The Journey to the Cross in ASLSample

The Good Thief

The hours started to pass.  

Alongside Jesus, two others were also crucified. The agony, screams, and groaning that must have been for all of them. Their bodies are thirsty. They would have been crying out for relief, but only receiving mocking and jeering from the soldiers. 

The hours continued to pass.

This is one of most remarkable passages of the journey to the cross that we see in the Gospel.  Jesus responded to the criminals who were crucified on both sides of Him. 

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “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 answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43). 

I can only imagine the second criminal was thinking in his mind as he hung there. Could it be that Jesus was whom He said? Could He have given a sinner the peace that he didn’t deserve, but deeply desired? As the first criminal hurled insults, Jesus didn’t respond. Later he spoke up, “Don’t you fear God?” 

As we continue to read the rest of the story, we can tell that the second criminal felt conviction. He knew he did wrong, and recognized Jesus for who He was. He asked Jesus to remember him when He entered Heaven. Jesus responded, giving him peace that he never felt before. He said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

Friends, can I implore you to take a look at your own life? See that without Jesus, you will continue to walk down the wrong path that leads to death. Jesus offers you peace and a place in His kingdom. He gives it freely. All you have to do is confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and desire to have a relationship with Him. That’s it.