3 CROSSES, 1 SAVIOUR
Luke 23:33
On Good Friday three crosses were constructed at Calvary for executions that day. The Roman authorities had captured and convicted two thieves. They were sentenced to death by crucifixion, that is nailed by hands and feet to a wooden cross and left to hang until dead. Crucifixion was an excruciatingly painful means of torture and certain death. Some hung for days, before their strength diminished to the point where they could not longer pull their body up to gain breath, eventually dying of suffocation.
The third person, on the middle cross that day, was different. He had never stolen anything, wasn't involved in any uprising, infact he wasn't convicted of any crime. The record of the Bible tells us that for envy the Jewish religious leaders conspired against him and rail-roaded the Roman govenor into a sentence of death under threat of civil disobedience and loss of public and political honour. The title written over his cross was: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews".
The Bible also reveals the events of Good Friday from a completely different perspective. as the sinless Son of God, God the Father had sent Jesus Christ to become the subsititute for sinful mankind. On that middle cross he took our sins and made them his, baring God's punishment on our behalf. "Christ died for our sins (1st Corinthians 15:3)". He was buried and rose again the third day - God's proof of what had been accomplished.
The Lord Jesus is no longer on the cross, nor in the tomb, but today He is the living Saviour who is willing to save all who come to God through Him.
"But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12)"
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