Arms Wide Open: What The Cross Really Means
October 05, 2026
There is something deeply moving about the image of arms stretched wide open. It is not a gesture of weakness. It is an invitation. And today, we are going to sit with that image, let it sink into our hearts, and discover what it means for your life right now, wherever you find yourself.
Samson Between the Pillars
Our journey today begins in the book of Judges, with a man most of us know from Sunday school stories but rarely sit with long enough to hear what his life is really saying to us.
Samson had been betrayed. He had been mocked, shamed, and dragged out of prison to entertain his enemies. The Philistine lords were all gathered, thousands of people were watching from the rooftop, and Samson stood between two great pillars. In that broken, humiliated moment, he asked a boy to let him feel the pillars so he could lean against them.
"Then Samson called to the Lord and said, 'O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this one time, O God, and let me take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.'" Judges 16:28
And then Samson took hold of those two middle support pillars, bracing himself with his right hand on one and his left hand on the other, arms spread wide apart.
Does that image remind you of anything? It should. Because when Jesus hung on the cross, His arms were stretched out wide in exactly the same way. One hand to the right. One hand to the left. And in that posture, both Samson and Jesus gave everything they had.
The cross was not a moment of defeat. It was the moment of the greatest invitation ever extended to humanity.
When Jesus stretched out His arms, He was not simply enduring suffering. He was opening Himself wide to welcome anyone who would come. Anyone who would believe. Anyone who would say, "Remember me."
The Thief Who Had Nothing to Offer
This brings us to one of the most stunning stories in all of Scripture. Beside Jesus on the cross hung two criminals. Convicted. Guilty. Deserving of everything that was happening to them.
"One of the criminals who had been hanged on a cross beside him kept hurling abuse at him saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us from death.'" Luke 23:39
But the other criminal rebuked him.
"But the other one rebuked him saying, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? We are suffering justly because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong.'" Luke 23:40-41
And then this man, this thief who had lived a life far from God, turned to Jesus and said something simple and profound: "Jesus, please remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"And he was saying, 'Jesus, please remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus said to him, 'I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:42-43
Think about what this man did not have. He had never been to church. He had never been baptized. He could not go back and make restitution for what he had stolen. He could not confess every sin he had ever committed. He could not pass a Bible knowledge test or sit through a discipleship class. He had no good deeds to present. No religious credentials. Nothing.
All he had was a heart that recognized Jesus for who He truly was, and the simple words: Remember me.
And that was enough.
You do not need a spotless record to come to Jesus. You just need to turn to Him.
Salvation Is a Gift, Not a Achievement
This is the heart of the gospel, and it is so important that we do not rush past it. The mockery that Jesus endured on the cross is the same kind of accusation that still comes today. "You say you can heal others, but look at your own situation. You say God provides, but look at what you're facing." These are not new words. They were said to Jesus Himself as He hung dying.
But notice what Jesus did not do. He did not come down from the cross to prove His power. He stayed. Because staying was the point. His outstretched arms were the point.
At the same time, two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on His right and one on His left, and the people passing by hurled insults.
"At the same time two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and the one on the left." Matthew 27:38
And yet, in the middle of all that chaos, one man found salvation. Not because he earned it. Because he received it.
"For it is by grace, God's remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ, that you have been saved, actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life through faith. And this salvation is not of yourself, not through your own effort, but it is the undeserved gracious gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
Grace is not something you qualify for. It is something you receive.
Salvation is the gift of God's grace received through faith, not through your works. Not through how many times you have read your Bible this week. Not through how much you have given. Not through how long you have prayed. It is what Jesus did on the cross that makes you right with God, not what you do for God.
Conclusion
Today, Jesus still has His arms wide open. Whether you feel like you have walked too far away, made too many mistakes, or spent too long living for yourself, the invitation stands. The same arms that were stretched out on that cross are reaching toward you right now. No sin is too great for His forgiveness. No situation is too far gone for His grace. If a dying thief with nothing to offer could hear the words "today you will be with me in paradise," then you, with everything you are carrying today, can receive from Jesus too. Come just as you are.
Reflect on This
When life feels chaotic or painful, do you tend to challenge God like the first thief, or do you turn to Him like the second? What would it look like today to simply say, "Jesus, remember me"?
Is there an area of your life where you have been trying to earn God's grace through your own effort rather than simply receiving it as the gift it truly is?
Prayer
Father, I thank You that Your arms are wide open and Your grace is greater than every sin, every failure, and every broken place in my life. I receive Your salvation, Your healing, and Your love as a gift today, not because of anything I have done, but because of everything Jesus did on the cross. I believe You remember me, and I trust that Your resurrection power is alive and active in my life right now. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Key Takeaways
Samson's outstretched arms against the pillars foreshadow the posture of Christ on the cross, arms wide open to welcome all who come.
The repentant thief on the cross proves that salvation is never based on good deeds but on faith in Jesus alone.
No sin is too great for God's forgiveness, and no situation is too far gone for His grace to reach.
Grace is not something you qualify for through religious effort; it is an undeserved gift that you simply receive through faith.
All content on this blog is the property of Henley Samuel Ministries. For permissions or inquiries regarding the use of any material, please contact us at contact@henleysamuel.org.
To dive deeper into this powerful message, watch the full sermon on our YouTube video below.
Comments