I sometimes wonder why Christ wasn't crucified alone.
Perhaps there is some symbolism to there being three, or to the positioning of "one on each side"?
This is a serious question....I honestly wish to have your ideas and input on this.
Thank You!
2007-11-28 16:06:16 · 7 answers · asked by Bluebootz 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dr. Zapp: Thank you for the link, very informative.
2007-11-30 13:53:59 · update #1
Sunman: It's in the details...the answer.
2007-11-30 13:55:20 · update #2
hsmom: I agree.
2007-11-30 13:56:32 · update #3
For one thing, it is considered to be a fulfilment of a prophectic passage in Isaiah 53, a chapter that is viewed by biblical scholars as pretty much completely about the coming Messiah.
Verse 12 reads as follows:
Isaiah 53:12
"Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors."
Mark 15:27-28 makes the connection for you directly: "With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
Most evangelical Christians also place great importance on Jesus' words to the thief on the cross who, because of his repentance and acknowlegdment that Jesus was the King about to come into His Kingdom, receives the assurance of paradise.
Why is this important? Because evangelical Christians would say, "Was he baptised? No. Did he do any good works? No. Did he take a "physical" communion of "bread and wine, (or "the body and blood," as in the Catholic faith)? No.
So the evangelical Christian often uses this thief's conversion and Jesus' promise of paradise to corroborate the idea that we are saved by grace through faith ALONE. What else did/ could the thief have done in his crucified state that would get him into heaven except what he did: confess himself a sinner to the Savior, and acknowledge in his heart that Jesus is God and Lord.
Guess what: that's all you need to do for salvation... even today.
Luke 23:39-43 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
2007-11-28 16:16:41 · answer #1 · answered by he_returns_soon 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
There were most likely many more...just the three are mentioned in the gospels. Traditionally, that was the time when a lot of criminals would be crucified. Jesus just didn't really have a chance to talk to all the rest when he was being flogged, stripped, beaten, tortured, and nailed to a cross.
2007-11-28 16:16:43 · answer #2 · answered by hsmomlovinit 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Many meanings to this. I'll spare you the details, but I will say at this point in my 'initiation' I was Jesus being crucified and yet I was also the two being crucified with him. Hmmm...how to say this...
What were the two different attitudes of the two thieves being crucified with Jesus?
For me, they revealed my options during that moment of truth. I had the choice to adopt either one and it would determine what happened next.
2007-11-28 16:31:31 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
There is only one way to the Father, and that is through the Son. There are those who believe, such as the thief who said to Jesus," Remember me when you come into your kingdom."
And there are those who ridicule Jesus as the thief who said,"If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."
I don't know, maybe it is a sign of the straight and narrow path which is full of pain and suffering but with the promise of eternal life with our LORD. While the other is the broad path that leads to destruction and separation from God.
Either way, we know that Jesus leads to eternal life with Him in Heaven. Without Him we have no hope.
2007-11-28 16:25:00 · answer #4 · answered by David R 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I always felt it was very symbolic, three is prevalent in Christianity.
2007-11-28 16:19:51 · answer #5 · answered by Rational Humanist 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There was no symbolism, there were three people crucified that day.
2007-11-28 16:10:33 · answer #6 · answered by Jethro Bodine 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well actually there were 5 and here's the proof in scripture.
http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=292
2007-11-28 16:14:47 · answer #7 · answered by Zappster (Deep Thunker) 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