Christ dying on the cross is the central tenet of our faith. But God divinely orchestrating the simultaneous crucifixion of two murderers and thieves, both sides of the center cross in itself offers us a powerful imagery of the Gospel truth. Both these men probably had little to no idea who Christ was till they would meet on Calvary’s hill outside of Jerusalem. These 6 hours these men would have with Christ, would go on to determine the rest of their eternities. When the impenitent thief hurled insults at Christ he wasn’t the first one to do so (Luke 23:39). Instead his view and response to Christ was shaped and determined by the world that he had heard and seen. Whether this was the passers by with their scoffing remarks, or the Pharisees and Scribes with their hateful jibes or the Roman guards with their open mockery of Christ. He had conformed to this world’s patterns. His colleague on the other cross, though having heard the very same words and remarks, had a starkly contrasting response. Why? Because he chose to see more, to hear more and to know more than just all the mockery and blasphemous words hurled at Christ. He chose to turn away and to fix his gaze on Christ hanging on the cross – in the same physically excruciating pain he was in but choosing to remain silent, seeking God for the forgiveness of all his “enemies,” and even in that terrible moment, showing concern for Mary His mother. This sinner would maybe have not gotten the chance before this moment to know of Christ’s love, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness or mercy. But right in this moment he became certain of it all, like a sweet aroma exuding over the smell of blood and death that lingered around him. This wasn’t merely a last ditch attempt at salvation. This man, this King of the Jews, this God, had now fully gripped his reality, without a word uttered. In his trivial sense of justice, he would cry out the greatest truth that must confront every sinner alive – the injustice of Christ’s death and the rightful condemnation of us as guilty sinners (Luke 23:41). His wicked heart now broken under the weight of this incomprehensible love and kindness, he would fully embrace repentance. Today, the message of the three crosses confronts us. Who or what is shaping your view of Christ – the world or Christ Himself? If the former, look upon that cross where Jesus died for you and let Him change you. If the latter, let us then through our words, responses and lives, now reveal the true crucified Christ to this dying world.