“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'”

In our passage, we find Jesus crucified on the cross with darkness surrounding Him at all levels. The Rabbis and rulers, Romans and onlookers, along with a fellow-crucified thief, were mocking the Lord as He suffered a slow death. This scene is very poignant. I believe that the faith of the other thief being crucified led Luke to have a compassionate heart for sinners. Matthew and Mark’s Gospel accounts use the word “sinner(s)” five times each. John’s Gospel four times. Luke uses the word about sixteen times.

One of two thieves cried to Jesus from the cross, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Only faith in Christ can save sinners. The thief was dying, yet knew Who could save his soul. He acknowledged not only that Jesus was the Savior, but He was God and Lord over an eternal kingdom. The thief knew he was a sinner and deserved eternal death; and in his simple declaration, he cried out for forgiveness and asked to be saved.

Anyone can make a cry out to be saved. But it is Jesus Christ, the one true Lord Who alone has the power and the deity to bring us into the kingdom of heaven. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6).

The thief on the cross was displaying the fullness of his faith. What’s astounding is that his faith in this moment of death outshone the faith of those who followed Christ for several years. We know from the testimony of the disciples that their faith was in the hope of a savior who would bring His kingdom to rule on earth. Hope and faith failed them at the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. They scattered and hid themselves to evade their own arrest. Hearing the words of Jesus on the cross, one thief chose to mock him. The other thief saw the true love of God in Christ, and repented in his heart on the spot.

Jesus responded to the thief’s cry by saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” We all come into this world the same as the thief on the cross. We are sinners who need to be saved. To be saved, we need a Savior. Some will try to save themselves through the false notions of pride, being a good person, thinking their life is worthy of a place in the kingdom of heaven. Never recognizing the cost of their sinful state, they are doomed to an eternity apart from God. But for those of the faith who recognize their sinful nature and need for a savior, choosing Christ and accepting the price He paid for their salvation by being crucified, they will spend eternity with God.

Cherish this act of love, people. For as Paul knew in his heart he was “crucified with Christ” and his own sinful self no longer led his life but rather it was Christ in him, believing in faith and his leading through the spirit of God. “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” (Galatians 2:20).

When you are feeling down and out, come to the cross. When lost and not knowing what purpose you have, come to the cross. When guilty and ashamed of your sin, come to the cross. In need of a savior, come to the cross, die to self, and receive the true God who loves you and will bring you into the eternal kingdom.

By Pastor David Massie, friend of Bible League International, California U.S.