THE THIEF ON THE CROSS

Greetings church family!

Luke 23:32-43

Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus.  When they came to the place called “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”

They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”

The soldiers also made fun of him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”

Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”

Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”

PIcture this scene two thousand years ago on Calvary’s hill. Three men hung side by side. To the casual observer, there was little difference between them. All three were condemned. All three were counted among the worst of society. And yet, no greater contrast in human history was ever on display.

Jesus hung between two criminals. The One who never sinned suffered punishment beside two men whose lives were defined by sin. Jesus is innocent, while the thieves are guilty. Jesus is giving his life, while the thieves are losing theirs.

One thief joined the crowd in mocking: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other, however, saw something different. In the midst of agony, he reprimanded his companion: “Don’t you fear God? We are punished justly… but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus with a simple but desperate plea: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied with words that echo through eternity: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In this moment, one thief dies in his sin, while the other dies into salvation. This is the scandal—and the beauty—of the gospel!

From a human perspective, the believing thief is the least likely candidate for heaven. There are no good works to point to, no time left to make amends, no opportunity to “turn his life around.” He cannot be baptized, cannot repay what he has stolen, cannot prove his sincerity over time. If you had asked the crowd that day who might be saved, his name would not have been mentioned.

And yet, he is the one who will enter paradise.

Why? Because in his final moments, he sees Jesus rightly. He acknowledges his own guilt without excuse. He recognizes Jesus’ innocence and authority. And he entrusts himself—completely, helplessly—to the mercy of the One hanging beside him.

The gospel is not ultimately about good people being rewarded; it is about guilty people being redeemed. The cross exposes the reality of our sin, but it also reveals the depth of God’s grace. Jesus does not save the thief because of what the thief has done, but because of who Jesus is.

In this story, we also see ourselves in the two thieves. One resists, clings to pride, and demands a kind of salvation on his own terms. The other surrenders, humbles himself, and simply asks to be remembered. The difference is not in their pasts—they are both guilty—but in their response to Jesus.

The message of the gospel is that it is never too late to turn to Christ. As long as there is breath, there is hope. The thief’s story assures us that no one is beyond the reach of grace. At the same time, it gently warns us not to presume upon tomorrow. One thief was saved that day—but one was not.

And so, as we reflect on Jesus crucifixion this week, we are invited to stand at the foot of the cross and ask ourselves: Which voice will we echo? The voice of rejection, or the voice of humble faith?

Let’s choose humble faith in Jesus. Let’s choose to keep Jesus at the center of it all - the same Jesus who was saving while he was suffering. This Jesus still saves today!

Blessings church family!

Pastor Chris