Have you ever wondered which side of history you’d be on? It’s easy to assume we’d always make the right choice, but the story of the three crosses on Golgotha reveals something profound about human nature—and about grace.
On that dark Friday outside Jerusalem, three men hung dying. Two were criminals getting what they deserved. The middle one was innocent, yet He chose to be there. And in those final hours, we see three possible responses to Jesus that still echo today.
The Cross of Rejection: When Relief Trumps Redemption
The first criminal saw Jesus and saw an opportunity—not for salvation, but for escape. “Save yourself and us!” he shouted. His words reveal a heart interested in situational rescue, not spiritual surrender.
Sound familiar? How often do we call on God when life falls apart—when the diagnosis comes, when the job disappears, when relationships crumble—only to return to business as usual once the crisis passes? This criminal believed Jesus had power, but he rejected Him as Lord. He wanted relief from the cross, not forgiveness from sin.
Jesus said it plainly in John 8:24: “Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” That man died on the cross of rejection, and tragically, many people today make the same choice.
The Cross of Reception: When Hearts Change
But something remarkable happened on the other side of Jesus. The second criminal—who had also mocked Jesus earlier—suddenly spoke up. “We’re getting what we deserve,” he admitted. “But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then came the words that changed eternity: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Notice what he didn’t ask for. He didn’t beg to be taken off the cross. He knew he was dying. Instead, he asked for something greater—to be remembered by a King. And Jesus responded with one of Scripture’s most beautiful promises: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the morning, this man was a condemned criminal. By afternoon, he received a promise. By evening, he was in paradise. His transformation proves it’s never too late to change your heart and your allegiance. God’s mercy can reach anyone at any time.
The Middle Cross: Your Redemption Story
Between those two crosses stood the cross of redemption. Jesus—who had the power to stop it all, who could have called down angels—stayed. He stayed because that cross was the only way to rescue humanity.
Here’s the truth we often miss: we’re all Barabbas. We’re the guilty ones who deserve judgment. But Jesus stepped into our place, taking the punishment we deserved so we could receive forgiveness. That’s redemption—the road Jesus walked so we could be set free.
Philippians 2:8 captures it perfectly: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Your Choice Today
So which cross is yours? The difference between those two criminals wasn’t their past—both were guilty. The difference was their response to Jesus. One hardened his heart; the other humbled it.
That same choice stands before you today. Will you reject Him, or will you turn and say, “Jesus, remember me”? The mercy that flowed from that middle cross 2,000 years ago is still available to everyone who calls on Him in faith.
Maybe you need to recommit yourself to that middle cross today. Maybe you need to make that decision for the first time. Either way, Jesus is reaching out in love, saying, “You’re mine.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for choosing the cross when You could have walked away. Thank You for loving us enough to take our place. Today, we choose You. We choose life. We choose to accept Your sacrifice and surrender our lives to You—not just on Sundays, but every moment of every day. Remember us, Lord, as we remember You. In Your precious name, Amen.
