Episode 29 - The Three Crosses

Have you ever wondered why most images of Calvary show three crosses when truly only one cross is important?  I thought about that recently and came to understand the symbolism of not only our Lord's cross, but also the relevancy to remember the other two.

In this episode I share with you my thoughts on why it is important to remember all three crosses.  I hope you listen to this short bonus episode.  I invite you to share your thoughts with me.

I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.

Please contact me if you have questions or you wish to share with me something about your walk with the Master. My email is walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com

The Prattville family meets at 344 East Main Street, Prattville, AL. Our web site is: https://prattvillechurch.org.

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Transcript

Hello friends, I'm your host Dave Laton and welcome to the podcast, Walking With Our Master, an outreach of the Prattville Church of Christ designed to inform, encourage, and teach as we daily walk with our Master. 

In this episode I want to share something I realized about one of the most well-known religious images, the three crosses on Calvary.  

We know from scripture that two criminals were crucified on either side of our Lord Jesus.  In Matthew’s account we see that initially both criminals cursed Jesus along with many of those who gathered to see the event.  Keep that in mind because it is a critical point.  Then at some time during the period the one criminal has a change of heart and asks Jesus to remember him when he came into His Kingdom.  We know that our Lord told him he would be with Him in paradise that day.

Recently I was driving into town and passed by one of our local hospitals.  Out front on the corner the hospital installed three large crosses made from steel I beams.  A thought occurred to me about why we show the image of three crosses on calvary when the only one that matters is the cross our Lord was hung on.  Yet upon further reflection, there is symbolic relevancy in the other two.

One cross, the one upon which the penitent criminal hung represents grace offered after calling upon the name of our Lord.  As our Lord promises, to him was granted forgiveness and redemption.

The other cross represents one who chose to reject our Lord.  Up to the moment of his death, this criminal also could have found forgiveness and redemption.  But sadly, like many, he chose poorly and died unforgiven. 

So all three crosses have important symbolism and should be remembered.  One a sacrifice offering hope.  Another seizing the hope.  And sadly, another rejecting hope.

If you are wondering about the choice to make, I suggest you make the choice of the penitent criminal and call upon the name of our Lord for salvation.  It is through His death that we receive the hope of eternal life as we repent, are baptized, and seek to live faithfully. 

As Josua of old stated, choose this day whom you will serve.  And as he concluded, I say, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Well friends, I'm your host Dave Laton.  Thank you for joining us in this podcast.  I hope you will continue to do so. If you wish to share with me something from your walk with our Master or you would like to learn more, please email me at:

walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com.

I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.  And until next time, remember, we give all glory to God the Father.