Cursed In The Sight Of God

“If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. [Deuteronomy 21.22-23]

Jesus experienced being "cursed in the sight of God."

The significance of being "cursed in the sight of God" cannot be underestimated. "Cursed in the sight of God" is as bad as it gets.

There were three men crucified on Golgotha. Two criminals flanked Jesus in the center of the trio. All were experiencing the same "cursed in the sight of God."

However, of the three, two of them differed from the third in one eternal way: they entered Paradise and the one apparently did not.

All three were "cursed in the sight of God," this has already been established, but the positive outcome of the two must be considered in contrast with the third. Jesus overcame the bonds of death and the curse and lives now eternally in the presence of God in the perfection and blessings of heaven. The third criminal remains to this very day in the grasp of eternal torment - ultimate death. But what about the criminal who experienced a positive outcome?

The one criminal who asked Jesus, "Remember me..." experienced something of magnificence! He was powerless to overcome his fate, "cursed in the sight of God," but enjoyed relief from it anyway. How? A simple repentant acknowledgement of Jesus as Supreme King of Kings and Lord of Lords. On that cross, the thief's earthly destiny was settled - there would be no getting out of that position alive. But in his dying breaths, his request of his fellow Crucified One, made an eternal shift of destiny.

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23.39-43]

Here is the simple salvation message: 

• Recognize and acknowledge that you are not innocent. 
• Recognize and acknowledge Jesus for having innocently died.
• Ask Jesus to remember you for eternity.
• Believe Jesus' words, "...you will be with me in paradise."

If this isn't simple enough, Jesus Himself, after rising from the dead said it even more simply:

"There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent." [Luke 24.47b]

Father, help us to remain mindful of the amazing eternal benefit of repentance. If we never become skilled at anything else on earth, may we become experts at repentance!