Introduction
There are two transgressors (criminals) who hung on crosses next to Jesus. In this blog I'm going to compare and contrast them, and then talk about how they symbolize two types of sinners in this world: The proud sinner, and the humble sinner.
The Heart Posture of the Humble Sinner
Luke 23:40–42: "But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.'"
This statement from the criminal on the cross epitomizes the heart posture of every person who comes to Christ. It directly contrasts the world's posture expressed by the other criminal on the cross.
The Proud Sinner: Arrogance and Entitlement
This criminal blasphemes the Lord by saying, "If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us."This statement is full of entitlement and arrogance. The world has no humility or repentance. Like this man, the world has a sense of entitlement and demands God to save him on his terms. Like this man, the world blasphemes the Christ and relishes in it's mockery of the Son of God. "If you are the Christ...." This attitude is ridden with haughtiness. It agrees with the rulers who in verse 35 "sneered" at Jesus who was being crucified and said, "He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." And again in verse 36 the soldiers did the same- "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, 'If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." These blasphemous and mocking statements echo today as people often say, "If God is so great why doesn't He stop all the suffering in the world right now!?"....or.... "If God is so good then He would not allow anyone to go to hell!" .....or... "If your God is real where is He! I can't see Him!!".... and with many other statements people mock the living God, He who gave them life. But what do they all have in common? What do the rulers, the soldiers, the criminal on the cross, and those of the world today? -An attitude that has been around since Cane. Unlike Abel, Cane demanded God to accept his terms for coming to Him. This is true today. The world and the arrogant criminal on the cross demand that God save him on his terms. No repentance of sin, no confession of an evil heart. God should allow their sin and still let them have eternal life.
The Humble Sinner: Fear of God, Repentance, and Mercy
However the other criminal on the cross feared God and realized he justly hung on the cross. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is more than reverence. The Hebrew word for fear is yirah and it means dreadful. Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). This is the type of fear that this man had who hung on the cross next to Christ. He had justly deserved punishment. He recognized he had received the due reward of his deeds. He had no where to go. His time was up. He realized that now that his life was over, judgment from God Almighty was next. And what was his posture? A broken and contrite heart. A poor spirit. He hungered and thirsted for righteousness. He recognized his need for mercy and he recognized Who was able to give him that mercy. And what did this guilty criminal (guilty according to civil law as well as God's law) get from Jesus? He got mercy. He got salvation.
How We Must Come to God
We must come to God the same way. The realization that we broke God's law produces fear of God. For the consequences of being a law breaker is hell. But that fear is only the beginning of true wisdom; it's wisdom because it causes us to seek God's mercy. Like a person who is standing at the edge of a cliff wisely steps away. Like the humble criminal on the cross, death is our due reward, for "the wages of sin is death..." ( Romans 6:23) It causes us to fling ourselves at the mercy of the Judge. We come to Christ on His terms, not ours. Humbly we confess our sin and turn from them (repentance) and then we place our trust in what He did for us on the Cross. And the result? Salvation! Forgiveness! Becoming born again! The promise of His Holy Spirit! The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord....And now we live for Him.
**PS..Are you or someone you know hungering for the Word of God? Great! Do you know what is the perfect accompaniment to the Word of God? A journal! This is how I study God's word and I want to share it with you! Check out the Berean Journal: A verse Mapping Journal.