Respond to the Cross

As mentioned in the prior segment, Jesus’ shed blood on the Cross provided the solution to sin – the only solution. No one can obey The Law 100% perfectly; no one’s conscience is infallible. Jesus died to provide the only means for remission of sins – freedom from the guilt and enslavement of sin. It is as if the sins were never committed. His sinless blood was shed to wash us clean and to purchase freedom. He did what we could not do: He created the way to reconciliation with God and to escape eternal death. But we must respond.

Two others were crucified that day, both described as robbers or evil-doers. Both had opportunity to respond to Jesus dying on the Cross. Each responded differently. One “hurled abuse at” or “railed on” Jesus: “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” He wanted Jesus to get him out of a horrendous earthly death but wasn’t interested in who Jesus was or what He had come to do.

Now look at the other one’s response. First, he rebuked the one railing on Jesus. Then, he spoke to Jesus – who was dying, struggling for each breath, with His skin and muscles shredded by scourging. “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 New King James Version) His faith was far beyond everyone else’s that day. He still completely believed that Jesus was going to come into His kingdom. He grasped that Jesus was the Messiah and His kingdom was an eternal one with scope far beyond that of the current political situation. And despite what he could see with his eyes, and what he knew Jesus was physically experiencing because he was experiencing the same things, he spoke with firm faith that Jesus was going to come into His kingdom. This man had the faith described in Hebrews: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, Berean Literal Bible) What he saw was the horrible and excruciating death by crucifixion. But he had assurance that Jesus would come into His kingdom, and voiced that assurance.

That man’s response shows what “accepting Jesus as Saviour and Lord” is all about:

1. He acknowledged that he was a sinner, deserving of death. “We receive the due reward of our deeds” (Luke 23:41 NKJV).

2. He acknowledged who Jesus was. First: “This Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41 NKJV) This could not be said of anyone else. All of us have sinned – done something wrong. Only God is without sin. Furthermore, Jesus had declared that He was God, which would be blasphemy (a sin worthy of execution) UNLESS it was true. So, by saying that Jesus had done nothing wrong, the thief was saying that Jesus was God. Second: by calling Jesus “this Man”, the thief also affirmed that Jesus was fully man (so, fully God and fully man). That was vital, for only God is without sin, and only a sinless human could die for other people’s sins – everyone else could only die for their own sins. Third: he acknowledged that Jesus was his Lord (master/ruler) and – again – that Jesus was God when he said “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NKJV).

3. He turned to Jesus regarding his eternity, not for temporary earthly benefit. He did not ask Jesus to get him off the cross, or to stop the agony, etc. He didn’t say, “Save me from this, and I will follow You.” He only cared about his eternal soul and his relationship with the Lord Jesus. He turned to Jesus with full acknowledgement of his sin and a desire to be in the Lord Jesus’ kingdom after his death (looking solely at his eternal destiny). The entire passage (Luke 23:39-43) shows this.

That was all that the thief did. And, it was all that he needed to do to be born again. We know this to be true because of what Jesus said to him: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NKJV)

How will YOU respond to Jesus, and why He willingly died on the Cross?

By Lee Vickers, area resident; written in 2016; revised in 2024; all rights reserved.