As Jesus hung on the Cross between two other men, His arms stretched out to both.
The Bible calls it the “just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:18).
Three of the gospel writers share the story. Matthew and Mark both say “the criminals who were crucified with [Jesus] taunted Him” along with the crowds below (Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:32).
But Luke heard something else.
“Two others– criminals– were also led away to be executed with [Jesus]. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’ Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other answered, rebuking him, ‘Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And [Jesus] said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise'” (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43).
I’ve thought about this scene– and the eternal significance of this moment. Jesus is still reaching to those who will reject Him. And equally offering salvation for all who recognize Him as Savior. From the middle cross, His arms reached wide to both.
Peter said, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). The word just is used to describe the righteous– someone who is justified by faith in Christ. The word unjust describes the person who lacks the imputed righteousness given to those who call on Jesus from a sincere heart.
Jesus was the Just and the Justifier.
From the middle cross, we learn the truth: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). The thief had no opportunity to right his wrongs. He couldn’t offer himself in penance; he could only offer his faith and repentance. And when he did, he was accepted. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
From the middle cross, we find our destiny: “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26, NLT).
No hoops. No performance.
All that is needed is faith in the One who willingly gave Himself as the final sacrifice.
There were three crosses but only ONE had the power to conquer death and free us from the penalty of sin.
The middle cross tore the veil and removed the separation between God and earth. The middle cross provided a new way to be made right in God’s sight. But the best news of all is that Jesus is no longer on that middle cross!
“[Jesus] was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25). Although every one of us came to Christ with shortcomings and failures, “God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed by our many sins, He united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by His wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ the exalted One…!” (Ephesians 2:4-6, TPT).
Jesus is exalted! And He is still reaching. He is still tearing down the middle wall of separation. He is still receiving all who will receive Him.
