Luke 23:32-43

On a trip I made to the holy land, I purchased many gifts to bring back to give to family, friends and church people. One of the purchases I made was some small, olive wood crosses, that had a little figure on them that represented Jesus. One of the ministers chided me and said, “I wouldn’t have that ‘cause Jesus isn’t on the cross.” I reminded him that he had just bought a nativity scene and that Jesus wasn’t in the manger either. Sometimes we get so hung up on trivial stuff and forget the important things.

I remember a message our Pastor Emeritus preached about the three men on the three crosses. He said there was one man that was dying to his sins. This man was the thief that asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. He knew that he deserved to die, but somehow he knew that Jesus was righteousness and didn’t deserve to die. Jesus assured Him that “today” he would be with him in paradise. Next the pastor said there was a man dying in his sins. This man was the other thief who just couldn’t get over his bitterness and hardness and pretty much gave an ultimatum to Jesus. He said “if you are the Son of God, then save yourself and us too.” Can I tell you, you’ll never get saved if you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I have a strange suspicion that even some church attendees don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Oops, I’ve done gone to meddlin’!

So there was a man dying to his sins and a man dying in his sins. Lastly, the pastor said there was a man dying for sins. This man is none other than Jesus. Jesus was not on the cross because of any wrong, evil or sin that He had committed. Jesus was sinless. He had nothing wrong in His life. His purpose for being on the cross was to fulfill the plan of God so that lost man could be reconciled to Himself. For that to happen, there had to be a sufficient sacrifice. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb. He paid the price by dying for the sins of the entire world.

So first of all, make sure you don’t forget that Jesus was the man who died for your sins. Secondly, make sure that you are the one who dies to your sins. That means you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Failure to do so will result in you dying in your sins. Be reminded today in the words of an old hymn, “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin has left a crimson stain, He washed them white as snow”. Hey, it’s just a thought!