Left or Right ?
In Luke 23, we witness one of the most powerful scenes in all of Scripture—the crucifixion of Jesus. But this isn't just the story of one cross. It's the story of three crosses, and the eternal choice they represent for each of us.
The Scene at Calvary
When Jesus hung on the cross, he wasn't alone. On either side of him hung two criminals, both guilty, both dying. Yet their responses to Jesus in their final moments reveal two radically different positions of the heart: rebellion and repentance.
The Cross on the Left: Rebellion
The criminal on Jesus' left used his dying breath to mock and insult the one beside him. "If you say you are who you say, then save yourself and save us," he shouted.
This is the spirit of rebellion—refusing to take responsibility for our own actions and instead blaming others. Even while being punished for his own wrongdoings, this man blamed Jesus for not saving him. It's humanity's oldest story, dating back to the Garden of Eden when Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.
The dangerous reality of rebellion is this: you can be right next to Jesus and still be left with your shame, pain, and sorrows. Proximity to Jesus won't save you—intimacy will.
The Cross on the Right: Repentance
The criminal on Jesus' right had a completely different response. When he heard the other criminal's insults, he silenced him and said, "Don't you fear God?" This was a confession of faith, recognizing that the man in the middle was no ordinary man—he was God.
Then he did something powerful: he admitted his guilt. "We are punished justly because we deserve to be punished," he acknowledged. Unlike the man on the left who played the blaming game, this criminal took full responsibility for his sins.
And then came his prayer: "Remember me".
This is what repentance looks like. It's not about being perfect—it's about being sincere, admitting you've sinned, asking for forgiveness, and being willing to live a righteous life.
The Cross in the Middle: Redemption
Jesus looked at the repentant thief and spoke words that changed everything: "Today you will be with me in paradise".
Not tomorrow. Not after years of good works. Today.
This criminal entered paradise not because of his efforts or good deeds, but because of one single moment where he believed in Jesus and repented. The cross in the middle is more than wood—it's a bridge from your past life into your future, from sin into God's story, from death into life, from hell to heaven.
Jesus is the true high priest, the bridge builder (in Latin, "pontifex") who stands between humanity and God. And when Jesus declared "It is finished" on that cross, he was paying the ransom for our sins—the price we could never pay ourselves.
The Choice Before Us
Jesus teaches us in the parable of the sheep and the goats that one day we will all stand before God, separated to the left or the right. To those on the left, God will say, "I never knew you." But to those on the right, God will say, "My sheep know my voice and I know their name".
The gospel isn't about being qualified based on your performance or efforts. You are qualified based on what Jesus did when he went to the cross and declared, "It is finished".
All of us will one day have to deal with Jesus. The question is: will you get right with him, or will you be left without him?
What God Asks of You
God doesn't need your strength—he needs your surrender. Freedom means nothing unless you admit you were once in chains. Unless you get honest with God about the things that keep you bound, you will never be free from them.
This is the good news: Jesus paid the price for you, and salvation is free. But free doesn't mean cheap. It cost God his own Son. Jesus didn't just die for you—he died as you, because we were supposed to be on that cross.
When death took its shot at Jesus, death died—just like a bee dies when it stings. That's why the apostle Paul could declare, "Oh death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory?" Jesus conquered death, hell, the tomb, and the grave, and that same power lives in you and me.
Two Questions to Ponder
As you reflect on this message, consider these questions:
- Have you truly repented, or have you only felt sorry without changing direction?
- What is God asking you to surrender today so you can be right with him?
If you're living the same old life on Monday that you're confessing on Sunday, today is your opportunity to truly repent and ask forgiveness from God.
Left or right. Rebellion or repentance. The choice is yours.