“…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” – Acts 16:31 (NIV)
Beloved, in the Easter season, many of us pay key attention to the death, burial, and resurrection but neglect to focus on the brief but impacting life-changing discourse between Jesus and the two criminals who were crucified on either side of Him.
The account is chronicled in Luke 23:39-43, where one of the unruly criminals, who hung on the cross, hurled insults at Jesus, saying, “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save yourself and save us! But the penitent thief rebuked him and said, “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.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” – (NIV).
Research revealed that the Romans crucified persons who were guilty of murder, sedition, theft, piracy, or rebellion of a slave against their master. Crucifixion was only applied to slaves and non-Romans. Note, however, that Jesus committed no offence but was still convicted.
In the criminal world, thieves know the reputation of their comrades in crime and in this case, they knew that Jesus was not only innocent but He was the Messiah. The only difference is that the unruly thief, although acknowledging that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, echoed the sentiments of Christ’s false accusers who shouted, “He saved others [from death], but He cannot save Himself…” (Matthew 27:42-44 – NIV).
The penitent thief feared God and acknowledged that his transgressions were deserving of death. He humbly petitioned Jesus, the Saviour and King, and received eternal life.
Beloved, this is a criminal who was on death row, woke up in the morning on the way to hell, and had his eternal destiny changed from eternal damnation to eternal life with a simple plea, “Jesus, remember me” – in essence, saying, “Jesus. I believe in You.”
Will you insult and mock Jesus, or will you trust in Him and ask Him to remember you so that you may have an encounter and reside in eternity with Him also?
The weekend of Easter is the greatest weekend ever!
Read: Psalm 32:1; Psalm 86:5
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 40:9-17; Luke 9:28-56; Numbers 35; Numbers 36
