The Man on the Cross

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43)

Two criminals sentenced to death; one mocked Jesus, the other somehow knew and recognized Jesus for who he was.  This man rebuked the other; after all, they were all under the same penalty of death.  But this unnamed criminal looked over to Jesus, called him by name, and asked to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom.  

Had he heard his teaching or seen Jesus' miraculous works?  Had he only heard about them?  Whatever the case, the seed of faith had been planted and this dying criminal prayed to the Son of God; his prayer was heard and answered.  He was saved from spiritual death as he was dying that horrible physical death.

It's quite a remarkable story - to think of this unknown criminal knowing who Jesus was and knowing there was a coming kingdom, even for the dying.  The Bible doesn't tell us how he knew.  I wish we could know more of the back-story but what we have is enough.  What really matters is the bottom line. This sinful man, at his death, was welcomed into paradise when he prayed his simple prayer:  "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Our loving Lord, even as he was dying, was reaching out to a lost sheep.  He was saving a condemned man even as the mockers were crying out for him to save himself.  This criminal was forgiven, set free and saved from eternal death.  

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:3-10)