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The Story of the Three Crosses
Nearly two thousand years ago on a hill called Golgotha in Jerusalem, a crucifixion took place of three men. On the cross to the left was a vile, arrogant, man that was completely unremorseful for any wrongdoing. On the cross to the right was a man that was guilty of a crime but sought repentance and mercy and found it. On the center cross was someone completely innocent of any crime or action that was considered sin. The following is direct excerpts from the original story of this incident;
While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered. "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don’t' you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Matthew 27: 19-26, Luke 23: 32-33, 39-43)
The governor asked a very important question that still applies today to you;
" What shall I do with Jesus"
What are you going to do with Jesus? Will you accept Him as your savior today or will you reject Him and the great price He paid for you?
Jesus said; "I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO MAN comes to the Father except by me." He also said; "You MUST be born again to enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus loves you and died to save you from your sins. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ, not through a church, lodge, good works, baptism, or by keeping the Golden Rule. To the lost sinner going to Hell, salvation is through the precious Blood of Christ. You need salvation because of sin that was inherited by nature, through the first man Adam. If you have not believed in Christ enough to ask Him to save you, you are lost and unsaved. You are condemned because you have rejected the only price that is able to purchase your salvation. The governor also thought that he could wash his hands and be clean; Not true, you MUST have the blood of Jesus to cleanse you of your sins. Jesus wants to save you more than you want to save yourself. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, and lived a life without sin, the only one in all creation who lived a perfect life. Jesus always invites men to come to Him and accept the price He paid for their sins. Listen to what the Bible says concerning this issue;
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
(John 3:16--18, Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9,
Jesus wants you to let Him into you life, look at His invitation;
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
Will you let Jesus into your life today? Once you die you will not have a chance to change you mind; there is no purgatory, no second chance. The Bible says that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, not even our next breath, so if you died today are you ready to meet God? If not, ask Jesus to come into your heart and life right now! You don't have to wait to be in a church, you don't have to be on your knees, do it now. Simply acknowledge your condition to God; Dear Lord I realize that I am a sinner and that I do need the salvation that you offer. I ask you to forgive me of my sins by covering them with the blood you shed, and I invite you to come in and control my life from this day forward. Lead me where I need to be to learn more about you, In Jesus Name.
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