Do you know what day this is? Well, for most of you who are reading this column on the day it dropped at your doorstep, it is probably Tuesday. Of course, it depends on if it landed behind the bush or not, in which case you won’t read this column until this summer after you trim the hedges. However, for arguments sake, let’s say it is Tuesday. Now you might ask, what is so special about this week? I am glad you asked, because I really want to tell you. This week is the anniversary of the most important question ever asked in the history of mankind. Over 1,993 years ago on Tuesday, just days before He was to be crucified, Jesus Christ asked a question that people all over the world are still answering today: “What think ye of Christ?”(Mt 22:42). It is an important question that God is still giving you a chance to answer in 2024. Don’t waste it. Don’t ignore it.
The thief on the cross didn’t ignore it. He didn’t waste the opportunity to draw close to the Savior. His body may have been nailed to a cross and his mind flooded with agony, but his heart was answering the question, “What think ye of Christ”. Let’s go to that horrible scene. Fast forward a few days past the parable of the ten talents, past the lesson of the widow’s mite, past the Passover meal and the washing of the disciples’ feet, past the garden and the betrayal, past the mock trial and the beatings to three crosses made up of large wooden beams hanging from the sky like a dark shadow. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.’ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.’ And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 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.’ And he said unto Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:34-43)
It is my hope and prayer that you like the thief on the cross will answer Jesus Christ today. The hope of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ paid for your sins and my sins on that cruel cross of Calvary. He died that we might live again. Why did he have to die? Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” We have all sinned and come short of meeting God’s standard of perfection in order to get to heaven. Personally, I come way short. If we are honest with ourselves, we all miss the mark, and the wages of our sin is death according to Romans 6:23. However, the verse doesn’t end there. It goes on to say, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Salvation from your sins is a free gift. Let the answer for “What think ye of Christ” find faith in your heart.
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:4-6).
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Matthew Spoonhour is pastor of First Baptist Church, Monroe.
