One Passover in the first half of the first century, a traveler watches from a distance as three men are crucified on a hill outside Jerusalem. What does he learn? His eyes will tell him little. Other than some unusual weather patterns and a quicker-than-usual death in the case of one of the men, all he notices are a few ordinary-looking Jewish men being executed by Rome.
But once he comes within earshot, everything changes. Amongst other things he hears the crucified men talking. One admits his guilt and asks the central figure, apparently called “Jesus,” to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. He hears this Jesus promise that the criminal will that very day enter paradise. He also hears the centurion overseeing the crucifixion declare that Jesus was “the Son of God.” After a while, he hears Jesus announce that his work is “finished,” and then he commits his spirit to his heavenly Father.
Though the traveler’s eyes alone taught him little, his ears have opened the door of salvation. As it was with our fictional traveler, so it is with us today.
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
WHAT
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
