I absolutely love this story. I don't think there's any one of us who can't relate to both thieves at one time or another in our lives.
One of the criminals who hung there on the cross hurled insults at Jesus. " Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
He obviously didn't want Jesus for Who He was. He wanted what he can get from Him. Like some of us. We need proof. We say, "Get me out of this situation. Or, "Get me out of this suffering, than I'll believe." We focus so much on the here and now, and living as long as we can. We can be selfish, stubborn people. Not realizing what this gift of life is all about. God desires a relationship with us, by acknowledging His Son. The other criminal looked beyond the cross into eternity.
I don't think we can wrap our mind around around how long eternity is. But the other criminal must have.
The other criminal realized that they were being punished justly. He feared God. He knew Jesus was an innocent man and didn't deserve to be sentenced to death. He must have even seen beyond the cross by his statement to Jesus. He said, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." ... He was a free man that day. Even though he was going to die. All because of the grace of God. He took his eyes off the cross and focused on Jesus. He would open his eyes to paradise the moment he took his last breath, verse 43.
Sometimes our prayers don't get answered the way we expect, or as quick as we think they should be answered. Because God is after a relationship with us through His Son. Sometimes, it's only in the hard times and suffering, that God gets us to spend time with Him, and talk to Him.
God wants to know we want Him. Not what we can get from Him. It's an insult to want the blessing and not the Blesser.
One criminal wanted the blessing. The other wanted just the Blesser.
One sweet day, I know I will experience the red letters written in Luke 6:43, just like the one criminal.... "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." I want the Blesser.
For Your glory Lord
Kim D
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