Hanningfield Green 

Lawshall 

Bury St Edmunds 

Suffolk 

IP29 4QD 

Just A Thought

 Two men who represent all mankind

When God looks at the world’s population He sees just two groups of people; those who have recognised His love as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ and who have submitted their lives to Him; and those who haven’t.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, these two groups were clearly represented by the two criminals that were crucified either side of Him. One of them only wanted to use God, so said to Jesus, “If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!” The other one, to start with, was the same, but as he watched Jesus die he began to change his mind. He heard Him saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. He saw no bitterness in Jesus at being crucified unjustly - he simply saw forgiveness - and began to realise this was no ordinary man. He came to believe Jesus was who He said He was - the Messiah, the Son of God. He cried out to Him for mercy, knowing he didn’t deserve it, and Jesus right there and then promised him, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise. (Luke 23 vs 32 - 43).

These two men represent all of mankind; those who respond to God’s love as revealed in Jesus, and those who don’t, so the question is asked of everyone, “To which group do you belong?”