second Thief Died in  His Sins!

From the beginning -- right up to the last moment -- the second thief mocked the Savior with cursing & blasphemy.  Like his companion -- he, too, saw the patience & love & forgiving spirit of Jesus dying on that middle cross. -- He, too, must have been convicted of his own guilt & sin.  The contrast between Christ & this thief was too great for him not to realize his own shameful condition!  Like his companion -- this second thief also had the opportunity to repent & turn to the Savior for forgiveness & eternal life!  But instead -- he hardened his heart; -- he refused to repent; -- & so he died in his sins -- unsaved -- without hope -- forever lost!

What a tragedy of tragedies!  Just think of it -- that second thief could have -- that very day -- gone to be with the Lord for all eternity!  The Son of God Who was dying for the sins of the world -- was dying even for the sins of this second thief -- right at his very side!  But the unrepentant thief died without ever knowing the joy of sins forgiven -- or the power of God's marvelous grace!

That third cross stands forever as a solemn warning to all humanity!  Christ's death is efficient for the sins of the whole world -- but it is only effective to those who are willing to repent & believe!  If we accept Jesus -- our sins are taken away -- washed -- covered by the blood of Jesus Christ -- buried in the depths of the sea -- & separated from us as far as the east is from the west!  But -- my friends -- if we refuse to accept Jesus -- our sins will remain upon us -- & our sins will separate us from the Lord forever & forever!

So many -- many people today say: -- "What's the hurry? -- What's the rush? -- There's plenty of time! -- Let me have my fling now! -- At the last moment I can repent & be saved -- just like the thief on the cross did!"  But they forget that the man on the third cross did not repent -- did not believe -- & so he died in his sins!  If you take comfort from the second cross -- than you should also take warning from the third cross!

As for the thief who repented -- that was his first & his last opportunity to repent & believe! --  As for us -- we have had countless opportunities!  We have heard innumerable sermons -- & if we keep on neglecting God's grace & mercy -- there will come a time when the Spirit of God will cease to strive with us!  Then when death approaches -- we will not be able to repent!  For even repentance is not of ourselves -- it is a gift of God!  The time to repent is when the Spirit of God reveals our sins -- & gives us the grace & the opportunity to repent!  Furthermore -- death may strike suddenly & swiftly -- giving us no time to turn to God!

Conclusion: -- Three crosses stood on Calvary's hill that day.

The middle cross -- was the Cross of Redemption -- upon which Christ died for the sins of all mankind -- including our sins.  Then there was the Cross of Repentance -- for the one thief died to sin!  The third cross was the Cross of Retribution -- for the second thief died in his sins.  For the one thief it was Paradise gained; -- for the other thief is was Paradise lost!

What opposite effects the Cross of Jesus had upon these two criminals.  One thief saw himself as a lost sinner -- & at the 11th hour -- cried out for mercy.  Someone pointed out that "the last kind word Christ spoke -- was to a thief."  So -- "The dying thief rejoiced to see -- that fountain in his day" -- & he entered Paradise -- the first trophy of the Redeemer's blood.  The other thief died without a word of penitence on his lips!  He died, even as he had lived -- without God & without hope.  One was saved that none might despair; -- but the other one died in his sins -- that none might presume!  One went to a black eternity without God! -- The other went with our Lord into the presence of the Heavenly Father -- to be with Jesus in eternal paradise.

All mankind is divided into two camps -- two groups of people!  The middle cross has drawn a line down through the whole of humanity!  On one side -- stands the repentant -- the believing -- the redeemed!

   On the other side stands the unrepentant -- the unbelieving -- the condemned!  The one group has died to sin; -- the other group will die in sin.

On which side of the Cross are you today?  Your sin is in one of two places today!  It is either on the Savior -- or it is on you!  If you repent & believe -- your sin will be rolled from you onto Him -- the sacrificial Lamb of God -- the Son of God -- the Savior!  If you neglect & refuse -- your sin will remain upon you!  It all depends on how you look at the middle cross -- the Cross of Jesus the Savior!

The old rugged cross has only two sides!

On which side of the old rugged cross are you today?