Jesus witnessed to two men who were crucified with Him that seem to be similar. However, the outcome of His witnessing turned out differently. This devotion looks at why one man accepted Jesus as Messiah, and one didn’t.
Nuggets
- We sometimes put off repentance to the last minute.
- In order to submit our lives to God’s sovereignty, we have to be in reverence of Him.
- Where — heaven or paradise — paled under the realization it was where Jesus was in His kingdom.
Devotions in the Sayings from the Cross series
While all four of the gospels mention that Jesus was crucified with two criminals, only Luke records the exchange Jesus has with the two men. All but Luke mention the fact that Jesus was placed in the middle.
Let's Put It into Context
“Two others — criminals — were also led away to be executed with him” (Lk. 23: 32 CSB)
Crucifixion was a common form of execution back in Jesus’ day. True, it was generally a format used for slaves, but all would have been familiar with it.
Jesus wasn’t the only one to die that day. There were two criminals crucified with Him.
Translation differ as to whether we are told the nature of the crimes. The King James Version reads, “Then were there two thieves crucified with him …” (Mt. 27: 38 KJV).
Venables reported that Jesus would have been suspended from the cross first because He was in the middle. That provides a clear visual of Jesus standing in the gap between man’s corruption and God’s forgiveness.
However much the two thieves looked similar when they were nailed to the cross, their true natures showed up while they were up there. Let’s take a look.
Opposition on the Left
“Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’” (Lk. 23: 39 NLT)
Have you ever thought what guts the unrepentant dude had to go at Jesus? He was getting what he deserved! But he was biting on Jesus.
Think about it a second. No, they didn’t do some ice breaker or team building exercise.
But usually, when we get into some unique situation, don’t we bond in some small way with others? No, we don’t have to become instant BFFs. But we connect in some small way during our shared experience.
Wouldn’t they have? We would think that this dude would at least have empathized with Jesus.
Oh, not this dude. The King James Version said that he railed on Jesus.
Here he was — wanting Jesus to step in and fix things for him. Typical — for him and us.
You know what else was typical? The unrepentant dude was just focusing on this life. We don’t want boundaries or limitations. It shouldn’t be considered a sin unless we say it is — but that may change based on the situation.
Davies pointed out how sad it was — even at the point of death — this man was not interested in God and His saving grace. The lure of this life is too strong.
But aren’t we like the unrepentant dude? We sometimes put off repentance to the last minute. We forget that, if the decision gets made for us, it will be non-repentance.
That isn’t going to get the rewards we are going to want. It will get the repayment we deserve.
I think that we assume that the unrepentant dude is acknowledging Jesus as Messiah when he said, “save all of us.” I don’t think he did.
It was more of a prove-it-by-giving-me-what-I-want remark. It wasn’t a rousing declaration of faith.
Isn’t this the way we approach God a lot of times? “Oh, I prayed to God that, if He would heal Uncle Tom, I’d turn my life over to Him. Well, guess what? He didn’t. I knew He was a fake.”
That is not praying in faith. That definitely is not submitting ourselves to God.
Acceptance on the Right
“But the other answered, rebuking him: ‘Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’” (Lk. 23: 40-42 NLT)
We assume some things.
- Repentant dude was probably a Jew.
- That meant he knew to expect a Messiah.
- He saw how Jesus interacted with their captors.
One thing we know. He heard the “Father, forgive them” prayer.
Repentant dude stepped up to Jesus’ defense. “… Don’t you even fear God …” (Lk. 23: 40 NLT).
In order to submit our lives to God’s sovereignty, we have to be in reverence of Him. We have to accept Him as Creator and Ruler — and Judge.
I think he was also asking about the terror. Unrepentant dude was going to meet His Creator and Judge with the wrong attitude. Repentant dude was just shaking his head.
“… this man has done nothing wrong” (Lk. 23: 41 NLT). Repentant dude realized Jesus was substituting Himself to take the punishment for us.
The repentant dude didn’t put any stipulations or conditions on submitting to Jesus. He approached respectfully, not with a prove-it attitude.
Repentant dude didn’t say anything about this life. He didn’t mention getting taken down off the cross or staying alive.
He saw that He was without a relationship with God. He realized the error of his ways. He saw God could and would forgive him — if he asked in belief.
We can’t stress this fact enough. Repentant dude knew he deserved his punishment. Unrepentant dude was trying everything he could to get out of suffering the punishment.
We are not entitled to God’s love and forgiveness. There is nothing about us that could earn His favor. It is all about His grace.
Repentant dude just said one little sentence directly to Jesus. “… Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’” (Lk. 23: 42 NLT). There was only one me and three you’s. He went straight to the You with his request.
Repentant dude had to make some snap decisions. He had to decide Jesus had a place He was preparing (Jn. 14: 2-4). He had to decide Jesus would consider picking up a hitchhiker. Then he had decide He would listen and grant his request.
