March 28 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 19:16–18

Devotional

On a hill called Calvary, Jesus hangs on a cross between two others. Who are these two other men? Are they disciples of Jesus? Had they not said that they would die with Him? But no, those crucified on either side of Jesus are two criminals. They were two men who had shed innocent blood; they were two murderers who received their just punishment, for Scripture states, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen. 9:6).

This came to pass so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled, saying that Christ was numbered with the transgressors (Isa. 53:12). There are two criminals crucified with Christ, but also in God’s sight there are three criminals. And Christ is even in the midst! Jesus does not hang to the side of the criminals but in the middle. That is how He had to hang before Pilate, but more importantly before God. He descended into the middle of God’s judgment. He did not come to earth to die for those who admit their faults and errors but really don’t think they are that bad. He came to die for great sinners. He came not for people who stand to the side of their misery, but for those who lie in the midst of their own misery.

During His ministry on earth, Christ lived in the midst of sinners and publicans. This was annoying to the Pharisees. Now He ends His life between those who shed blood, as if He also deserves great punishment. How greatly humbled we are when we stand at those three crosses. At the cross one understands, “I was as a beast before thee” (Ps. 73:22). Christ made Himself sin for us.

“And Jesus in the midst.” God the Father reckoned Jesus along with the two criminals. Jesus also reckoned Himself among them, for He did not leave the cross. He was faithful to those with Him on the cross. “In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren” (Heb. 2:17). But those brethren were ungodly, wicked men. In their midst is where He can be found.

We deserve the same judgment as the criminals on the crosses. But on which side of Christ are we? The one thief saw his guilt. The other remained hardened and perished while he was beside the Savior. How terrible it is to have guilt but not know it. These two criminals were together in their guilt and together in their judgment. Still, their ways separated forever.

Do we not deserve the same judgment as the criminals? Have we not committed the same sins? Maybe we did not do the exact same deeds, but the same wicked potential is present in all our lives. Our reaction to our sins can be that of the one criminal. We can recognize and confess our sin and beg for mercy. Or we can scoff at our sins like the criminal on the other side of Jesus. Jesus was in the middle and provided redemption for the one and destruction for the other, reflected in their response to their sin. The one, who thinks he can stand, falls. For he who has fallen in brokenness, there is deliverance. To the one who scoffs at his sin, Jesus is nothing. To the one who repents of his sin, Jesus is everything.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.