Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Crucifixion was preserved by the Romans for those considered to be hardened criminals. And so, as they crucified the innocent Son of God, they also crucified alongside Him two criminals. One of the criminals derides Jesus and questions His divine status while the other one rebuked him. Turning to Jesus, he begged, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” To which Jesus graciously and lovingly responds, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This man who had spent his life breaking God’s laws and hurting people was saved in the nick of time. He was not baptised; he did not go through confirmation class; he was not taught the doctrines of the church; he had no chance of doing anything good. Yet Jesus assured him of a life spent in eternity.
The thief did something that is necessary for our salvation. First, he acknowledged who he was, a guilty criminal. Second, he acknowledged who Jesus was, the Messiah. Thirdly, he appealed to Jesus for his salvation. We, too, are saved in the same way. We must acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Saviour. Then, we must turn to Christ and ask for Him to save us. Like the two thieves, our lives prior to salvation are spent breaking God’s laws and hurting people. Yet when we come to Jesus, He receives us into His eternal home. This calls for two kinds of responses:
– For those already saved, we ought to rejoice at this great salvation that has been granted to us without any effort on our part. Marvel at the fact that someone like you can be saved.
– If you are not saved, you can choose, like this one thief, to repent and turn to Christ for the salvation of your soul.
Let us all then, together with John Welsey, sing:
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Reflections
1. Of the two thieves/criminals, which one are you?
