“They crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left.”(Mark 15:16 NIV)
For some reason, the way Mark puts it reminds me that any one of us could have been on the cross beside Him. We read ‘rebel’ and assume an act against Rome, but aren’t we all – every last one of us since Garden eviction – rebellious against God in some form or fashion? Really, truly, we each deserve the death that our Savior received: tortuous, shameful, public and prolonged.
The two sinners beside Jesus tell the story of every single rebel since the beginning of time. We see in them the same two options available to us when our lives come in contact with the living-dying Savior. Recognition or rejection. We can recognize His Lordship and align ourselves with Him, gaining grace and access to heavenly places OR we can reject Him entirely and receive what we’re due. It’s not by happenstance that two terribly guilty souls hung beside Jesus that Friday morning – it’s an illustrated sermon in black and white and blood. We either receive Jesus Christ and His sacrifice – dying in this life but living in the next OR we refuse His gift and die twice – once on earth and then for eternity. Our whole story is tied up in these two men. Rebel, who will you choose?
“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 getting what we 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.””
(Luke 23:39-43 NIV)
The second rebel practiced what we commonly call the ABC’s of faith. He Admitted that he was a sinner – “We are getting what we deserve.” He Believed in the Messiah – “This man has done nothing wrong.” And he confessed the Jesus was Lord – “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
I love that this choice is woven into the fabric of the crucifixion story. We’re reminded each time we turn to the cross that there are only two outcomes in our response to Christ’s sacrifice: rebuke or receipt.
This morning my heart is tugged anew. We make this decision toward or away from Jesus over and over in the course of our life. The first time is a watershed moment, but ever decision thereafter carves out a bit more of our story. Each ‘yes’ to Christ, each small surrender sends our heart’s desire a bit more in His direction. Much like marriage, we keep choosing Jesus and His Kingdom in the big and small things alike until His return or our collection.
Lord, thank You for the reminder with the rebels. Today we choose You again. We align our lives with Your Kingdom and we look forward to eternity together. Amen.