When I Survery the Wondrous Cross

My friends Stephen & Brooksyne Weber posted this incredible picture of three crosses on their web site today. Check out www.dailyencouragement.net

I was just going to post the picture and let it speak for itself but instead I'm sharing part of Stephen's Daily Devotional for today, GOOD FRIDAY.

Stephen writes:

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left" (Luke 23:33).


Tom and Marsha are long-time friends of ours in northern Pennsylvania who have a single cross overlooking their property. When I get within a distance of their house I begin looking for this spiritual landmark. One of the blessings I have often seen as I travel, particularly in the southern states, are three white crosses placed up on a hill or mountain that can be seen from the highway as a witness to the landowners' faith.

Normally Christians use a single cross as a symbol of their faith but the three crosses also have rich symbolism as a reminder of the three crosses on Mount Calvary.

Jesus hung on the middle cross, vicariously dying for the sins of all mankind. Two criminals, typical of the human race, hung on crosses on each side of Him. These three crosses represent:

The cross of rejection.

One criminal represents the masses that to the very end rebel against God and reject His plan of redemption. But rarely is such sneering so openly expressed, and this by a dying man as he hurled insults at Christ. This criminal is merely expressing the viewpoint of so many that reject God's only remedy for our sin problem; they die in their sins.

The cross of repentance.

The other criminal represents those who repent of their sins and place their faith in God. This criminal came to realize that he and the other lawbreaker deserved the death penalty and spoke rather frankly: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41). His faith is humbly expressed in these words: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Our Lord's dying words brought eternal hope to the repentant criminal as well as spiritual hope to millions through the centuries, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

The cross of redemption.

On the middle cross Christ dies once for all time for all people. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:19,20). Peter, a witness to these things, stated, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18a).This Good Friday let us by faith with thankful hearts accept God's only solution for our sin problem.

Let us faithfully live for the One who died for us.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber