A Thought from the Cross

Sometimes I can be super slow on the uptake, especially when it comes to symbolism. I have a friend, Noel, who is a voracious reader and is incredibly keen with finding and getting the symbolism in what she reads. Myself? Yeah, not so much. I let myself get lost in the beauty of the story, happy to gloss over anything deeper--but I often think how much might I really be missing if I don't press myself to dig for greater understanding? Wouldn't it bring the stories to a fuller life?

So this morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks--and don't even ask me how it came to me other than the Spirit gave me this shining tidbit of light. How many times have we heard and read the story of Christ's crucifixion? About a gazillion times since we began Sunday school and especially as Easter and Good Friday rolled around, right? It occurred to me just this morning, these two criminals hung on either side of our Lord, truly represent humanity--are we not as guilty and deserving of their death as they are? Do we not all sincerely fall short of the glory of God?

The guy on the left is insulting Christ, taunting Him to prove Himself before the crowd. He represents the world of unbelievers--doubting, accusing, hostile and angry. The guy on the right represents Christ's followers--he knows his guilt, he is full up certain he is deserving of his sentence. He is also completely sure of who Christ is: righteous, innocent, his only hope of salvation. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." -Luke 23:42

Which side of the cross are you on?

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

~Luke 23:43

 

Thanks be to God.