A Lesson from a Criminal

Recently, my attention has been drawn to the two man that were crucified next to Jesus. The Scripture is familiar to me, but since the Word is alive and filled with power, there are moments when that familiar Word is received with revelation.

First let Scripture set the stage. Jesus had been accused of a crime He didn’t commit; He was silent during the accusations without any defense. He was despised, ridiculed, crowned with thorns and beaten. His body was nailed to the cross at His hands and feet. Isaiah 52:14 describes Jesus this way: “(…the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him) (Amplified). His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human, and from His appearance, one would scarcely know He was a man.” Beaten beyond recognition, or perhaps the burden of carrying sin, sickness and disease, was disfiguring; the burden so great; the punishment that we deserved. In this state, Jesus was hanging on the cross between two criminals. One man remained self-righteous and mocking Him (Luke 23:39). The devil seemed to work through this man, tempting Jesus at His most vulnerable moment. The other criminal defending Jesus; “Don’t you even fear God when you have been sentenced to die. We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong” (Luke 23:40,41). It seems that he knew something about Jesus that caused him to respond in this way. His final comment to Him confirms this further: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

Reflect on this for a moment. A sinful man dying on the cross next to Jesus Who was in a horrific state, confesses his wrongdoing and the just punishment he was receiving. The criminal was remorseful for his behavior, and respectful of Jesus. This man did not allow his sin, however, to stop him from engaging Jesus. It seemed that he ‘came clean’ without fear. As an observer of his behavior, one might say the man came boldly to the Lord; in his filthy state of sin, he engaged the Son of Almighty God, requesting to be remembered when Jesus entered His Kingdom. That’s bold!

Jesus in the midst of great suffering did not dismiss the man. Even in the midst of the most unimaginable pain, Jesus listened, giving full attention to the sinner. How did Jesus respond to him? “I assure you today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus did not dismiss the man or scold him for speaking to Him during the greatest trial of His life. Instead, Jesus showed mercy, compassion and a willingness to extend love and hospitality, welcoming the sinner into His Kingdom! WOW!

How Jesus received this man, should help us to understand Christ’s love for each of us. Just like He actually saw this man, personally interacted with him, so Jesus sees us. He has the same attitude of forgiveness and reception, a desire for us to be with Him in His Kingdom; yes, even despite our sins! Just like the sins of this man made it necessary for Jesus to go to the cross, so too did our sin. But remember, Jesus was not accusing or demeaning, but welcoming. This man’s moment with Jesus, should be our moment. A moment where we have Jesus’ full attention, and He extends loving kindness and tender mercy toward us. By this man’s experience we should come to know Jesus’ desire for us, remembering that we were the joy set before Him when He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). It should encourage us to come boldly, fearlessly and confidently as this man did, into the throne room of grace, with expectation of receiving from the Savior of the world (Hebrews 4:16)!