While on the cross, the Savior experienced pain and misery. Going through one of His darkest hours. And to make it all even that much worse, He has priests and all other people standing below Him, looking up at Him and mocking Him. Tempting Him by Saying things such as, "If thou art the Christ, save yourself". We know that there were two robbers on either side of Him, one of these robbers, joined with the people saying to the Savior, "If thou art the Christ, save me". But the other robber had had his heart softened. Condemning the people, and telling Christ that he knew that He was the Savior. And asking Christ, "Remember my face in thy kingdom". Christ replies to Him, "Verily verily I say unto you, that you will stand with me in paradise today". Here we see two men (the robbers), both going through the same thing. The same pain and trial at the moment. But looking at it in two completely different views. One of them, becoming of the world and letting the worldly influence take over his life. Questioning the Lord and His power and divinity. Looking at his trail, and just asking the Savior to take it away from him, and to prove to him in the mean time that Jesus really is the Christ. And the other, recognizing Christ as his Savior. And in his darkest hour, testifying of the Son of God. Seeing his own trial, and turning to the Lord to help him through it. Not just to take it away from him, but to help him overcome it.
Like we heard from President Henry B. Eyring (Of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints) in the April 2012 General Conference. (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/mountains-to-climb?lang=eng&query=mountain+climb) We all have mountains to climb, or trials to overcome, but how are we looking at them, and what are we saying to get past them? Are we standing at the bottom of the mountain, looking at it as being too high and telling the Lord to prove His power by taking the mountain away from us? Or, are we looking at our mountains, realizing that they are high, but knowing that we will climb them with faith in Christ. And in every step of the way, testifying of our Lord and Savior that He is the Christ, and that all things are possible through Him? And asking Him, to remember our faces, during every step we took up the mountain, striving to become better people to prepare to meet our God. We all have trials and problems that we must face. But it all depends on our willingness to continue forth in faith, looking up the mountain towards our Savior, knowing that He has and will continue to prepare a way for us. So I would invite you to look at the trails you are going through right now, and think about how you are taking them, and what you are doing about them. And then ask yourself....
"Which robber are you?"
