Jesus was crucified among robbers unjustly though he was not a robber and did not sin. When Jesus was crucified, there were signs and wonders. God used these events as points for our edification.
Crucified among robbers
Jesus was crucified between two robbers, Matthew 27: 38. They considered him as a friend of sinners who kept their company till the end. He gave them the opportunity to change till the end. For those who repented, Jesus granted instant redemption, Luke 23:43.
Jesus is still friends of sinners and we are partakers of his redemption. He is calling us to accept his invitation to repent. The presence of the robbers who were crucified with Jesus showed that no matter our sins, we will one day face death. It is appointed unto us once to die and be judged thereafter. Jesus is always in our midst and sees all that we do. Jesus died first before the robbers so the unrepentant one missed their opportunity. We should not miss our opportunity or appointment with Jesus.
None of the robbers knew when Jesus was going to die or when they would also die. We also do not know when we will die. Let us prepare for the unknown hour. Jesus took the lead to prepare a place for the repented souls in heaven. He has finished and ready to come for his own. Do not be left out. The robbers hanged on the cross in the open. Our sins are open before God. We cannot deceive God, Galatians 6:7. Let us come to him, he is a worthy friend.
The signs at crucifixion
The curtain of the temple was torn into two, from top to bottom, Matthew 27: 51-52. God paved an unrestrained access for us to him rather than through a medium. It shows an opportunity for a direct and personal relationship. We should not patronize mediums. Sadly we fail to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Parting of the veil also showed that God sees what we do from the innermost part of our hearts. We cannot hide anything from God. Job 34:21 says for his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. Jesus came for us to repent, Luke 3:3. We ridicule ourselves when we reduce God to our level. By the torn veil, we must separate ourselves from our past sinful lives.
There was a great earthquake when Jesus died, Matthew 28:2. Jesus was thus resetting the foundation of his creation. It also confirmed that he is the only true foundation and no other. Our foundation in this life and hereafter is Jesus. Without him what we have built will experience tremor and collapse. We need to reset our foundations rights with Jesus the master builder. Let us prayerfully realign with Christ who is the foundation of our lives which is secret to him, Matthew 13:35. Jesus shook the foundations of what held us in bondage or captivity to set us free just as he did for Paul and Silas when they were in jail to set them free in Acts 16:26. Jesus wants us to be free today.
There was also darkness from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44. It signified the end of the light of the world in our lives of darkness. Jesus is the light of the world, John 9:5. We extinguished the light God gave us so we may not dwell in darkness and evil and we cannot forever love and live in darkness. We can lose the light so Paul says we should be careful lest the light in us be darkness, Luke 11:35. The darkness was temporary for three hours because the darkness could not overshadow the light, John 1:5. Jesus is ready to disperse the darkness in our lives. We must surely associate with the light.
The darkness lasted for only three hours. The darkness which dominated the world for the three years during Jesus’ ministry had succumbed to the light. It also meant that Jesus who died for three days sealed the end of the work of darkness within the three days. To God a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, 2 Peter 3:8. Jesus is still beaming his light to our hearts, let us receive him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, even in death you still loved us though we remained as sinners. You loved us to the end. Let your signs and wonders lead us to submit to your authority. In your precious holy name we pray, Amen!!
