The Faithful Thief
Who will you identify with?
In Luke 23, we read the account of the thief on the cross. It is among the most well-known stories in the Bible, and its significance cannot be understated. I’d like to take a look at it and see what we can learn from it.
Faith
When Jesus was crucified, there were multiple people being executed alongside Him. Luke 23:33 says, “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.” Jesus was being crucified alongside two criminals, and while facing mockery, one of them joined in: “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’” (Luke 23:39). This man was facing the same fate as Jesus, yet joined the soldiers in insulting Christ.
“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’” (Luke 23:40-41). The other criminal understood how ridiculous mocking Jesus was. Being under the same sentence as Christ, he was not in any position to insult him. That man identified with the world. But this man understood something else — he understood that they deserved to be crucified. These men were criminals, having likely lived their entire lives as such — their fate was deserved. Jesus, however, did nothing wrong, and this thief understood that.
The criminal who hurled insults at Christ hardened his heart. His heart was in such a bad place that he was willing to mock Jesus even through his own suffering. The other criminal softened his heart before Jesus — he knew that they were guilty and Jesus was innocent. In a stunning display of faith, the thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
This is one of the most powerful statements in the Bible. This man had spent his life in sin — perhaps he had never considered that someone could save him from that life. Yet, while he was facing judgment for his sin, he realized that he was being crucified right next to an innocent man. Not only an innocent man, but the only righteous man to ever live. Not only an innocent man, but the Son of God. Where many saw the crucifixion as the end of Jesus’ authority, the thief somehow knew that He would reign eternally. Maybe he, like many others, had heard of what Jesus was doing, maybe he just saw Him and knew that Jesus was more than just a normal man. Regardless of how he figured it out, he had the faith to believe in what Jesus preached. He had the faith that Jesus would accept him into His kingdom, despite his sin. And where the other criminal identified with the world, this thief identified with Christ.
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43). Jesus knew that this man was a sinner. He is God — He knew everything about him. Yet, when this man had nothing to offer but his faith and his weak soul, Jesus did not condemn him. He instead declared that the man would be joining Him in paradise that very day. You and I have nothing to offer God — we are sinners, and we deserve death. But God, in His grace and mercy, offered Himself so that we could join Him in paradise. The only thing we can give God is our faith, which is often weak. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Conclusion
Where is your heart? Is it hardened and unbelieving, or is it softened and faithful? Do you identify with the world, or do you identify with the one who has overcome it? We are sinners, and we are completely hopeless by ourselves. Yet, we have a savior — one who never sinned, but bore our suffering. If we place our faith in Jesus Christ, He will save us. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)