The Man on the Middle Cross

My friend Jeremiah was a career criminal. He was involved in petty theft, car theft, drug trafficking, violence, and larceny. When I first met Jeremiah, he kept stating, “God would never let someone like me into Heaven.” I remember the look on his face when I told him about another career criminal who made it into Heaven!

As we move towards Resurrection Sunday, I want to invite you to think about what Jesus was actually doing, in spite of the excruciating pain of the cross. He was saving one more soul! He was ministering to a career criminal! Hanging beside Jesus was a man that the Bible only describes as a thief, and this is the conversation that happens during the humiliation, pain, and torture of the cross:

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:42-43, NIV)

Can you imagine the questions the angels must have have had when this thief arrived in Heaven?

…Did you ever pray the sinner’s prayer? No.

…Well, did you attend Sunday School and learn the stories from the Bible? No, I don’t know a single Bible story.

…Well, did you ever get baptized? No, I didn’t have the chance.

…Did you ever bend your knee in submission to Jesus? Well no, I couldn’t bend my knees at all in the presence of Jesus because I was being crucified.

So, let us get this straight: you were never baptized, you never prayed, you were a career criminal, and you died the death of a criminal … what makes you think you can come into Heaven?

I imagine the response of the former thief was, “I can come in because the man on the middle cross said I could!”

I told a version of that story to Jeremiah on the day he was baptized! He was so joyful knowing that if Jesus had room for the thief on the cross that He most certainly had room for him!

My friend, the thief said “yes” to Jesus in his request to be remembered, and the miracle was a transformation, from criminal to child of God, from lost to found, from death to life, from a broken history into a promised eternity.

Miracles happen when people say “yes” to God! Let’s pray:

Jesus, we want to say “yes” to you again today. We say “yes” to your salvation, your mission, your calling on our lives, and whatever sacrifice we need to make to invite others into an eternity in Heaven with you. We say “yes” to your plans for us today, and may we be on the lookout for someone who needs “the man on the middle cross.” Amen.

As you anticipate the resurrection of Jesus, never forget my friend…

You are a miracle!

Grant