It is early in the morning; I mean really really early in the morning. It is Monday of Holy Week and here I sit at 3:00 a.m. Allergy season has arrived early and I am wide awake, awaiting merciful relief from the sinus medicine. I enter morning reflections and the passage is in Luke 23.
Three crosses, two criminals, and one innocent man sit on a hill outside the gates of the city. One criminal taunts just like the religious crowd and the foreign soldiers.
But the other criminal reacts in a contrary manner. He scolds his counterpart about their guilt and this man’s innocence. They deserved this punishment, but the man in the middle did not. The criminal admits guilt, and pleads to the man with the sign above his head, “King of the Jews.”
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luke 23:42
Forget Jesus’ answer for a moment; just look over at him. He is a filthy mess, naked and bloody, a crown of thorns forced onto his head, and the flesh on his back ripped to shreds. Yet, there is such dignity.
Just a little while ago he exclaimed:
“Father, forgive them them for they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:34
Oh criminal, does anybody even remotely love you this much?! He does!
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42
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And there is the victory…Thank God for the Man on the middle cross!
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