Just something I like to share.

Cam
----- Original Message -----
From: RBC Ministries
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 09:58
Subject: [rbc-news] RBC Ministries E-mail Newsletter March 2004


Been Thinking About: Two Thieves
(an article by RBC Ministries President Mart De Haan)


Crucifixion was torture. Leather straps or spikes were used to hang
a condemned man on a pole. Like a helpless animal tangled in a
barbed wire fence, the victim could survive for days with
excruciating pain. Death usually came by suffocation when, hanging
by his hands, the victim lost the strength to draw another breath.

Three men on three trees
In the Spring of 33 AD, the crucifixion of three men, outside the
city walls of Jerusalem, changed the course of world history. Roman
executioners hammered nails through the wrists and ankles of three
men and left them to die. The event itself was common in the ancient
Mid East. And yet, 2,000 years later, the world still talks about
those three deaths.

I found an explanation of the significance of those deaths written
on the flyleaf of an old Bible. In words I have found memorable,
someone had written, "One man died with guilt in him and on him. A
second man died with guilt in him but not on him. The third died
with guilt on him but not in him." Since finding that quote, I've
held on to it as a profoundly simple description of some differences
we all need to understand.

One died with sin in him and on him
He was the first of two thieves executed that day. By the law of the
land he was given the punishment he deserved. By a judge wearing the
authority of the Roman Caesar, he was sentenced and condemned, like
a house that is no longer fit to live in.

The first thief seems to have died an angry man. He was probably
angry with himself for getting caught. He was probably angry with
the judge who sentenced him. He was probably angry with all those
who had let him down along the way. He seems to have been especially
angry with the man named Jesus who hung innocently at his side.

The first thief wasn't alone in his contempt for Jesus. Others
shared his feelings. It was easy to be furious with someone who
claimed to be the light and hope of the world--then hung like a
common criminal, not even saving Himself from death.

Angry with Jesus for being unable to help Himself or anyone else
(Luke 23:39), the first thief died with his own sin in him and on
him.

One died with sin in him but not on him
There was a second thief executed that day. At first he joined the
others who ridiculed and insulted Jesus. For a while he too mocked
Jesus with the challenge to save Himself and them if He really was
the promised Messiah (Matthew 27:37-44).

As the darkness closed in, however, the second thief had a change of
heart. Turning to the first thief, he said, "Don't you fear God
since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for
we are getting what 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, "I tell you the truth, today you will
be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43).

That may be one of the most important conversations ever recorded.
These few words show what the rest of the New Testament declares.
Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is given to anyone who trusts
Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Faith alone in Christ alone determines our eternal destiny (John
3:16-18; Acts 16:31; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

The second thief had no time to clean up his life. He had no time to
do anything but to believe in Jesus. In the process, he gave all of
us a picture of what it takes to come into the eternal family of God.

In response to the simplest expression of faith, Jesus assured him
of forgiveness. The second thief died with sin in him but not on
him. The Judge of the heavens lifted the guilt from the second
thief's shoulders, placing it instead on Jesus, our sin-bearer.

One died with sin on him but not in him
Jesus shouldered the guilt of the world that day. He died with the
weight of the world's sin on Him but not the slightest wrong in Him.

Three days later He rose from the dead to show that His death,
tragic as it was, was not a mistake. With a nail-scarred,
resurrected body Jesus gave hundreds of His disciples all the
evidence they needed to believe that He had taken their place in
death. The judgment of God had fallen on Him instead of on us.

What I also find amazing is that this is our story. We were there.
We were there because God was there in our place, bearing our sins.
We were also there because all of us will respond either as the
first thief or as the second.

The words don't make the difference; the faith does. If you don't
have that faith, but want it, ask God to give it to you. You won't
be the first to cry out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark
9:24).

Father in heaven, thank You for helping us to see that this is Your
story. In the suffering of Your Son, we see Your suffering and Your
love for us. In His death, we see Your payment for our wrongs, and
Your offer of forgiveness. In His resurrection, we see Your
assurance that You are completely pleased with the price He paid for
us.

And Father, thank You also for helping us to see that this is our
story. In the first thief we see our first inclination to hate You,
to reject Your love, and to let our anger keep us from You and
others. Thank You for softening our hearts so that we can also see
ourselves in the second thief, who came to his senses before it was
too late.