Ever wonder why there are 3 crosses depicted, instead of just one? 

I mean, Jesus is the focal point of the Bible. The Son of God. The spotless lamb. All glory is given to Him. He even says it Himself…. 

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” 

But yet, we see three crosses in numerous pictures or roadside displays. 

The simple reason is that God is trying to show us a picture. 

With the most in-depth, but simplistic of ways. 

If you’ve been to even a few Sunday School classes, most people have heard that the other crosses belonged to two thieves that were crucified alongside Jesus. One on the right, and one on the left. (Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.)

But what is the message that God is trying to convey here? 

In His most infinite wisdom, it is a perfect picture of the gospel message. 

You may have heard of the story of how Jesus did tell one thief that he would be in Heaven with Him that day. But have you ever heard the back story? That is where the good news is found. 

At first, both thieves were joining in with the mocking and insults. The ridicule and unbelief….

Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

But as they hung upon their crosses in their pain and agony, the stench and flies, their thirst and heat of the day, their blood soaked and weakening bodies. As he was pondering his fate, a silent but awesome work was happening inside the heart of one of the thieves. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 

That is…he began to see his guilt and need for a savior. 

Luk 23:39-41 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

How did this thief know that the other was guilty as well? Were they co-conspirators in their plans? And were apprehended, being caught in the very act at the same time? 

It doesn’t really say. But he knew they both were guilty. And now admittedly before God. Which is what God’s Holy Law proclaims that we all are. 

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Romans 3:10 confirming………As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

It is a mystery how God revealed what is proclaimed by the thief next. But one can only assume the Holy Spirit did exactly that. The thief somehow knew Jesus was going to rise from the dead and believed Jesus was who He claimed to be. The Messiah, the King of Israel. And that He was going to conquer death and take His throne.  

Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Jesus could have said, “Yeah right, no way, you were just mocking me.” But He doesn’t. God, like saving Peter from drowning, immediately springs into action. He shows us His complete mercy and forgiveness in that, He instantly proclaims comfort and peace instead….

“Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

And that simple gospel message is repeated throughout the New Testament.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The thief’s crucifixion wasn’t halted so he could do some good deeds to outweigh his bad deeds. And though baptism is a picture, it is not a prerequisite. Nay, all of the futile efforts of man's works-based systems for salvation, represented by Cain’s sacrifice as well, were never the plan. 

Jhn 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It is not what WE do. It is what HE did. To Him be all the glory. He has the only right to proclaim the words…”It is finished”. And to whom every knee shall bow.

And that is the simplicity of God’s Salvation Plan. That IS the gospel.

God brilliantly lays it out before us in the story of the two thieves.

One cross on either side. God reaching out to man. 

One accepting and one rejecting. That is why God put them there.

The truth is, we don’t even know their names. 

And that’s the point. 

For we are the thieves. 

Those crosses represent us.

And our need for Him.

And that is what today is about.