Jesus was hung on the cross between two criminals. The two guys were both sentenced to die. We are not sure what they did, but it’s safe to assume that it was pretty bad. Similar to Jesus, these two criminals were suffering tremendously. Crucifixion was just plane out bad. Both of them looked at Jesus and each of them saw something entirely different.
One looked at Jesus and hurled insults at him. He told him to save himself and to save them while he was at it. This guy must have had a lot of pent up anger in his life and he was taking it out on Jesus. Jesus did nothing to deserve this guy’s insults. The guy didn’t even know him. But still all of his anger was turned toward Jesus. This criminal’s life was coming to nothing. He was rapidly losing strength, yet he mustered up enough energy to insult Jesus.
I have known people like this. They have many hurts in their life. They are just plane angry, but they don’t know who or what to be angry at, so they take it out on God. The only person who could truly help them; The only person who could understand; they only person who could change their destiny, is the very one that they hurl insults toward.
Don’t be like that criminal on the cross. Don’t turn your anger toward Jesus. Instead, see Jesus like the other criminal did. But we will cover that tomorrow. Have an amazing day as you live the life that God has called you to.
Andy asked me the other day if the thieves on the crosses beside Jesus were the same as the robbers in the story of the Good Samaritan. I told him I didn't know, to which he responded with a series of "WHY?" questions. :-)
ReplyDeletelol Plain.
ReplyDeleteAlso, tradition tells us they were thieves. In this case the tradition I am referring to is Matthew 27. ;)