Repentant dude was all about repentance. We can’t minimize the importance of the fact repentant dude committed a crime with the penalty a capital punishment.
The rest was up to Jesus.
Redemption in the Middle
“And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23: 43 NLT)
Jesus had an immediate answer for the repentant dude. He didn’t say, “Could you let me die first? I have to go have my coronation. Now just isn’t the right time.”
Nope. “… today …” (Lk. 23: 43 NLT). Why wait?
Repentant dude was going to be where Jesus went. Where — heaven or paradise — paled under the realization it was where Jesus was in His kingdom. Jesus would be there.
Isn’t that for what we are all waiting? Isn’t that the prize we are expecting?
Have you thought about the repentant dude’s conversion path? Had he heard Jesus before? Was he numbered in the 5,000 who were fed? Maybe Jesus had healed him during the past three years.
Or was “Father, forgiven them” all he got? Well, yes, that is Christianity in a nutshell:
- God
- Forgiveness
- Others
Did Jesus start biting on repentant dude because of what a mess-up he had been? Did He tell him that He had had higher hopes for him?
No. Today. Paradise. You and me.
What we did — or didn’t do — isn’t really the issue. The issue is we are spiritually dead without Jesus as our Savior.
To Jesus, that is a huge issue — one He wants to address. But Jesus isn’t going to force salvation on us.
Yes, Jesus — and God — would prefer that everyone be saved. He knows that isn’t going to happen because man can be so pig headed.
Everyone who generally approaches Jesus with a true request for salvation will hear Jesus’ forgiveness. His mercy is ready for us.
It might be easy to say repentant dude didn’t pray. He did. Prayer is a conversation between God and man.
We don’t have to pray in the King James Version. We do have to be reverent, but this is Dad as well as Sovereign King.
Remember, there is only one way to salvation — Jesus (Jn. 14: 6). But that also means that He uses the same process every time. Tom didn’t get a different salvation process than Sally — and it is the same one I got.
That tells me that words are not the selling point. It doesn’t have to be flowery. It doesn’t have to be concise.
God is looking for the genuine, complete submission of our souls to His authority. We have to admit we are sinners, believe Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign King.
Did you see what Jesus did — and didn’t do? He ignored unrepentant dude. Jesus didn’t encourage repentant dude’s correction of unrepentant dude.
What Jesus acknowledged immediately was repentant dude’s ABCD.
Now remember. Jesus was in a world of hurt, too. This happened right before the lights went out, so Jesus only had like three hours to live. He had reached the halfway mark.
But Jesus still heard repentant dude’s prayer. Even through His pain.
Oh, yes. Jesus is most definitely going to hear our cries when He is up by God’s side.
Repentant dude did not do a single work to earn the trip to Paradise. All he needed was faith and repentance.
Making the Connections
So, if all repentant dude heard was “Father, forgive them,” Jesus was preaching while hanging on the cross. Jesus had to be ready.
How many times do we have to be ready? We may get one shot to plant a seed.
Yes, the What I Believe series is generally thinking about those we will spend time with sharing our faith. But our lives are our testimony, also.
I haven’t forgotten when my Ladies and I talked about how we are witnesses without uttering a single word. We discussed that nonbelievers are not only observing believers’ actions but also their attitudes and motives to make sure believers are real.
It does bring up a good point that life isn’t always going to wait until we get our Easter bonnet on before it drops witnessing opportunities on our doorsteps. Jesus’ was right there at the bloody cross.
Repentant guy was saved when he was hanging on the cross. He didn’t have to read a book — even the Bible. He didn’t have to wait to make sure he understood everything.
He was saved on the spot. That is how quickly God can work.
Both criminals had the same opportunity. They may have even been suffering the same sentence for the same crime.
They are in two totally different places right now.
We need to think about that when we are witnessing to others. Think about the things weighing against Jesus actually being the Messiah.
- All the leaders of the day said He wasn’t.
- He wasn’t kicking Rome out.
- He was dying.
One criminal bought into that false sale. One criminal chose wisely. He chose to believe Jesus was the Messiah. One had faith; one didn’t.
How Do We Apply This?
When we witness to others, we need to approach each individually. Everyone has different experiences, thoughts, and values. We have to show Jesus to them personally.
Then the choice is theirs. We’ve done what God has called us to do — shared with them. The rest is up to Him.
Faith includes self-condemnation. We have to admit our sins. We have to repent and turn away from them.
If repentant dude looked and only saw his cross, he would have been forever spiritually dead. He looked beyond what he could see to what Jesus could see.
We have to look beyond this life to life eternal. We have to look to heaven.
Father. As much as we are sorry that Jesus had to die because we sinned, we are so thankful He did. Thank You also for the example of the repentant dude so we know that salvation has nothing to do with what we do. It is all about what Jesus did. Thank You. Amen.
What do you think?
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