Unvarnished Jesus: A Lenten JourneyEjemplo

Wednesday, April 10

Luke 23:39–43

11th Station of the Cross: Jesus and the Two Thieves

When we think of crucifixion we think of Jesus. We may think that crucifixion was something relatively unique to Jesus, but it was not. The Roman Empire crucified hundreds of thousands of victims. One of the scandals of Good Friday is that Jesus was but one of three that day. That Jesus was crucified with victims on either side of Him also presents us with a powerful image: Jesus among the victims in solidarity with them, but simultaneously becoming the dividing point. How we respond to Jesus determines everything. One thief sees in Jesus the possibility of a new kingdom and believes. The other thief, though himself a victim, can’t resist participating in the old way of victimizing others. Only one response leads to the paradise of union with Christ.