THREE CROSSES

Three Crosses were on the hill where Jesus was crucified. Three very different crosses were represented that day. Oh, they looked the same, all of them caused death, but they were very different indeed. (READ LUKE 23: 32-43) CROSS #1 HAD A THIEF. Luke 23:39 “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If you are Christ, save Yourself and us.” On a cross; paying for his own sins. Ignorant of who is there beside him. He didn’t ask for answers; he blasphemed Jesus. This man didn’t want God. He wanted to mock Him. He rejected Jesus. God never wanted to send this thief on the cross to hell. He was sending himself to hell. CROSS #2 HAD A THIEF. Luke 23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong. 42 Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. He was on his own cross; still paying for his sins. He was hoping that Jesus might also remember him; or put in a good word for him. He was, in a sense, trusting religion to save him. This cross will never get you right with God. This thief is simply on the wrong cross; dying to pay for his own sins: “for we receive the due reward of our deeds” CROSS #3 HAD A SAVIOR. JESUS; doing what He was sent to do. Now, you may ask like the soldiers (Luke 23:37) or the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39) “If He was the Christ, why didn’t He come down from the cross?” There was no other way; except by staying on the cross; to pay the penalty for your sins and mine. His blood ALONE paid it all. Luke 22:42 saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done. 2Corinthians 5:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus ALONE took our place and paid for our sins. His cross ALONE made a way for us to be right with god. On His cross ALONE is the way to eternal life. No one can add to what Jesus did to save us. Our past, present, and future sins are all forgiven; Jesus paid the price for all. We simply need to confess our sins and put our complete trust on what He did thru His death, burial, and resurrection. (1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.) SO WHICH CROSS ARE YOU ON? #1 Paying for your own sins as you reject Jesus’ sacrifice. #2 Paying for your own sins hoping God remembers you. #3 Dead to you; trusting in the cross of Jesus Christ One chose to curse out to God that day. One chose to call out to God that day. One chose to give His life as a ransom for all. SO WHICH CROSS ARE YOU ON? Have you honestly & objectively taken your life’s goals to the Lord and surrendered it all to His plans for your life? Do your goals feed your ego more than they honor the Lord? Are you willing to change your goals if the Lord tells you to? “NO” to what I want; and YES to what God wants; and nothing else in between. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.