“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:34 NASB

Eternally etched into our memories, the image of Jesus lifted up on the cross at Calvary demands our consideration.

And it should rightfully draw all of us to him. His claims to be I am, God Almighty, do not go unnoticed. Believers are drawn to his death which provides grace and mercy. Others dismiss his claims as blaspheme, or those of a lunatic.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58 NASB

Perhaps the clearest explanation of the dilemma of “what to believe about Jesus” is before us as we contemplate the three crosses. Jesus of Nazareth, condemned for claiming to be God, was placed in the middle of two men who were found guilty of theft.

What should we “see” when we look at the two thieves?

We learn from eyewitnesses that Jesus was one of three men who were being executed by crucifixion. There was a thief on his right, and a thief on his left.

And they crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Mark 15:27 NASB

The two men who were condemned to die for robbery had received their trial.  Found guilty, their punishment under Roman law was to be crucified; executed by nailing to a cross and hung to asphyxiate.

The thieves must have known of the reputation of Jesus.  He was famous in Palestine.  Perhaps, they had seen Him raise Lazarus from the dead or change water into wine. Certainly, they had heard stories of his miracles… and the controversies surrounding who the Elders of Israel and the people claimed he was.

As the thieves were awaiting a slow and painful death, they argued over the essence of this man.

The thief on the left taunted Jesus to take himself off the cross if he was who he said he was.  He demanded the Messiah get him down. Jesus did not respond. Even in his imminent death, he rebuked God. The guilty thief apparently wanted nothing to do with Messiah. He most certainly received his request.  Eternally, Jesus would not recognize him before the Father.

“But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matt 10:33 NASB

The thief on the right corrected him, saying Jesus had done no wrong; they were guilty of their crimes and rightfully condemned. The thief on the right asked Jesus to “remember” him when he came into His Kingdom.  Jesus assured him he would be in Paradise that day, with Him.

 “Everyone therefore who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”  Matt 10:32 NASB

The thief on the right recognized the guilt of his sins and the redemption Jesus offered him.

“. . . having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”  Col 2:14 NASB

You can choose to ignore him, even rebuke him.  That decision comes at an eternal price.

 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Matt 25:41NASB

The Cross is a reminder of a spiritual decision each of us must make. It is the choice we are all offered.  All of humanities, and thus my crimes are on display here, symbolized by thievery. We are all guilty.  And we are all condemned. The choice is to reject God, or accept Him.

You are either the thief on the right, or the thief on the left.

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.  He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.   Surely our grief’s He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:1- 12  NASB