The Man In The Middle

There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. John 19:18 (New International Version, NIV)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus was crucified between two people? Why was He placed in the middle? Why not on the left side or the right side? Of course we could say that they were doing it to mock Him and call special attention to the fact that He had been called a king. However, I believe there is more to it than that.

Jesus Christ was placed in between two other men because Christ is the dividing line, the separation between certain things. He came to bring a sword, not peace. A sword separates. Christ is the dividing line between heaven and hell, life and death, blessing and cursing. What we do with the Man in the middle determines which way we’ll go and what results we’ll have.

One of the men beside Him rejected Him. The man on the other side accepted Him. He is the deciding factor between being forever with God or being separated from God for all eternity. The Bible says to choose life that you and your seed may live.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)

We must choose. We cannot stay in the middle between two opinions. The choices are clear- heaven or hell, life or death, blessing or cursing. Heaven and earth are witnesses to our choice. The choice that each of us makes about Christ determines our destiny- in this life and the life after death.

Christ stands between truth and lies, health and sickness, wealth and poverty, righteousness and sin. He is placed in between the only two options we have. He leaves the choice up to you. He already chose you when He died for you. Now, will you choose Jesus and live for Him? What will you do with the Man in the middle?