On the day Jesus would die, three crosses were prepared. Three crosses were prepared because three men were going to be crucified. Three men would die the same humiliating death, but all three of them were extremely different. These differences serve as a lesson to all of us. As you read this article, I want you to think about one question… which cross represents you?
The first cross is the cross of the Savior. This is a cross that only Jesus Christ could represent. He could represent this cross because it was the will of His Father (Matthew 26:39,42). He could represent this cross because He was perfect (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15). He could represent this cross because His death was a death “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). No one could ever accomplish what Jesus did on His cross. There was no man like our Savior, and there was no cross like His.
The second cross is the cross of the sinner. We find a criminal representing this cross in Luke 23:39. This man “hurled abuse” at the Savior, and if he never repented, would spend eternity separated from God. Does this cross represent you? Do you abuse the Savior with your words and actions? In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” We may not be on a cross next to Jesus, but every time we mistreat others, specifically His people, we mistreat and abuse Jesus. May this cross never be represented by any of us.
The third and final cross is the cross of the saved. We find the other criminal in Luke 23:40ff representing this cross. This man stood up for Jesus (Luke 23:40), this man saw Jesus for who He was (Luke 23:41), and this man sought Jesus and His kingdom (Luke 23:42). In all these things, Jesus saved this man (Luke 23:43). Does this cross represent us? If we stand, see, and seek Jesus Christ according to the way He instructs us in His word, we will find the same salvation this man did.
There were three crosses on Calvary, and there are three lessons we can learn from those crosses. If we look carefully, we see a Savior, a sinner, and a saved man. While none of us can be the Savior, we most certainly can choose if we will be saved or if we will remain a sinner. Eternity is at stake. Which cross represents you?
-Bryce Mayfield