Luke 23:33-4333And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:33‑43)
When Christ was crucified there were two others who were crucified with Him.
These two men were thieves, so it was according to the word of the prophet Isaiah, "He was numbered with the transgressors.”
The Scripture tells us that one of these men turned to Christ and called upon His name in confession of his guilt, while the other died in his sins, or in other words, with his sins still upon him. Many of our readers have heard the hymn,
"There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,
And sinners washed in that blest flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day,
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.”
Many have proved the virtue of that precious blood from that day to this, while thousands still reject, and go on to meet God in judgment. O, reader, how is it with you?
The following plain statements have been sent in to us which should be of interest to all, and we trust they may be of special interest to some hungry soul:
1. The man on the left hand cross had sin in him, and on him.
2. The Man on the center cross, the Lord Jesus Christ, had sin on Him, but never had sin in Him.
3. The man on the right hand cross had sin in him, but not on him, for his sin was on the Lord Jesus. He confessed the Lord on the cross, was saved, and received into the presence of the Lord that very day. Jesus said to him, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.”
How wonderful is the grace of God that meets the guilty sinner in all his need, and that blesses him beyond all that he could hope or ask for. And this could only be through the death of the spotless "Lamb of God," or, as Scripture says, through "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Pet. 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19).)
"THE FOOL HATH SAID
IN HIS HEART,
THERE IS NO GOD!”
"IF YE BELIEVE NOT
THAT I AM HE,
YE SHALL DIE
IN YOUR SINS.”
“HE THAT HATH
RECEIVED HIS TESTIMONY
HATH SET TO HIS SEAL
THAT GOD IS TRUE.”