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, rulers, Romans, a few onlookers, and even a thief crucified along with Jesus are mocking the Lord and condemning Him as He suffers a slow death. Luke’s description of the scene is poignant, and he shows in his writing a heart and compassion for sinners. Matthew and Mark’s accounts use the word “sinner(s)” only five times each, John’s gospel four times. Luke uses the word about 16 times.

One of the two thieves cries from his cross, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Only faith in Christ saves the sinner. The thief was dying but knew who could save his soul. He acknowledged not only that Christ was the Savior, but that He was God and Lord over an eternal kingdom reserved for the souls of His people.

The thief knew he was a sinner and deserved eternal death, so in his simple declaration, he cried out for forgiveness and asked to be saved. Anyone can cry out to be saved; even a child can call 9-1-1 for help. But it is Jesus Christ, the one true Lord of the one true kingdom, who alone has the power to bring someone into the kingdom of heaven. “I am the way, 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 outshines the faith of even those who followed Christ for several years. We know from the testimony of the disciples that upon the arrest of Jesus, their faith was in the hope of a conquering Messiah who would bring the kingdom to rule on earth.

With hope and faith shattered by the arrest and crucifixion of the Lord, they scattered and hid themselves to avoid their own arrests. Hearing the words of Jesus on the cross, one thief chose to mock him. The other thief in our passage saw the true love of God in Christ and His words and repented in his heart on the spot.

Jesus responded to the thief’s cry, saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” “Today,” not sometime in the future—not after some soul sleep, but “today,” Jesus says. Faith in Christ ushers the soul into heaven immediately upon death. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

We all have the same problem as the thief on the cross: we are sinners who need to be saved. 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 a destiny in hell. Others, recognizing their sinful nature and need for a savior, choose Christ and the sacrifice He made for their salvation on the cross.

Cherish this act of love like Paul, for he knew in his heart that he was “crucified with Christ” and his own sinful self no longer led, but rather it was Christ in him. “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).

Are you feeling down and out? Come to the cross. Are you lost and not knowing what purpose you have? Come to the cross. Are you guilty and ashamed of sin? Come to the cross. Are you crying out for more and in need of a savior? Come to the cross, die to self, receive the true God who loves you and has provided access into the true kingdom.

By Pastor David Massie, Friend of Bible League International