Which Thief Would You Be?

 "But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." Luke 23:23

    Mobs are a pretty sight, aren't they, where common sense and decency join hands in flight? Wearily, we saw our fill of that in 2020 during the "peaceful protests." I sometimes ruefully think the world would be a brighter place if it weren't for people. 

    However, God so loved this world that He gave His only Son, Jesus, not to condemn it, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3: 16, 17). Let's examine the responses to this in Luke's account of the last days in the earthly life of Jesus.

    Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Peter denied Him three times. The guards mocked and beat Him. The priests and elders vehemently, wrongly accused Him. Three times, Pilate tried to talk sense into the inane crowd saying, "I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty" (23:22), but they shouted all the more, choosing the release of a murderer instead. Rulers sneered at Him. Women mourned and wailed. Even one of the criminals crucified beside Him hurled insults at Him.

    Fast forward to the end times, as told to us via the Revelation (chapters 16, 17). Does human nature improve with age? Here we read how God's wrath is poured out in the form of festering sores, waterways turned to blood, the sun scorches everyone before they are plunged into utter darkness followed by a tremendous earthquake and one hundred pound hailstones. Not only do the obstinate people refuse to repent, they wage war against the Lamb! Incredible, but read this:

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings - and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers." Revelation 17:14

    At the cross, the repentant thief said to the one who insulted Jesus: "Don't you fear God since you are under the same sentence?" Turning to Jesus, he said with great effort, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23: 40, 42)." 

     Peer past all the pastel and saccharine-syrupy sweetness of Easter and allow the Truth to wash over you beneath the bloodied cross of Calvary. Repent of your sins and join the Roman centurion in declaring, "Surely this was the Son of God!" Not until you realize your deep need of saving grace can you kick up your heels at the empty tomb and shout: 

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!" Luke 24: 5, 6