Scale of Justice

Christ was crucified at Golgotha he was flanked on both sides by two hard core criminals, both condemned to death for their acts of robbery with violence whose guilt is unquestionably validated through their own admission.

The scene at Golgotha was the best presentation of the three aspects of all human kind. Many people in their need to justify their acts of unrighteousness have asked the question, what is the standard of righteousness and who determines it?  At Christ’s crucifixion these questions are answered. The true picture of human sin is represented by the worst of criminals. The bible captures it well as ‘Everyone has sinned and come short of the glory of God’ and our sin attracts the ultimate penalty which is death preceded by much suffering. 

There are three crosses, one for man condemned, and one for the mark of righteousness and on the left one for man redeemed. They all go through physical death.

Jesus is in the middle representing the measuring rod, or the scale of righteousness at which all mankind is weighed. He is the model of ‘rightness’ or rather righteousness. If we compare ourselves to him we all come short for although he is man like us we cannot even get close to his righteousness.

This is what exactly happened when the thief on the left compared himself to Christ. He found himself wanting and short of the measure of that righteousness that was projected and spread parallel to him. By his own admission he could not find any sin on Christ but was surprised that he had to suffer the same fate. By his words we can tell that he is remorseful and he goes forth and asks for remembrance by acknowledging that the one who is beside him is far greater and superior to him even though they are both men.  Immediately there is an assurance, an answer from Jesus confirming the expedition in response to a sinner’s call for redemption.  That answer shows that the Lord is just waiting for us to recognize our guilt and see his redemptive act on the cross and to ask for forgiveness and we are assured that we become partakers of his next kingdom, the kingdom of righteousness.  

James and John in their pursuit for authority and closeness with Jesus had requested Him to allow them to be on the right and on the left of Him in HIS GLORY. 

Mark_10:37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

Mark_10:40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. (Jesus replying)

Jesus’ Glory is revealed on the cross. His knowledge of the affliction before Him and yet he choses to go along with God’s plan to be crucified. Crucifixion remains one of the most painful and slow death inventions since time and Christ act reveals His great love for us.

Remember that to everyone who is observing the three men hanging on the cross, the criminal who received redemption is on the left hand side but actually he is on the right hand side of Jesus. This answers the question of who will sit on the right hand side of Christ and the answer is everyone who accepts him as saviour. 

Those it has been PREPARED for is all those who are in Christ Jesus. All the ones on His left are condemned. 

The two criminals depict the two deviations and two forms of men that we find on earth. It should be clear that neither party is without error for the one who is right (without error) is in the middle and is Christ. The one on the right represents men who know they have deviated from the mark of righteousness and even know their destiny which is death. They know of Christ who represents righteousness but instead of acknowledging Him as greater and as the mark of perfection they question His mandate and His authority and continue to mock and ridicule Him. 

The other deviation is represented by the criminal on the left. Though equally guilty and with sin he represents those who receive Christ as righteousness and surrender to him for mercy. They are the ones who become the sons of God, the inheritors of His kingdom. 

Both deviations are unrighteous and attract death but through Christ’s death the power of death is nullified. That’s why Jesus Christ resurrected for death cannot contain a man without sin. More so death cannot contain a man who has received a portion of the life of the man without sin. For by acknowledging  the measure of righteousness (Jesus), we receive that righteousness.  That’s why Paul the apostle says ‘it’s no longer I who lives but Christ in me’. Even though we have to go through physical death even as Christ did, we have the assurance of resurrection from His resurrection. It’s His way of saying ‘this is what happens to those who have my righteousness’. 

It should be of note that this righteousness is not by our actions but by impartation. We have acquired it. Only God has the power to extinguish the spirit of life that is within us. Without Christ, who is the mark of the righteousness God has no option but to extinguish our spirits after our physical death. When we have the mark of Righteousness which is Christ we have a second chance to life as God had intended from the beginning of time, to a world without sin thus without death.

Brethren, Sin in the Hebrew language means a thorn. It is the same thorn that the Apostle Paul talks about in his second letter to the Corinthians.

2Co 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the TRUTH: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

A King is a herald or an indication of the greatness of man. A king represents the highest order a man can rise to. A king’s glory is indicated by the crown upon his head which is usually made from the finest and the most expensive metals and precious stones. Christ was crowned with a crown made of thorns.  If a thorn represents sin then a crown of thorns portrays the greatest sinner of all. Jesus Christ was made to possess every sin that humanity engages in and above him was a placard that read ‘Jesus the King of Jews’. This actually means King of mankind, the greatest sinners. Jesus chose us in whom God could not find any righteous and Jesus decided to take away all that sin upon him so that we would live again. That sin drove Him to the grave but as His spirit was righteous death could not contain him and He rose again. 

We will live with Him if we accept His act of mercy. We need to move to his right side and to ask for forgiveness and for Him to remember us so as to acquire that pardon and that life that is everlasting.