Four Dying Men?

Three men were laboring to breathe as they hung on rough Roman crosses. Two men were condemned criminals, the other one was accused of blasphemy, offending the Jewish authorities by claiming to be God. The raucous crowd scornfully shouted ridicule at the blasphemer. Even the thieves joined in the scoffing of the One labeled "The King of The Jews." The heartbroken followers of Jesus could only weep as their anguish was drowned out by the rabid noise of the crowd.
One thief used his last intelligible words to mock Jesus. The other thief astonishingly, for some divine reason had a sudden change of heart. He rebuked his companion and turned to Jesus and with simple sincerity said: "Jesus, remember me." Jesus responded with words the crowds likely neither heard nor cared to hear. Jesus said what the humble thief clearly heard: "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Perhaps the man had taken to heart Jesus' previous prayer, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
One man was dying with indifference in his heart and scorn on his lips. The second man was dying with a sincere appeal for mercy and grace. Jesus died with the words "it is finished," both declaring and demonstrating God's purchase of LIFE for all who would believe.
These were "three men," where is the "fourth?" It is me. It is you. We were represented by the crowd who stood by watching. Some would indifferently walk away. Some would self-righteously claim their good works make them fit for heaven. Some would seriously ponder and take Jesus's words to heart and believe both the things Jesus said and what Jesus did. You and I are also dying. We have the same choices to make. Which man are you?

Jesus Christ (#1) was crucified between two other men.(#2 & #3) They were dying as hundreds and perhaps thousands (#4) looked on. Pondering that long ago day we can see four dying men. What difference does it make for you and me today?
Genesis 3:9 Like God asked Adam and Eve after they disobeyed and were trying to hide from Him: "Where Are You?"

They were ALL THE SAME:

- They were all human beings.
they were conceived, born, lived and died.
- They all experienced pleasure and tribulation
- They all experienced temptation.
- They were all surrounded by Perfection.
- They were all surrounded by Deception.
- They were all surrounded by Ruin.
- They all witnessed amazing Rescues.
- They all made life determining choices.

Phlp 2:6-8 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Heb 4;15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

They were DIFFERENT
Jesus was DIFFERENT from them all

1- Jesus existed from eternity past
- 2,3,4 being began at conception.
2- Jesus was sinless. the only perfect man
- 2,3,4 were unrighteous and self-righteous.
3- Jesus was God, Perfection
- 2,3,4 condemned to separation from God.
4- Jesus was made to be sin for 2,3,4.
- 2,3,4 were slaves to sin.
5- Jesus was unjustly condemned.
- 2,3,4 justly condemned.
6- Jesus was The Savior
- 2,3,4 needed a Savior.
+++
John 1 "In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God and The Word was God."
Philippians 2:5-11 Christ Jesus,...in the form of God, ... emptied himself,...being born in the likeness of men. humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross...
Colossians 1:15-21...all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together...in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

#2 and #3 were DIFFERENT

#3 joined the crowd in deriding, mocking, reviling, scoffing,
#2 changed mind and heart and said: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
+++
Matthew 27:32-44 ...those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads ... the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, ... And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Luke 23:32-43 ...One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,... But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God... we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Two kinds of #3

3a- atheist, agnostic, mocking
3b- confident in personal good works
+++
verses
Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ... although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ... they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! ... since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ... all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.

Pharisee: Luke 18:11,12 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Which Man Am I, Are You?
We are all either #2 or #3

Just as the entire human race was represented by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the entire human race was represented by the individuals and the crowd gathered at Gethsemane to watch Jesus Christ be crucified.
All of our attitudes and behaviors were represented there. While there were and are various nuanced differences, our fundamental attitudes and behaviors were all on display that awful-wonderful day. And the same attitudes and behaviors are present with every human being who has ever lived.
When Adam and Eve believed the lies of Satan and disobeyed God, their relationship with God was broken. They spiritually "died" and they were rightly "afraid" of God Who was asking: "Where are you?" They blamed others and made excuses for their actions, They tried to cover themselves to be presentable. All those things failed. But with the clothes He made for them God promised a day would come when full rescue would come for all who would believe.
That day arrived at Gethsemane. Jesus, unbelievers and believers were there. I was there, You were there. And God asks each of us: Where Are You? (Genesis 3:9) And just like the two criminals, each of us answer.

"Where are you?" #2 or #3