Two ways – two ends (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:39-41

Two ways - two ends (1)
The two robbers who were crucified with Jesus had gone the same pathway together for a long time. Something had led them on to the wrong track. They had committed a serious crime, possibly together, for which the Romans sentenced them with the cruel punishment of crucifixion. Mark reports that at the first the two were in complete agreement in reviling the Lord Jesus (cf. Mark 15:32). Suddenly, however, their thoughts began to differ. The end of their earthly way was decided and irrevocable, and they knew it. But they now set their minds on different ends.
One of the criminals blasphemed Jesus, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us." His assumption concerning the Lord was absolutely correct; even demons often testified that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah of the people of Israel. But the robber spoke derisively and selfishly. Even without such a scornful undertone, a proper judgment of Jesus Christ proves useless, unless the right attitude towards Him is adopted. Mere lipservice without heartfelt sincerity, without saving faith and without a personal living relationship to Christ is of no avail.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Today's reading: Zephaniah 1