A saving Friday

Centuries ago, there was a man who was condemned to die for crimes he had committed, and unbelievably it was actually predicted hundreds of years before the event even happened. Who was this man and what is his story? 

Three criminals were being crucified on Golgotha that fateful Friday. He was a robber, who was caught, and was being punished. On another cross was a man who was sharing his fate and condemned to die. The third man, however, seemed very different, everyone was mocking Him, and exclaiming that if He was indeed the Son of God to come down. The two thieves decide to join in on the mockery, after all they would soon be dead. 

Yet as this thief was witnessing everything, the ridicule, mockery, he noticed the demeaner of Jesus was different. The thief wasn’t a hardened criminal; in fact, he had been led astray by hanging around with the wrong crowd and was actually less guilty than many who were reviling Jesus. He had witnessed Jesus during his ministry, and actually been convicted by His teaching, but the priests had turned him away. To suppress his conviction, he went deeper into sin until he was finally arrested and condemned to die. 

He witnessed Pilate’s declaration that he “found no fault in Him.” He witnessed Jesus’ godlike behavior and his tremendous heart for forgiveness. He witnessed the many “religious” people and leaders hurl scornful remarks, and shout ridiculing words towards Jesus. He hears his companion in guilt shout out, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39). He then hears some people defending Jesus by repeating His words and telling of all His good works. 

As he is seeing and hearing all these things his heart and mind are taking in the scene that he is witnessing. Conviction starts to come back to him, and he turns and says to his fellow criminal, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:40)

There are no doubts in his mind, he is guilty and deserves the punishment. When he was condemned for his crime, he became hopeless and miserable, but now he reexamines everything he heard about Jesus, how he healed the sick and even pardoned sin. He looks and reads the title above the Savior’s head. The Holy Spirit begins to enlighten his mind, and little by little he pieces the evidence together. As he gazes upon Jesus’ broken body, he begins to see the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He begins to hope and with sorrow in his voice, as one dying soul cast himself upon a dying Savior. He cries out, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

The bystanders heard the conversation between the thief and Jesus as they argued over Christ’s garments. They stopped to listen, their angry tones were silenced, and with abated breath they looked upon Christ, waiting for the response. The answer from Jesus was immediate, in a soft tone, full of love and compassion, Jesus said these powerful words, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

As He spoke the words of promise, the dark cloud that seemed to cover the cross was pierced by a bright light. The remorseful thief receives perfect peace by accepting Christ, his Savior. Man may pierce Jesus’ head with a crown of thorns, they may strip Him of His garments, but they cannot rob Him of His power to forgive sins. 

Christ did not promise that the thief should be with Him in paradise that day. He Himself did not go to Paradise that day, instead He slept in the tomb, and the morning of the resurrection, the third day, He said, “I have not yet ascended to My Father.” (John 20:17) On the day of the crucifixion, the promise was given, that when He returns to earth to take those who have received Him, the thief will be among the righteous. 

One Bible commentary puts it this way, “The great question the thief was pondering at the moment was not when he would reach paradise, but whether he would get there at all.” ^[1] He was saved in the eleventh hour, praise God. 

Let us hold on to this promise, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). Thank you, Jesus, for your longsuffering, and not willing that anyone should perish. But He will not wait forever, and it is not safe to wait for the last minute to repent, reaching for the last lifeline. Let us remember, that “now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)