Happy Easter to one and all. I am sitting down to a cup of Door County Cookie Dough Coffee and then off to work for a short time. Our Church has a Saturday evening service for those who can't make it on Sundays. We celebrated Easter last night with music, praise and a message from our pastor.
Our service last night spoke in the third person from some of those who would have been at the crucifixion of Jesus and at His tomb. One that wasn't mentioned was the thief at the cross. Jesus was crucified with two criminals. One of the criminals actually can be accused of stealing during their crucifixion. Let's look.
Luke 23:32-43
Luke 23:32-43, (NAS95) 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
The above narrative is one of the most touching in the entire Bible. While the Lord was experiencing the physical, emotional and perhaps even spiritual agony of the cross, he still expressed the divine nature of His love for man. He had the compassion to listen to the pleas of one who had great need. He made the effort to repress his own pain to and answer to the needs of a sinner. He promised that man, that that very day, He would be with Jesus in Paradise. What a wonderful assurance this is.
But in this very passage we see that the thief stole in front of Jesus and it is recorded in these verses.
What did he steal? He stole the heart of the Savior. You see Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins. It was this very act of asking Jesus to remember Him and recognizing Jesus for who He is, that Jesus came from heaven to die for. Jesus saw the fruit of His labor of love from the cross. If that thief were the only one, Jesus would have done the same thing. What is really neat is that when we meet this guy in heaven he won't be known as a thief, we will call him brother. Wow that cross has power.
Now if that doesn't make you tear up, nothing will. We cry over rescued animals and we should. One stray sheep was rescued that day, I believe the other probably wasn't.
Happy Easter. Say thank you to Jesus and steal His heart away once more. He is the only God waiting to be robbed and will love it.
Marty
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