The Man in the Middle

October 6

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV) ““One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." {43} Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.””

(2 Corinthians 5:8-10 NIV) “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. {9} So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Two thieves were crucified along with Jesus -- one on His left, the other on His right. One died in sin, and faced the grimmest of reapers -- the other died with God’s assurance of Paradise. The difference between the two was their attitude toward the man in the middle. One cursed Jesus, and told Him that if He was really the Christ, He would save them and Himself. The second man rebuked the first, saying that they deserved punishment for their sin, but that Jesus was innocent. Then he uttered a short, but profound salvation prayer, acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and asking for God’s mercy. He asked the right person. The man in the middle just happened to be the Son of God, and Christ assured the repentant thief that they would soon be together in Paradise. Jesus is still the man in the middle -- the man between us and hell. And the wise still appeal to Him for mercy. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day