Two Thieves. One Cross. One Choice.

Last night at the concert, a lyric hit me so hard that I have not been able to shake it. Eden by Benjamin William Hastings...Click here to listen Spotify 

"Oh, Calvary's tree
The nails within Your hands
And laughter swept the crowds beneath
Where Your grace exceeds
The sum of all our lack
For I'm a thief upon a tree
Isn't it just like You
To turn it all around for good
Like only You could, like only You would?
You turn it all around for good"

That line, 'For I am a thief on a tree,' spoke to me. The world is standing on one of the two crosses next to Jesus. Everyone is a thief. Every one of us is broken. Every one of us needs mercy. Yet only one thief chose Jesus. The other did not.

That simple picture carries a powerful truth. Humanity has always been divided by one thing. Not goodness. Not morality. Not church attendance. Not a spiritual background. We are divided by our response to Jesus.

Luke records the scene with painful clarity.

“But the other answered and, rebuking him, said, ‘Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.’ And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise’”
Luke 23:40 to 43, LSB

Two thieves hung next to the Savior. One hurled insults. One cried out for mercy. Same distance to Jesus. Same guilt. Same suffering. Yet two entirely different responses.

The First Thief: Pride Until the End

The first thief represents the world that sees Jesus but refuses to bow. He heard Jesus pray for His killers. He watched the sky darken. He saw innocence in the eyes of the One dying beside him. Yet he clung to pride. He wanted salvation without surrender. Rescue without repentance. A Savior without a Lord.

Some still live this way today. They like the idea of Jesus, but they do not want to follow Him. They want blessings without obedience. They want heaven without holiness. They want God to serve their goals instead of surrendering their lives to His will.

This thief had the same opportunity as the other, but he wasted it.

The Second Thief: A sinner who finally saw the truth

The second thief did not try to justify himself. He did not blame his past. He did not try to pretend that he was a victim. He faced the truth and admitted it. He feared God. He confessed his sin. He believed Jesus was the King. And with the last breath of his life he called out, “Jesus, remember me.”

He brought nothing to Jesus except his guilt and his faith. And Jesus welcomed him with open arms.

This is the picture of salvation. We do not clean ourselves up first. We do not earn forgiveness. We come as we are. Broken. Guilty. Empty-handed. And Jesus redeems us.

Every Person Stands on One of Those Crosses

This is why the story hits so deep. Every person on earth is represented by those two thieves.

Some look at Jesus and walk away. Others see Him and surrender. Some want a Christ who fits their desires. Others realize He is the King even while hanging on a cross.

There is no middle cross for those who are undecided. There is only one choice.

Reject Him. Or trust Him.

The Cross Still Divides the World Today

When you look around, you can see it everywhere. Some hearts grow harder. Some grow softer. Some people mock the faith. Others fall to their knees. Some cling to self-righteousness. Others cling to grace.

You are on one of those crosses right now. I am too. Every one of us is.

The question is not whether we are sinners. The question is, which thief are we?

The Invitation Remains the Same

Jesus still answers the cry of anyone who turns to Him. No matter the past. No matter the brokenness. No matter the failure. The thief on the cross had minutes left, yet Jesus welcomed him fully. How much more will He welcome you if you call on Him today?

This is the good news that shook me last night at that concert. The world is full of thieves. But Jesus still saves thieves.

The one who mocks Him will lose everything.
The one who turns to Him will gain Paradise.

Which one are you today?

If you need someone to pray with you or help you take that next step, reach out. You do not have to face your cross alone. Jesus is there, ready to redeem anyone who calls upon His name.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Jody,