The Two Thieves at Calvary’s Cross
Luke 23:42-43 (NIV)
“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom…” Luke 23:42-43 (NIV)
Many of us pay keen attention to the scenario of events surrounding Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection but neglect to focus on the brief but impacting life-changing discourse between Jesus and the two thieves who were crucified alongside Him.
The account, chronicled in Luke 23:39-43 (NIV), stated that one of the criminals who hung on the cross hurled insults at Jesus, saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”
It should be noted that the repentant thief preferred to fear God, acknowledge his sin, and humbly petition the Saviour for eternal life. This was a thief who woke up that morning on the way to hell and had his eternal destiny changed with a simple plea: “Jesus, remember me.”
As we examine the mindset of the repentant thief, observe that the thief believed Jesus was a King with a real Kingdom. There is no record in that time or any other time in history that any King was ever crucified on a cross or had any Kingdom after his death. It is evident, therefore, that the thief believed Jesus was the Saviour King who was able to take him to His Heavenly Kingdom.
Here are life lessons to learn from the foregoing:
- The repentant thief on the cross asked for mercy and received eternal life, while the other insulted Jesus.
- Salvation is a gift of God’s grace that we receive through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
- According to that world system, the crime committed by the repentant thief was deserving of death. However, according to Jesus, it was forgivable.
- God’s mercy is undeserved forgiveness, and the death of Jesus is enough to pay the debt of all our sins.
Servants of God and those who work among the senior citizens, including senior citizen homes, shut-ins, night shelters, the patients in the intensive care unit of the hospitals, etc., please note that the repentant thief did not do all the things we associate with being saved, like responding to an altar call, repeating the sinner’s prayer, attending convert’s and discipleship classes, and being baptized. He merely humbled himself, confessed his guilt, and asked for mercy moments before he died. Whenever there are crises in your life, repeat the words the repentant thief made to the Saviour King, “Jesus, (please) remember me.”
Read: Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:28
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 48:1-8; Luke 19:11-44; Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Deuteronomy 31:1-29
